FLAC vs MP3
| Property | FLAC | MP3 |
|---|---|---|
| Full name | Free Lossless Audio Codec | MPEG-1 Audio Layer III |
| File extensions | .flac | .mp3 |
| Created by | Xiph.Org Foundation (created by Josh Coalson) | Fraunhofer IIS and MPEG |
| Introduced | 2001 | 1993 |
| Compression | Lossless: about 50–60% of the WAV size, decoded bit for bit | Lossy |
| Codecs inside | FLAC, often 16-bit/44.1 kHz or 24-bit hi-res | MP3, usually 128–320 kbps |
| Typical size | About 5–6 MB per minute for CD-quality music | About 1 MB per minute at 128 kbps, 2.4 MB at 320 kbps |
| Opens on | Android, Windows 10+, macOS and iOS 11+, most hi-fi players; many car stereos and older devices do not | Every phone, computer, car stereo, speaker and app |
| Best for | Archiving music in full quality | Music and podcasts that must play anywhere |
Why convert FLAC to MP3?
FLAC is the standard for lossless music: CD rips, Bandcamp and Qobuz downloads and hi-res releases. It is perfect for an archive but takes 25–35 MB for a typical song and still is not supported by many car stereos, older iPods, some DJ software and smart speakers. MP3 copies are the practical answer for everyday listening.
A lossless source makes the best MP3. At 320 kbps, MP3 is indistinguishable from the FLAC for nearly all listeners on nearly all equipment, at around a quarter of the size. At 192 kbps you halve that again with little audible change. Hi-res FLAC (24-bit, 96 kHz) is converted too; MP3 stores it at up to 48 kHz, which still covers the full range of human hearing.
Keep your FLAC files as the master copy and convert again if you ever need a different format, for example to M4A or Opus with the Audio Converter. After converting, check the track names in your music app; if anything is missing, a free tag editor such as Mp3tag fixes a whole album in one go.