AIFF to MP3 converter
Turn bulky AIFF masters from Logic and older iTunes rips into share-ready MP3s a fraction of the size. Conversion happens in your browser — the file never touches a server.
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AIFF (Audio Interchange File Format) is Apple's uncompressed audio container, introduced in 1988 and still the default bounce and export format in Logic Pro and GarageBand. Like WAV, it stores raw PCM samples with no quality loss, which makes it a fine mastering format but a heavy one to move around — roughly 10 MB for every minute of CD-quality stereo, so a four-minute track lands near 40 MB. MP3 uses lossy compression to shrink that same audio to a small fraction of the size while staying transparent to most listeners.
You reach for an AIFF-to-MP3 converter once the lossless master has done its job and you just need a file that travels. AIFF plays cleanly across Apple software but is inconsistent on Windows and Android, and its size runs into email and chat attachment limits quickly. Converting to MP3 gives you one file that opens in any browser, phone, or car stereo, and because this tool runs on your device, the audio is never uploaded anywhere.
How it works
- 1
Drop your AIFF file.
- 2
Pick a quality — VBR high is transparent for most listeners.
- 3
Click convert and download the MP3.
When to use it
- A Logic Pro or GarageBand bounce exports as AIFF — convert it to MP3 to email a rough mix or drop it in a Discord feedback channel without tripping attachment size limits.
- Old iTunes CD imports saved as AIFF eat roughly 10 MB per minute, so converting the library to MP3 lets it fit on a phone or a car's USB stick.
- Sending a preview to a collaborator on Windows or Android, where AIFF playback is unreliable, so an MP3 just opens in whatever player or browser they already have.
AIFF vs MP3
| AIFF | MP3 | |
|---|---|---|
| Lossless | Yes | No |
| Typical size | Large (uncompressed) | Small (~1/10 of WAV) |
| Best for | Apple / pro audio editing | Universal playback & sharing |
| Compatibility | macOS, pro audio tools | Every device and player |
FAQ
Is AIFF higher quality than MP3?
AIFF is uncompressed like WAV, so it's lossless — but that only matters as a master. For playback and sharing, an MP3 at VBR high is indistinguishable to most ears at a fraction of the size.
Should I keep the original AIFF?
Yes — treat AIFF as your lossless master and MP3 as the travel copy. You can always re-make MP3s from AIFF, never the reverse.
What's the difference between AIFF and WAV?
Both store the same uncompressed PCM audio at identical quality and file size, so neither sounds better. The main differences are ancestry and byte order: AIFF is Apple's format (big-endian) and WAV is Microsoft's (little-endian), and AIFF tends to carry track metadata more gracefully inside Apple software. Converting either one to MP3 gives you the same result.
Why are my AIFF files so large?
AIFF has no compression — it writes every sample in full. At CD quality (16-bit, 44.1 kHz, stereo) that's about 10 MB per minute, so a typical song runs 30–50 MB regardless of how simple the music is. MP3 encoding is what brings that down to a few megabytes.
Can I convert AIFF to MP3 without iTunes or the Music app?
Yes. This tool runs entirely in your browser, so there's no iTunes or Music app to configure, no import-settings menu to dig through, and nothing to install. Just drop the AIFF, pick a quality, and download the MP3 — it also works the same way on Windows, where the Apple Music app isn't an option.
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