FLAC to M4A Converter

Convert FLAC lossless audio to M4A format with AAC compression. Get smaller files optimized for Apple devices, iTunes, and iPhone while keeping excellent audio quality.

FLACM4A

Drop your FLAC file here or click to browse

FLAC (.flac) · Max 20 MB

Free — 10-second preview, 5 conversions/month. Upgrade for unlimited

What is FLAC?

Lossless compression. Perfect quality at roughly half the size of WAV. The choice for audiophiles and archiving.

What is M4A?

Apple's preferred audio format. Better quality than MP3 at same bitrate. Default for iTunes and Apple devices.

Why Convert FLAC to M4A?

FLAC and Apple do not get along: the Music app on iPhone and Mac has never supported FLAC imports, iTunes never did, and while the Files app can preview a FLAC, your library, playlists, and syncing all refuse it. If your music collection is in FLAC and your listening happens on Apple devices, converting to M4A is the practical bridge. The AAC codec inside M4A is excellent — at 256 kbps (the bitrate Apple itself sells music at) the difference from lossless is inaudible in normal listening — and the files are roughly a third the size of the FLAC originals, which matters on a phone. Because the source is lossless, this is the ideal kind of encode: one clean step from the full-quality master, no stacked lossy generations. Two honest notes. First, keep your FLACs — they are the archival masters, and M4A copies are for playback. Second, if you want to stay lossless inside the Apple world, convert to ALAC instead (Apple's own lossless codec, same M4A container) — our FLAC to ALAC tool does exactly that at about double the file size of AAC. Everything converts locally in your browser; your library is never uploaded.

Who Uses This Converter

FLAC library on iPhone

Convert to M4A so your collection imports into the Music app and syncs like any purchase.

One clean encode from lossless

Straight from the master with no stacked lossy steps — the best M4A your files can produce.

A third of the size

Lossless FLAC shrinks ~3× as 256 kbps AAC — a full library fits on a phone.

Keep masters, ship copies

FLAC stays as your archive; the M4As are the copies that travel and play everywhere Apple.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does M4A quality compare to FLAC?

At 256kbps AAC, the difference from FLAC is nearly imperceptible in normal listening. You lose the lossless guarantee, but the audible quality is excellent.

Will my FLAC metadata transfer to M4A?

Yes. M4A has excellent metadata support — title, artist, album, track number, and album art all transfer cleanly.

Is M4A the same as AAC?

M4A is the container file format, and AAC is the codec inside it. M4A files almost always use AAC compression. Think of M4A as the box and AAC as what's inside.

Why will FLAC not play in Apple Music?

Apple has never added FLAC support to the Music app or iTunes — Apple's lossless format is ALAC. Converting FLAC to M4A (AAC) or ALAC is the standard way to get a FLAC library onto Apple devices.

Should I convert to AAC or ALAC?

M4A/AAC for everyday listening — inaudible difference at good bitrates and much smaller files. ALAC (use our FLAC to ALAC tool) if you want bit-perfect lossless inside the Apple ecosystem and can spare roughly double the space.

Do I lose quality converting FLAC to M4A?

Technically yes — AAC is lossy — but encoding straight from lossless FLAC at a good bitrate is transparent for normal listening. Keep the FLAC as your master copy and treat the M4A as the playback copy.

Is this FLAC to M4A converter free?

Yes. Free users get 5 conversions per month. The output is limited to the first 10 seconds as a preview, with a 20MB input file size limit. Upgrade to Pro for unlimited, full-length conversions.