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