FLAC is a lossless audio compression format — it reduces file size to 50–70% of the original without discarding a single sample, producing bit-perfect copies on decompression.
Safe format
Type Audio
By Xiph.Org Foundation
MIMEaudio/flac
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FLAC is a lossless audio compression format — it reduces file size to 50–70% of the original without discarding a single sample, producing bit-perfect copies on decompression. The audiophile's format. Unlike MP3 or AAC, decompressing a FLAC file produces a bit-perfect copy of the source. It is the format of choice for music archivists, hi-fi enthusiasts, and anyone who has ever argued about whether vinyl sounds warmer. FLAC is open-source, royalty-free, and supported by most modern music players (though not iTunes natively — Apple prefers its own ALAC). If WAV is a photocopy of the master tape, FLAC is the same photocopy in a smaller envelope.
Technical details
Full Name
Free Lossless Audio Codec
MIME Type
audio/flac
Developer
Xiph.Org Foundation
Magic Bytes
66 4C 61 43
Safety
.flac is a known, safe format.
What opens it
VLC
FREEAll
Foobar2000
FREEWindows
Apple Music
FREEmacOS / iOS
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FAQ
What is the difference between FLAC and MP3?
FLAC is lossless — it compresses audio without losing any data. MP3 is lossy — it permanently removes audio information to achieve much smaller files. A FLAC file is typically 3–5x larger than an MP3 at 320 kbps. If storage is cheap and quality matters, use FLAC. For portable listening, <a href="https://fwip.app/tools/flac-to-mp3/">convert to MP3 with fwip</a>.
What is the difference between FLAC and WAV?
Both are lossless and sound identical. FLAC compresses the data to about half the size; WAV stores it raw. FLAC also supports metadata (album art, track info). WAV is more universally supported in audio editing software. You can convert freely between them with <a href="https://fwip.app/tools/flac-to-wav/">fwip's FLAC to WAV converter</a> — nothing is lost either way.
Can Spotify play FLAC files?
Spotify does not accept FLAC uploads and streams in OGG Vorbis (or AAC on some devices). Tidal and Apple Music offer lossless streaming (in FLAC and ALAC respectively). If you want to play your own FLAC files, use VLC, Foobar2000, or any modern media player.
Is FLAC really better than MP3?
Technically, yes — FLAC preserves all the original audio data. Perceptually, most listeners cannot tell the difference between FLAC and a high-bitrate MP3 (256–320 kbps) on normal headphones or speakers. FLAC matters most for archival, professional mixing, and high-end audio equipment.