How to use the AAC to MP3 converter
- Choose your AAC file or drop it on the box.
- Pick an audio quality. 192 kbps is the usual choice; 320 kbps for music you care about.
- Click "Convert to MP3". A progress meter shows how far along it is.
- Download your MP3 and listen to it right on the page.
Why convert AAC to MP3?
Raw AAC files sometimes show the wrong length, refuse to seek or are rejected by upload forms. MP3 avoids those problems.
- AAC: raw .aac files have limited tag support and seek poorly in some players.
- MP3: plays on every device.
- MP3: small files.
Use at least the same bitrate as the AAC file; 192 kbps covers most sources.
AAC vs MP3
| AAC | MP3 | |
|---|---|---|
| Full name | Advanced Audio Coding | MPEG-1 Audio Layer III |
| Type | Audio | Audio |
| Created by | Moving Picture Experts Group (MPEG) (1997) | the Fraunhofer Institute and MPEG (1993) |
| Compression | Lossy | Lossy |
| Codec | AAC | MP3 |
| Best for | Streaming, video soundtracks and some phone recordings | Music, podcasts, audiobooks and ringtones |
| Plays on | Most phones, iTunes and VLC; some players skip raw .aac files | Every phone, computer, car stereo, smart speaker and browser |
Does converting AAC to MP3 lose quality?
Both formats are lossy, so converting adds a small amount of loss. Use the same or a higher bitrate than your AAC (192 kbps covers most files) and the change is inaudible.
How long does it take?
A few seconds for a song, and under a minute for an hour-long recording on most computers.
What is an AAC file?
AAC is the successor to MP3 and the sound inside most MP4 videos, YouTube and Apple Music. A .aac file is a raw AAC stream (ADTS) without the MP4 wrapper, which some apps and players handle less well than M4A.
What is an MP3 file?
MP3 is the most widely used audio format in the world. It removes sounds people are unlikely to hear, shrinking a song to about a tenth of its CD size. At 192 kbps or higher most listeners cannot tell it from the original, and every device plays it. Its patents expired in 2017, so it is now free to use.
Frequently asked questions
How much does the AAC to MP3 converter cost?
Nothing. It is free with no registration, no watermark and no limit on how many files you convert.
Is my file uploaded to a server?
No. The converter runs inside your browser using WebAssembly, so your file is processed on your own device and never sent to us or anyone else.
Will the MP3 sound as good as the AAC?
Both formats are lossy, so converting adds a small amount of loss. Use the same or a higher bitrate than your AAC (192 kbps covers most files) and the change is inaudible.
Can I convert MP3 back to AAC?
Yes, use the MP3 to AAC converter.
An AAC file shows the wrong length or will not seek. What should I do?
Convert it to M4A or MP3.
Does it work on iPhone and Android?
Yes, in Safari, Chrome and other modern mobile browsers. Short files work best on phones; for long or high-resolution videos a computer is faster.