MP3 vs FLAC
Comparing MPEG Audio Layer III and Free Lossless Audio Codec — which format should you use?
| MP3 | FLAC | |
|---|---|---|
| Full Name | MPEG Audio Layer III | Free Lossless Audio Codec |
| Extension | .mp3 | .flac |
| MIME Type | audio/mpeg | audio/flac |
| Category | audio | audio |
MP3 Pros
- +Universal compatibility
- +Good compression with acceptable quality
- +Small file sizes
- +Supported by virtually every device and app
MP3 Cons
- -Lossy — quality lost during compression
- -Inferior quality to FLAC, AAC at same bitrate
- -Patent issues (expired 2017)
- -No support for high-resolution audio
FLAC Pros
- +Lossless — zero quality degradation
- +50-70% compression vs uncompressed
- +Free and open source
- +Wide device and software support
- +Supports metadata and album art
FLAC Cons
- -Larger than lossy formats (MP3, AAC, OGG)
- -Not supported by all portable devices
- -No DRM support
- -Streaming can be bandwidth-intensive
Use MP3 when...
- -Music distribution and streaming
- -Podcasts
- -Audiobooks
- -Voice recordings
Use FLAC when...
- -Music archival and preservation
- -Audiophile listening
- -Music production masters
- -CD ripping for highest quality