FLAC AlternativesAudio Codecs and other similar apps like FLAC

FLAC is described as 'Stands for Free Lossless Audio Codec, an audio format similar to MP3, but lossless, meaning that audio is compressed in FLAC without any loss in quality. This is similar to how Zip works, except with FLAC you will get much better compression because it is designed' and is a leading Audio Codec in the audio & music category. There are eight alternatives to FLAC for a variety of platforms, including Windows, Linux, Mac, Android and Winamp apps. The best FLAC alternative is Vorbis, which is both free and Open Source. Other great apps like FLAC are Opus, Matroska, WavPack and Apple Lossless.

FLAC iconFLAC
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FLAC stands for Free Lossless Audio Codec, an audio format similar to MP3, but lossless, meaning that audio is compressed...

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FLAC alternatives page was last updated Feb 12, 2025
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  1. Vorbis icon
     292 likes
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    Ogg Vorbis is a fully open, general-purpose compressed audio format for mid to high quality (8kHz-48.0kHz, 16+ bit, polyphonic) audio and music at fixed and variable bitrates from 16 to 128 kbps/channel.

    License model

    • FreeOpen Source

    Application type

    Country of Origin

    • US flagUnited States

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux

    Vorbis VS FLAC

     
    • Most users think Vorbis is a great FLAC alternative.

    • Vorbis is the most popular Windows, Mac & Linux alternative to FLAC.

    • Vorbis is the most popular Open Source & free alternative to FLAC.

    • Vorbis is Free and Open SourceFLAC is also Free and Open Source
  2. Opus icon
     47 likes
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    Opus is a totally open, royalty-free, highly versatile audio codec. Opus is unmatched for interactive speech and music transmission over the Internet, but also intended for storage and streaming applications.

    7 Opus alternatives

    License model

    • FreeOpen Source

    Application type

    Country of Origin

    • International

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux

    Opus Features

    1.  Low Latency
    2.  Royalty free

    Opus VS FLAC

     
  3. Matroska icon
     34 likes
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    The Matroska Multimedia Container is an open standard free container format, a file format that can hold an unlimited number of video, audio, picture, or subtitle tracks in one file.

    License model

    • FreeOpen Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Android

    Matroska Features

    1.  Lossless Compression

    Matroska VS FLAC

     
    • Matroska is the most popular Android alternative to FLAC.

    • Matroska is Free and Open SourceFLAC is also Free and Open Source
  4. WavPack icon
     12 likes
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    WavPack is a completely open audio compression format providing lossless, high-quality lossy, and a unique hybrid compression mode. Although the technology is loosely based on previous versions of WavPack, the new version 4 format has been designed from the ground up to offer...

    License model

    • FreeOpen Source

    Application type

    Country of Origin

    • US flagUnited States

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux

    WavPack Features

    1.  Lossless Compression

    WavPack VS FLAC

     
  5. Apple Lossless icon
     15 likes
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    Apple Lossless (also known as ALAC) is an audio codec developed by Apple Inc. for lossless data compression of digital music.

    7 Apple Lossless alternatives

    License model

    • FreeOpen Source

    Application type

    Country of Origin

    • US flagUnited States

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows

    Apple Lossless Features

    1.  Lossless Compression

    Apple Lossless VS FLAC

     
  6. Copy a direct link to this comment to your clipboard

    Monkey’s Audio makes perfect, bit-for-bit copies of your music, exactly the same as the original. You can decompress your lossless .APE files back to the original files. Think of it as a beefed-up Winzip™ to perfectly recreate the original music CD.

    License model

    • FreeProprietary

    Application type

    Country of Origin

    • US flagUnited States

    Platforms

    • Windows

    Monkey's Audio (.APE) Features

    1.  Lossless Audio
    2.  Lossless Compression
    3.  Lossless quality

    Monkey's Audio (.APE) VS FLAC

     
  7. TAK icon
     4 likes
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    »TAK – [T]om’s lossless [a]udio [k]ompressor / [T]oms verlustfreier [A]udio[k]ompressor – is, as the name already suggests, a lossless audio compressor, similar to FLAC, WavPack and Monkey’s Audio.

    License model

    • FreeProprietary

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Windows
    • Winamp
    • foobar2000

    TAK Features

    1.  Lossless Audio

    TAK VS FLAC

     
  8. Copy a direct link to this comment to your clipboard

    Nero AAC reference quality MPEG-4 and 3GPP audio codec

    • Compression ratios ranging from Ultra High (58 CDs fit on one!) to High-End Audio (2.5:1), for absolutely perfect audiophile encodings
    • Crystal-clear, award-winning sound quality at every compression ratio and bit.

    License model

    • Free PersonalProprietary

    Application type

    Country of Origin

    • DE flagGermany
    • European Union flagEU

    Platforms

    • Windows
    • Linux

    Nero AAC Codec Features

    1.  Command line interface
    2.  AAC

    Nero AAC Codec VS FLAC

     
8 of 8 FLAC alternatives