MP3 to M4A Converter
Drop in MP3 files and get M4A back in seconds, processed entirely on your device.
MP3 files (most other audio and video files work too). Files stay on your device.
How it works
- Choose your MP3 file, or drop it on the page. You can add several files at once.
- Choose M4A quality: a bitrate (96 to 256 kbps; 128 to 192 kbps is typical) or leave the default.
- Click Convert. Processing happens on your device and shows progress; you can cancel at any time.
- Preview the result and download the M4A file. With several files, download them all as one ZIP.
About MP3 to M4A conversion
MP3 (MPEG-1/2 Audio Layer III) suits music libraries, podcasts and sharing when you cannot know what the listener uses. M4A (MPEG-4 Audio, AAC in an MP4 container) suits iPhone and Apple Music libraries, ringtones (.m4r), and better quality than MP3 at the same size.
Both formats are lossy, so converting re-encodes the audio and costs a little quality each time. Keep your MP3 original, and choose a M4A bitrate at least as high as the source for the best result.
For a 4-minute track, a typical MP3 file is about 6 MB and a typical M4A file is about 5 MB. Your own result depends on the bitrate and the audio itself.
MP3 vs M4A
M4A support: Native on Apple devices, Android and Windows. Older car stereos and some budget players may refuse it.
MP3 support: Plays on virtually every phone, car stereo, TV, browser and media player made in the last 25 years.
| Detail | MP3 | M4A |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Lossy | Lossy |
| Codec | MP3 | AAC |
| Typical bitrate | 128 to 320 kbps; 192 kbps is a common balance | 96 to 256 kbps; 128 to 192 kbps is typical |
| A 4-minute track | about 6 MB | about 5 MB |
| File extensions | .mp3 | .m4a, .mp4, .m4r |
| Best for | music libraries, podcasts and sharing when you cannot know what the listener uses | iPhone and Apple Music libraries, ringtones (.m4r), and better quality than MP3 at the same size |
| Introduced | 1993 | 2001 |
Quality and compatibility notes
- M4A: The same file can hold lossless Apple Lossless (ALAC), so the extension alone does not tell you whether it is lossy.
- MP3: Each re-encode loses a little more detail, and there is no true gapless support without extra tags.
- M4A bitrate range: 96 to 256 kbps; 128 to 192 kbps is typical.
- Tags: M4A stores MP4 metadata atoms (iTunes style), including cover art and chapters.
Questions
Does converting MP3 to M4A reduce quality?
A little. Both MP3 and M4A are lossy, so converting re-encodes the audio. A high bitrate keeps the loss very small, and keeping your original avoids any permanent change.
How big will the M4A file be?
For a 4-minute track, a typical MP3 file is about 6 MB and a typical M4A file is about 5 MB. Your own result depends on the bitrate and the audio itself.
Is my MP3 file uploaded anywhere?
No. The conversion runs in your browser on your device. The file is never sent to a server, and nothing is stored after you close the page.