How to use the MP3 to AAC converter
- Choose your MP3 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 AAC". A progress meter shows how far along it is.
- Download your AAC and listen to it right on the page.
Why convert MP3 to AAC?
Some devices, broadcast systems and game engines ask for raw AAC audio. MP3 to AAC creates it.
- MP3: lossy: some detail is removed.
- AAC: better quality than MP3 at the same bitrate.
Use 192 kbps or higher so the extra encoding step does not affect the sound.
MP3 vs AAC
| MP3 | AAC | |
|---|---|---|
| Full name | MPEG-1 Audio Layer III | Advanced Audio Coding |
| Type | Audio | Audio |
| Created by | the Fraunhofer Institute and MPEG (1993) | Moving Picture Experts Group (MPEG) (1997) |
| Compression | Lossy | Lossy |
| Codec | MP3 | AAC |
| Best for | Music, podcasts, audiobooks and ringtones | Streaming, video soundtracks and some phone recordings |
| Plays on | Every phone, computer, car stereo, smart speaker and browser | Most phones, iTunes and VLC; some players skip raw .aac files |
Does converting MP3 to AAC lose quality?
Both formats are lossy, so converting adds a small amount of loss. Use the same or a higher bitrate than your MP3 (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 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.
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.
Frequently asked questions
How much does the MP3 to AAC converter cost?
Nothing. It is free with no registration, no watermark and no limit on how many files you convert.
Are my files safe?
Yes. Files are converted locally in your browser and are never uploaded. When you close the page, nothing is left behind.
Will the AAC sound as good as the MP3?
Both formats are lossy, so converting adds a small amount of loss. Use the same or a higher bitrate than your MP3 (192 kbps covers most files) and the change is inaudible.
Can I convert AAC back to MP3?
Yes, use the AAC to MP3 converter.
An MP3 sounds thin or has artefacts. What should I do?
It was probably encoded at a low bitrate. Re-encoding cannot restore it; find a better source.
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.