Convert AIFF to MP3 Online
Free, private AIFF to MP3 converter. Your files never leave your browser. All processing happens locally on your device.
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FormatShift converts files directly in your browser. Your files never leave your device, so there's nothing to intercept or leak.
Instant Export
Files convert on your machine, so downloads are ready right away, even on slow connections.
High Fidelity
Good encoding keeps your files looking and sounding right, even at smaller sizes.
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How to convert AIFF to MP3
Drop your AIFF file
Drag your file onto the converter above, or click to browse your files. Your files stay on your device.
Automatic conversion
FormatShift converts your file right in your browser using WebAssembly. No server involved, so your data stays completely private.
Download your MP3 file
Once the conversion finishes, click the download button and you are done. The converted file is ready to use.
Why convert AIFF to MP3?
AIFF and MP3 serve different purposes. Converting between them lets you use whichever format works best for your situation.
What is a AIFF file?
Audio Interchange File Format: AIFF is Apple's version of WAV. It stores uncompressed audio at full quality and is commonly used in music production on macOS. The quality is identical to WAV, just in a different container.
Created by: Apple, first released in 1988
Used for: Music production on Mac, audio mastering, professional studio work
Technical details: Uncompressed PCM audio, similar to WAV. Supports metadata and loop markers. Files are large, comparable to WAV.
Compatibility: Natively supported on macOS and iOS. Most audio editors and players can open AIFF, though WAV is more common on Windows.
What is a MP3 file?
MPEG-1 Audio Layer III: MP3 is the most widely used audio format. It uses lossy compression to shrink music files to roughly a tenth of their original size while keeping quality that most people find perfectly acceptable for everyday listening.
Created by: Fraunhofer Society, standardized in 1993
Used for: Music files, podcasts, audiobooks, portable audio, streaming
Technical details: Lossy compression with variable or constant bitrate. Common bitrates are 128, 192, and 320 kbps. Higher bitrate means better quality and larger files.
Compatibility: Plays on every device, browser, media player, and audio application in existence.
AIFF vs MP3
| Feature | AIFF | MP3 |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Audio Interchange File Format | MPEG-1 Audio Layer III |
| Best for | Music production on Mac, audio mastering, professional studio work | Music files, podcasts, audiobooks, portable audio, streaming |
| Compatibility | Natively supported on macOS and iOS. Most audio editors and players can open AIFF, though WAV is more common on Windows. | Plays on every device, browser, media player, and audio application in existence. |
| Pros | Perfect quality, good metadata support, native Mac format | Tiny file sizes, universal compatibility, good enough quality for most listeners |
| Cons | Very large file sizes, less common than WAV outside the Apple ecosystem | Lossy compression means some audio detail is permanently removed |