How to Convert Audio to ALAC (Apple Lossless) Online — Free
ALAC, the Apple Lossless Audio Codec, keeps every detail of your source audio while playing natively on iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple Music. Our free browser-based converter turns FLAC, M4A, WAV, and many other files into ALAC with no software to install and no account to create.
What is ALAC, and how does it differ from MP3 and FLAC?
ALAC is a lossless codec, meaning it preserves the audio exactly as it was in the source with no quality discarded. Lossy formats like MP3 and AAC permanently throw away data to shrink the file, so they sound smaller but cannot match the original. FLAC is also lossless and delivers essentially the same audio quality as ALAC; the practical difference is support. FLAC historically had no native playback on Apple devices, while ALAC works out of the box across iTunes, Apple Music, iOS, and macOS.
Technically, ALAC handles 16-bit and 24-bit audio at sample rates up to 96 kHz, and the ALAC stream is stored inside an .m4a (MP4) container, the same wrapper used by many Apple files.
When should you choose ALAC?
ALAC is the natural pick when you live in the Apple ecosystem and want lossless quality without conversion hassles on playback. Common reasons to use it include:
- Archiving a music collection at full quality for the long term.
- Syncing lossless files to an iPhone, iPad, or Mac without extra apps.
- Importing into iTunes or Apple Music libraries that prefer .m4a.
- Moving away from FLAC when you need guaranteed Apple compatibility.
How to convert your audio to ALAC online
Using the free ALAC converter takes only a few steps:
- Open the converter and upload a file from your device (up to 500 MB) or paste a link.
- Confirm ALAC is selected as the output format.
- Start the conversion and download the finished .m4a file.
One important note: converting from a lossy source, such as an MP3 or AAC file, cannot restore quality that was already discarded. ALAC will faithfully preserve whatever audio it receives, but the best results come from a lossless or original source like WAV or FLAC.
Frequently asked questions
Is ALAC really lossless?
Yes. ALAC preserves the source audio exactly, with no quality lost compared to the original. It delivers the same audio fidelity as FLAC.
Can I convert FLAC to ALAC without losing quality?
Yes. Both FLAC and ALAC are lossless, so converting from FLAC to ALAC keeps full quality. The main gain is native playback on Apple devices.
Why does my ALAC file have an .m4a extension?
The ALAC stream is stored inside an .m4a (MP4) container. That is normal: the file is Apple Lossless audio wrapped in the standard MP4 container.
Will converting MP3 to ALAC improve the sound?
No. MP3 is lossy, so the discarded data is gone for good. Converting to ALAC preserves the file as-is but cannot restore quality already lost.
What bit depths and sample rates does ALAC support?
ALAC supports 16-bit and 24-bit audio at sample rates up to 96 kHz, which covers standard CD-quality and high-resolution archiving.