FLAC vs MP3, side by side
| FLAC | MP3 | |
|---|---|---|
| Full name | Free Lossless Audio Codec | MP3 audio |
| Type | Audio | Audio |
| Compression | Lossless | Lossy |
| Best for | archiving and audiophile listening | music, podcasts and sharing where compatibility matters most |
Choose FLAC if…
…you need archiving and audiophile listening.
Choose MP3 if…
…you need music, podcasts and sharing where compatibility matters most.
Convert between them
Frequently asked questions
What's the difference between FLAC and MP3?
Free Lossless Audio Codec (FLAC) is lossless and best for archiving and audiophile listening. MP3 audio (MP3) is lossy and best for music, podcasts and sharing where compatibility matters most.
Is FLAC better than MP3?
Neither is universally better — it depends on your use case. Choose FLAC for archiving and audiophile listening; choose MP3 for music.
Should I use FLAC or MP3?
Use FLAC when you need archiving and audiophile listening. Use MP3 when you need music.
Can I convert FLAC to MP3?
Yes — you can convert FLAC to MP3 (and back) for free, in seconds, right here.
Last updated July 2026