Audio formats differ in quality, file size, and compatibility. Choosing the wrong format means either unnecessarily large files or poor audio quality. Here's everything you need to know.
Lossy vs Lossless Audio
Lossy: Removes audio data the ear is unlikely to notice. Much smaller files. Examples: MP3, AAC, OGG, Opus.
Lossless: Preserves all audio data. Perfect quality, larger files. Examples: FLAC, WAV, AIFF.
MP3
The most widely supported audio format. Uses psychoacoustic model to remove sounds you can't hear. Standard quality at 128kbps (~1MB/min). High quality at 320kbps (~2.4MB/min). Works on every device and platform ever made.
Best for: Music sharing, email attachments, compatibility.
AAC
Apple's default format. Better quality than MP3 at the same bitrate — AAC at 128kbps ≈ MP3 at 192kbps. Used by Apple Music, YouTube, and most streaming services. Widely supported.
Best for: Apple devices, streaming, modern apps.
FLAC
Free Lossless Audio Codec. Perfect quality — mathematically identical to the original. Typically 40-60% smaller than WAV. Supported on most modern devices (Android, Linux, modern Windows, VLC). Not natively supported on older iOS (use ALAC instead).
Best for: Music archiving, audiophile listening.
WAV
Uncompressed PCM audio. Perfect quality, huge files (~10MB/minute for CD quality). Professional standard for recording and editing. No quality loss during editing (unlike MP3 which degrades each save).
Best for: Audio production, professional recording.
OGG Vorbis and Opus
Open-source lossy formats. Opus is particularly excellent for voice/speech at low bitrates (32-64kbps). Used by Discord, WhatsApp voice messages. Excellent quality at small file sizes.
Quick Format Decision
- Music for sharing: MP3 at 192-320kbps
- Music archiving: FLAC
- Voice/podcast: MP3 at 64-128kbps or Opus at 32-64kbps
- Audio production: WAV or AIFF
- iPhone: AAC or ALAC