Free MP3 Converter
Convert any audio or video file to MP3 online. Supports M4A, WAV, FLAC, OGG, AAC, WMA, OPUS, MP4, MKV and 10+ more formats. No signup, no software to install.
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Supports M4A, WAV, FLAC, OGG, AAC, WMA, AIFF, OPUS • Max 100 MB
Convert to MP3
13 converters — audio and video files to MP3
Convert Apple M4A/AAC audio to universally compatible MP3. Perfect for iTunes and iPhone recordings.
AudioCompress uncompressed WAV files to MP3. Reduce file size by 90% with minimal quality loss.
AudioConvert lossless FLAC to portable MP3. Ideal for moving audiophile collections to phones and players.
AudioConvert AAC streams and files to MP3. Works with .aac, .m4a, and .m4b files.
AudioConvert OGG Vorbis and Opus audio to MP3 for wider device compatibility.
VideoExtract audio from MP4 video files. Save music, podcasts, or lectures as MP3.
Convert from MP3
Convert MP3 files to other audio formats
Convert MP3 to uncompressed WAV for editing in DAWs, video projects, and professional workflows.
LosslessConvert MP3 to lossless FLAC format. Useful for software that only accepts FLAC input.
AudioConvert MP3 to OGG Vorbis for web audio, game engines, and open-source projects.
AudioRe-encode MP3 as M4A (AAC) for native compatibility with Apple devices and iTunes.
Which Converter Do I Need?
Not sure which tool fits your use case? Here is a quick guide based on what you are starting with:
| I have… | Use | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| iTunes / iPhone files | M4A to MP3 | Apple Music downloads, Voice Memos, GarageBand exports, iTunes purchases in M4A/AAC format. |
| Studio recordings | WAV to MP3 | Large WAV files from DAWs (Audacity, FL Studio, Ableton). Reduce size by 90% for sharing. |
| Hi-fi music library | FLAC to MP3 | Lossless FLAC collections that need to fit on a phone, car USB, or portable player. |
| YouTube / web videos | MP4 to MP3 | Extract audio from downloaded MP4 videos — lectures, podcasts, music videos. |
| WhatsApp voice notes | OPUS to MP3 | WhatsApp, Telegram, and Discord voice messages stored in OPUS format. |
| Old Windows audio | WMA to MP3 | Legacy Windows Media Audio files that modern devices may not support. |
| Game / web audio | OGG to MP3 | OGG Vorbis files from games, web apps, or open-source software that you need as MP3. |
| Mac / Pro Tools audio | AIFF to MP3 | AIFF files from Mac-based audio production that need to be shared or uploaded. |
MP3 Bitrate Guide
Bitrate determines the trade-off between audio quality and file size. Higher bitrate means better quality but larger files. Here is how each setting compares:
| Setting | Bitrate | File Size | Quality | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| VBR V0 | ~245 kbps | ~1.8 MB/min | Transparent | Archival, critical listening, audiophile |
| VBR V2 | ~190 kbps | ~1.4 MB/min | Near-transparent | Music (recommended for most users) |
| CBR 320 | 320 kbps | ~2.4 MB/min | Maximum | DJing, mixing, maximum compatibility |
| CBR 192 | 192 kbps | ~1.4 MB/min | Very good | General music, streaming quality |
| CBR 128 | 128 kbps | ~0.9 MB/min | Good | Podcasts, audiobooks, speech |
| VBR V6 | ~130 kbps | ~1.0 MB/min | Acceptable | Previews, background music, low storage |
Tip: VBR (Variable Bit Rate) allocates more bits to complex passages and fewer to silence, giving better quality per byte than CBR (Constant Bit Rate). We recommend VBR V2 for music and CBR 128 for speech.
File Size Explorer
MP3 vs Other Audio Formats
How does MP3 compare to other popular audio formats? Here is a side-by-side comparison:
| Format | Type | Quality | File Size | Compatibility | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MP3 | Lossy | Good | Small | Universal | Everything — the safest default choice |
| AAC/M4A | Lossy | Better | Small | Very wide | Apple ecosystem, modern devices & apps |
| OGG Vorbis | Lossy | Better | Small | Moderate | Games, web, Spotify, open-source |
| OPUS | Lossy | Best lossy | Smallest | Growing | VoIP, streaming, low-latency audio |
| FLAC | Lossless | Perfect | Medium | Wide | Archival, audiophile, hi-fi streaming |
| WAV | Uncompressed | Perfect | Large | Universal | Professional editing, mastering, DAWs |
| WMA | Lossy | Good | Small | Windows only | Legacy Windows apps (mostly obsolete) |
Bottom line: MP3 is the universal format. It plays on every device, every OS, every app. If you need maximum compatibility and small file sizes, MP3 is the answer. If you need higher quality at similar sizes, consider AAC. For lossless archival, use FLAC.
What Is MP3?
MP3 (MPEG-1 Audio Layer III) is the most widely used digital audio format in the world. Developed by the Fraunhofer Institute in the early 1990s, MP3 uses psychoacoustic compression to discard audio frequencies that are imperceptible to most human ears, achieving file sizes 10–12x smaller than uncompressed audio.
Key technical facts:
- Codec: MPEG-1 Layer III / MPEG-2 Layer III
- File extension:
.mp3 - Bitrate range: 8–320 kbps (VBR or CBR)
- Sample rates: 8, 11.025, 12, 16, 22.05, 24, 32, 44.1, 48 kHz
- Channels: Mono, Stereo, Joint Stereo, Dual Channel
- Metadata: ID3v1 and ID3v2 tags (title, artist, album, cover art)
- Patents: All MP3 patents expired by 2017 — format is now royalty-free
Despite being over 30 years old, MP3 remains the default audio format for music distribution, podcasts, and audio storage due to its universal compatibility across billions of devices worldwide.
How It Works
Converting to MP3 with Convertio takes three simple steps:
- Upload your file — drag and drop or click to browse. We accept audio files (M4A, WAV, FLAC, OGG, AAC, WMA, OPUS, AIFF, AMR) and video files (MP4, MOV, MKV, WebM) up to 100 MB.
- Choose quality settings — select VBR or CBR mode and pick your preferred bitrate. VBR V2 is the recommended default for music.
- Download your MP3 — conversion takes seconds. Your MP3 file is ready to download immediately. Files are auto-deleted from our servers within 2 hours.
Common Use Cases
Music Libraries
Build a universal music collection that plays on every device, car stereo, and media player.
Podcasts & Audiobooks
Convert lectures, interviews, and audiobooks to MP3 for offline listening on any podcast app.
Video Audio Extraction
Pull the audio track from video files for music, lectures, or sound effects without the video.
Phone & Tablet
Convert FLAC or WAV files to MP3 so they fit on your phone without eating all your storage.
Voice Messages
Convert WhatsApp OPUS and Telegram OGG voice notes to MP3 for archival or sharing.
Car Audio & USB
Many car stereos only support MP3 on USB drives. Convert your library for road trips.
Platform Compatibility
MP3 is supported on virtually every platform and device made in the last 25 years:
| Platform | Support | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Windows | Native | Supported since Windows 98. Built into Media Player, Groove, and every third-party player. |
| macOS | Native | Plays in Music (iTunes), QuickTime, and all major players. Full Finder preview support. |
| Linux | Native | Supported in all desktop environments. GStreamer, PulseAudio, and Pipewire handle MP3 natively. |
| iOS / iPhone | Native | Supported since the original iPhone. Works in Music app, Voice Memos, Files, and all third-party apps. |
| Android | Native | Supported on every Android device. Hardware decoder in all modern SoCs. |
| Web browsers | Native | Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge all play MP3 via <audio> element without plugins. |
| Car stereos | Universal | USB, Bluetooth, and CD-based players all support MP3. The de facto standard for car audio. |
| Smart speakers | Universal | Alexa, Google Home, HomePod, Sonos — all support MP3 playback. |
MP3 Conversion Guides
In-depth articles on MP3 encoding, quality settings, and audio processing
M4A to MP3 — 14 guides
Compare encoding methods and learn why VBR produces better quality at smaller file sizes.
LUFS targets for Spotify, YouTube, Apple Music, podcasts, and broadcast. Understand loudness standards and normalize your audio.
Change playback speed of Voice Memos, audiobooks, and iTunes files. Pitch-preserving tempo change from 0.5x to 2x.
Fix thin-sounding iPhone recordings and iTunes audio with a low-shelf EQ boost from +3 to +20 dB.
WAV to MP3 — 13 guides
Choose the right MP3 bitrate for uncompressed WAV sources. Compare CBR and VBR with file size calculations.
Convert and normalize in one step. Choose -14 LUFS for streaming, -16 for podcasts, or -23 for broadcast.
Adjust tempo of uncompressed WAV files. Slow down studio recordings for practice or speed up for listening.
Bass boost WAV files before MP3 encoding for the cleanest results. Ideal for DJ tracks and car audio.
FLAC to MP3 — 9 guides
Choose the right MP3 bitrate for lossless FLAC sources. Compare encoding methods and pick optimal settings.
Convert and normalize in one step. Choose -14 LUFS for streaming, -16 for podcasts, or -23 for broadcast.
Change speed of hi-res FLAC files. Lossless source provides the cleanest input for tempo changes.
Maximum headroom for clean bass boost. 24-bit FLAC provides the ideal starting point for low-end enhancement.
AAC to MP3 — 8 guides
Pick the best MP3 bitrate for your AAC source. Compare VBR and CBR with recommendations by source quality.
Convert and normalize in one step. Choose -14 LUFS for streaming, -16 for podcasts, or -23 for broadcast.
Adjust tempo of AAC podcast downloads and lectures. Pitch-preserving speed change from 0.5x to 2x.
Compensate for lossy-to-lossy bass loss with pre-conversion bass enhancement from +3 to +20 dB.
OGG to MP3 — 10 guides
Pick the best MP3 bitrate for your OGG Vorbis source. Compare VBR and CBR with quality recommendations.
Convert and normalize in one step. Choose -14 LUFS for streaming, -16 for podcasts, or -23 for broadcast.
Change speed of OGG Vorbis game audio and recordings. Pitch-preserving tempo change from 0.5x to 2x.
Restore bass impact to compressed game audio and OGG music files. Low-shelf EQ with automatic limiter.
Opus to MP3 — 4 guides
Opus codec explained: low latency, speech + music hybrid, 6-510 kbps range, and why it beats MP3 and AAC.
Opus vs MP3 codec comparison: quality at every bitrate, device support, streaming, and when to use each format.
Convert Opus voice messages from WhatsApp and Telegram to MP3. Find .opus files on your phone and convert for sharing.
Optimal Opus bitrates: 24-32 kbps for speech, 96-128 kbps for music. VoIP, streaming, and archival recommendations.
MP4 to MP3 — 1 guide
MP3 to WAV — 8 guides
44.1 vs 48 kHz, 16-bit vs 24-bit, stereo vs mono — which WAV settings should you use?
How Convertio uses 28-bit precision resampling with Shibata dithering for artifact-free WAV output.
Slow down MP3 for transcription or speed up for editing. Uncompressed WAV output for DAW compatibility.
Bass boost without lossy re-encoding. Perfect for car audio, PA systems, and DJ setups.