Convert FLAC to AAC
Convert FLAC audio files to AAC directly in your browser. AAC is the lossy codec used across iOS, macOS, YouTube, and broadcast streaming — needed because Apple's Music app and iPhone built-in player don't natively decode FLAC. Compresses ~5x for portable use. No upload needed.
Drag 'n' drop files here, or
click to select files
.flac
Drop your files and click Convert to get AAC
//when_to_use
When to Convert FLAC to AAC
- Converting FLAC purchases from Bandcamp / Qobuz to AAC for sync to iPhone via Apple Music's local library
- Preparing FLAC band masters as AAC for upload to YouTube / YouTube Music (which transcodes everything to AAC anyway)
- Encoding FLAC podcast masters as AAC for Apple Podcasts submissions (which prefers AAC over MP3 since 2017)
- Compressing FLAC archives to AAC for the limited storage of older iPods, Apple Watches, and Bluetooth-only devices
- Converting FLAC field recordings to AAC for AirDrop sharing — iOS strips uncommon formats, AAC always passes through
//comparison
FLAC vs AAC
| Property | FLAC | AAC |
|---|---|---|
| Compression | Lossless (FLAC level 5) | Lossy (AAC LC 192 kbps) |
| Typical size (3 min) | 18-25 MB | 4-5 MB |
| Quality at default | Bit-perfect | Transparent at 192 kbps |
| Apple ecosystem | No native iOS support | Native iOS/macOS hardware decode |
| Patent / royalty | Open, royalty-free | Licensed (Fraunhofer) |
| Best for | Archival, mastering | iPhone, AirPods, CarPlay, YouTube |
//how_it_works
How It Works
Drop your FLAC files
Drag and drop or pick FLAC files. First conversion loads FFmpeg WASM (~30MB).
FFmpeg decodes FLAC
FFmpeg WASM parses FLAC stream info and decodes residuals + predictors back to 16-bit PCM at the source rate.
AAC encode (192 kbps)
PCM is re-encoded with FFmpeg's native AAC encoder at 192 kbps CBR, then ADTS-framed for standalone .aac output.
Download AAC files
AACs play in iTunes, iPhone, every modern car head unit, Sonos, VLC, and most Bluetooth devices.
// under the hood
FLAC compresses PCM losslessly via linear prediction. AAC (Advanced Audio Coding) is a lossy MDCT-based codec — the MPEG-4 successor to MP3, with significantly better quality per bit. Our converter uses FFmpeg WASM to decode the FLAC stream to 16-bit PCM, then re-encode with FFmpeg's native AAC encoder at 192 kbps CBR, output as ADTS-framed raw .aac.
//faq
Frequently Asked Questions
- Will FLAC to AAC lose audio quality?
- Yes. AAC is lossy — it discards frequency content the psychoacoustic model deems inaudible. At 192 kbps AAC LC on a FLAC source the loss is generally inaudible on phones and earbuds, but it's a one-way transform. Always keep the original FLAC for future re-encodes.
- Why convert FLAC to AAC instead of MP3?
- AAC is markedly better than MP3 at the same bitrate (192 kbps AAC ≈ 256 kbps MP3 in blind tests) and is the native format for the Apple ecosystem. iPhones, iPads, Apple TV, and CarPlay handle AAC with hardware decoding (lower battery drain). Apple Music and YouTube also stream AAC by default.
- What AAC bitrate do you use?
- We encode with FFmpeg's native AAC encoder at 192 kbps CBR — the iTunes Plus and Apple Music default profile. Sample rate is preserved from the FLAC (44.1 or 48 kHz). 192 kbps is the practical transparency threshold for AAC LC on most material.
- Will the AAC play in non-Apple players?
- Yes — AAC is part of the MPEG-4 standard and plays in VLC, Windows Media Player, Android, every modern car head unit, Sonos, and most Bluetooth devices. The output is a raw .aac (ADTS-framed) stream; if you need MP4 container with metadata, use the M4A export instead.
- Are my FLAC files uploaded?
- No. FFmpeg WebAssembly runs entirely in your browser. The FLAC is decoded and the AAC is encoded locally — files never leave your device.
//related_converters
Related Converters
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→Convert FLAC to OGG
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→Convert MP3 to AAC
Convert MP3 audio files to AAC format for Apple and streaming services.
→Convert WAV to AAC
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→Convert OGG to AAC
Convert OGG Vorbis audio to AAC format for Apple devices and streaming services.
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