Best free audio converters for MP3, WAV, OGG, WMA, M4A, FLAC and more!
by Tim Fisher is used to convert one type of audio file (like an MP3, WAV, WMA, etc.) into another type of audio file. If you're unable to play or edit a certain audio file the way you wanted because the format isn't supported by the software you're using, one of these free audio converter software programs or online tools can help.
Audio file converter tools are also helpful if your favorite music app on your phone or tablet doesn't support the format that a new song you downloaded is in. An audio converter can convert that obscure format into a format that your app supports.
Below is a ranked list of the best free audio converter software programs and online converter services available today:
Important: Every audio converter program below is freeware. I haven't listed any shareware or trialware audio converters. Please let me know if one of them has started charging and I'll remove it.
Free Studio's Audio Converter
Free Studio is actually a group of several programs. Just click Convert from the main menu, and then choose the Free Audio Converter option to open the audio converter tool.
Input Formats: AAC, AC3, AIF, AIFF, ALAC, AMR, APE, ASF, AU, CAF, CUE, FLAC, M4B, MKA, MP2, MP3, MPC, OGG, RA, RAM, RM, RMM, RMVB, SHN, SPX, TTA, WAV, and WMA
Output Formats: AAC, ALAC, AMR, FLAC, OGG, M4B, M4R, MP3, WAV, and WMA
Free Studio also lets you extract audio from YouTube, audio CDs, and most video formats.
Download Free Studio Manager for Free
During the setup process, Free Studio asks if you'd like to also install additional unrelated software but it's easy to decline so long as you slow down and read what it is you're accepting or declining.
Free Studio works with Windows 10, 8, 7, Vista, and XP. More »
Switch Sound File Converter.
Another free audio converter is called Switch Sound File Converter. It supports batch conversions and whole folder imports, as well as drag and drop and lots of advanced settings.
You can also use Switch Sound File Converter to extract audio from your video files and CDs/DVDs, as well as capture audio from a live audio stream from the Internet.
Input Formats: 3GA, AAC, ACT, AIF, AIFC, AIFF, AMR, APE, ASF, AU, CAF, CDA, DART, DCT, DS2, DSS, DVF, FLAC, GSM, M4A, M4R, MID, MOH, MP2 ,MP3, MPC, MPGA, MSV, OGA, OGG, QCP, RA, RAM, RAW, RCD, REC, RM, RMJ, SHN, SMF, SPX, VOC, VOX, WAV, WMA, and WV
Output Formats: AAC, AC3, AIFC, AIF, AIFF, AMR, APE, AU, CAF, CDA, FLAC, GSM, M3U, M4A, M4R, MP3, MPC, OGG, PLS, RAW, SPX, VOX, WAV, WMA, and WPL
Download Switch Sound File Converter for Free
Some of the advanced settings in Switch Sound File Converter include deleting the source audio file after a conversion, automatically normalizing audio, editing tags, and downloading CD album details from the Internet.
Another option worth noting is one that lets you set up to three preset conversion formats so that you can right-click on an audio file and choose one of those formats for a quick conversion. It's a huge time saver.
Note: This program is listed as "Trial" but the non-pro features remain free for personal use after the 14-day trial is over.
Mac OS X (10.4 and above) and Windows (XP and newer) users can install Switch Sound File Converter. More »
SUPER
SUPER is very much a superior free audio converter. The best thing about SUPER is the long list of audio formats it supports.
If you have a rare audio file you want to convert to something more common (or vice versa), you should try the SUPER audio converter.
Input Formats: AAC, AC3, AMR, APE, FLAC, MMF, M4A, MP2, MP3, MPC, MPP, OGG, RA, RAM, RM, TTA, WV, WAV, and WMA
Output Formats: AAC, AC3, AMR, APE, FLAC, MMF, MP2, MP3, MPC, OGG, TTA, WV, WAV, and WMA
You can also extract the audio from most common video formats with SUPER and save as any of the above Output Formats.
Important: During installation, be sure to quit/close the "InstallPath Install Manager" window. After it closes, you'll still be able to complete the SUPER install.
Also, bear in mind that some toolbars or other programs may install silently along with SUPER. There is an alternative download link on their download page that doesn't include such additional programs but it's not as easy to download.
SUPER for Free SUPER can seem intimidating but it's only because the program shows several advanced options by default. The SUPER audio converter is actually really easy to use.
It's said that SUPER will work with most versions of Windows. I used SUPER in Windows 10 without any issues. More »
FileZigZag
FileZigZag is an online audio converter service that will convert most common audio formats.
All you do is upload the original audio file, choose the desired output format, and then wait for an email with a link to the converted file.
Input Formats: 3GA, AAC, AC3, AIF, AIFC, AIFF, AMR, AU, CAF, FLAC, M4A, M4P, M4R, MID, MIDI, MMF, MP2, MP3, MPGA, OGA, OGG, OMA, OPUS, QCP, RA, RAM, WAV, and WMA
Output Formats: AAC, AC3, AIF, AIFF, AIFC, AU, FLAC, M4A, M4R, MP3, MMF, OPUS, OGG, RA, WAV, and WMA
FileZigZag Review and Link
The worst thing about FileZigZag is the time it takes to upload the audio file and receive the link in your email. But most audio files, even long music tracks, come in a pretty small size so it's not usually a problem.
FileZigZag should work with all operating systems that support a web browser, like Mac OS X, Windows, and Linux.
Input Formats: 3GA, AAC, AC3, AIFF, AIFC, CAF, FLAC, M4A, M4B, M4R, MIDI, MP3, OGA, OGG, RA, RAM, WAV, and WMA
Output Formats: AAC, AC3, FLAC, M4A, M4R, MP3, OGG, WAV, and WMA
Zamzar Review and Link
The biggest disadvantage with Zamzar is their 50 MB limit for source files. While many audio files are smaller than this, some low compression formats can exceed this small limit.
I also found Zamzar's conversion time slow when compared to other online audio converter services.
Zamzar can be used with pretty much any modern web browser on any OS, such as Windows, Mac, and Linux. More »
Freemake Audio Converter.
Freemake Audio Converter supports several common audio formats and is extremely easy to use.
Input Formats: AAC, AMR, AC3, FLAC, M4A, M4R, MP3, OGG, WAV, and WMA
Output Formats: AAC, FLAC, M4A, MP3, OGG, WAV, and WMA
In addition to converting single audio files into other formats in bulk, you can join multiple files into one larger audio files with Freemake Audio Converter.
You can also adjust the output quality before converting files.
Download Freemake Audio Converter For Free
Note: The installer for Freemake Audio Converter will attempt to install other programs that are unrelated to the converter, so be sure to uncheck those options before finishing setup if you don't want them added to your computer.
You might also want to check out Freemake Video Converter, another program from the same developers as Freemake Audio Converter that supports more audio input formats than this converter (but less audio output formats), and more features like converting local and online videos into MP3.
Freemake Audio Converter can for sure run on Windows 10, 8, and 7, and is likely to work with older versions too. More »
MediaHuman Audio Converter.
If you're looking for a simple program that works without the advanced options and confusing interfaces that some of these audio converter tools have, you'll definitely like MediaHuman Audio Converter.
Just drag and drop the audio files you need converted directly into the program, choose an output format, and then start the conversion.
Input Formats: AAC, AC3, AIF, AIFF, ALAW, AMR, APE, AU, CAF, DTS, FLAC, M4A, M4B, M4R, MP2, MP3, MPC, OGG, OPUS, RA, SHN, TTA, WAV, WMA, and WV
Output Formats: AAC, AC3, AIFF, ALAC, FLAC, M4R, MP3, OGG, WAV, and WMA
Download MediaHuman Audio Converter for Free
If you do want more advanced options, MediaHuman Audio Converter does let you customize things like the default output folder, whether you want to automatically add the converted songs to iTunes, and if you want to search for covert art from online, among other options.
Fortunately, these settings are hidden away and are completely unobtrusive unless you want to use them.
The following operating systems are supported: Windows 10, Windows 8, Windows 7, Windows Vista, Windows XP, Windows Server 2003, and Mac OS X 10.5 and newer. More »
Hamster. © HAMSTER soft
Hamster is a free audio converter that installs quickly, has a minimal interface, and isn't hard to use.
Not only can Hamster convert multiple audio files in bulk, but it can merge the files into one, much like Freemake Audio Converter.
Input Formats: AAC, AC3, AIFF, AMR, FLAC, MP2, MP3, OGG, RM, VOC, WAV, and WMA
Output Formats: AAC, AC3, AIFF, AMR, FLAC, MP3, MP2, OGG, RM, WAV, and WMA
Download Hamster Free Audio Converter for Free
After importing files to convert, Hamster lets you choose any of the output formats from above or pick from a device if you're not sure what format the file needs to be in, like Sony, Apple, Nokia, Philips, Microsoft, BlackBerry, HTC, and others.
Hamster Free Audio Converter is said to work with Windows 7, Vista, XP, and 2000. I used it in Windows 10 without any problems. More »
VSDC Free Audio Converter.
© Flash-Integro LLC
VSDC Free Audio Converter has a tabbed interface that's uncomplicated to understand and isn't cluttered with unnecessary buttons.
Just load up the audio files you want to convert, or enter the URL for an online file, choose the Formats tab to select an output format, and click Start conversion to convert the files.
There's also a tag editor for modifying a track's title, author, album, genre, etc., as well as a built-in player for listening to songs before you convert them.
Input Formats: AAC, AFC, AIF, AIFC, AIFF, AMR, ASF, M2A, M3U, M4A, MP2, MP3, MPC, OGG, OMA, RA, RM, VOC, WAV, WMA, and WV
Output Formats: AAC, AIFF, AMR, AU, M4A, MP3, OGG, WAV, and WMA
Download VSDC Free Audio Converter for Free
Note: The installer will try to add unnecessary programs and tools to your computer if you let it. Be sure to watch for these and disable them if you wish.
If you need to, you can choose an alternative output quality, frequency, and bitrate from the advanced options.
Overall, VSDC Free Audio Converter is just as quick as most of the other tools in this list, and is great for converting your files to a common format.
VSDC Free Audio Converter is said to be compatible with all Windows operating systems. I used the program in Windows 10 and it worked just as advertised. More »
media.io.
© media.io
media.io is another online audio converter, which means although you don't have to download any software to use it, you do have to upload and download your files to make it work.
After loading one or more audio files to media.io, you just need to choose an output quality and one of the output formats from below.
Input Formats: 3GP, AAC, AC3, ACT, ADX, AIFF, AMR, APE, ASF, AU, CAF, DTS, FLAC, GSM, MOD, MP2, MP3, MPC, MUS, OGG, OMA, OPUS, QCP, RM, SHN, SPX, TTA, ULAW, VOC, VQF, W64, WAV, WMA, and WV
Output Formats: MP3, OGG, WAV, and WMA
Visit media.io
Once the files have been converted, you can download them individually or together in a ZIP file.
Unlike the above programs that may work with specific operating systems only, you can use media.io on any OS that supports modern browsers, such as on a Windows, Linux, or Mac compute
Source: https://www.lifewire.com/free-audio-converter-software-programs-2622863
Honorable Mention:
Xrecode
With so many audio file formats, you cannot be certain which ones are supported by your mobile device. Converting them is the best solution if you want a file in a certain format, regardless of what reason you may have. If you want this process to be fast, simple and reliable, Xrecode II will satisfy all your needs. You can use it to batch convert audio files to and from many formats, popular or otherwise.
The program's setup file will take up 7.62 Mb of disk space and you can install it in a manner of seconds. Xrecode II is compatible with Windows XP or higher, in both 32 and 64 bit versions. The system requirements are not high, so if you are using an outdated computer, there is no need to upgrade just yet.
The interface consists of a file list on the upper half, where you can add any number of audio files, regardless of format. A series of options on the lower half will let you make input settings, like deleting, renaming or processing the original files and output settings, which involve setting a save path. The output format can be selected by clicking one of the radio buttons on the lower end of the window. A file may be converted to formats like WAV, WMA, MP3, OGG and many more.
Clicking the radio buttons again will bring up a window where you can make additional settings to the output format. For example, if you choose MP3, you can set a constant or variable bitrate, convert to mono and more. A file's metadata can be changed under the Metadata tab. The lower half of the interface will be replaced with a series of dialog boxes, where you can type an audio track's title, artist, genre, year and so on.
When you are satisfied with the settings, you can click the Start button in the lower right corner of the window. The conversion process will begin and the time it takes to complete depends on the number of files and the settings you make.
Pros:
The interface is very well designed, not for looks, but for functionality. The options are placed in a logical manner, making it easy to convert audio files, using a broad range of formats.
Cons:
The number of formats you can convert from is not equal to the number of formats you can convert to.
If you encounter an audio format you are not familiar with, you can convert it to a more familiar one with Xrecode II. Its flexible and easy to use features make it the ideal converting tool.
You can download Xrecode II free here.
