Best FLAC Converter for Mac Lossless and High-quality

FLAC is a lossless audio compression format widely welcomed by music enthusiasts. But Apple’s audio players such as QuickTime, iTunes, and the later Music app can’t open it. To make FLAC files compatible across the whole Mac system, you should convert them to Apple-supported formats. Today, we are going to discuss the best FLAC converter for Mac.

We‘ve tested the top 8 FLAC converters for Mac with the ability to turn FLAC into your desired audio formats. To help you compare them more conveniently, We’ll go into details with pros, cons, user experience, but if you’re in a rush and just want to know our top picks, here’s the list.

 

The Best FLAC Converter for Mac You Should Use in 2024

1.Cisdem Video Converter - The best FLAC converter for Mac. Comes with a full sets of video converting features, convert FLAC to 320 kbps MP3, convert FLAC to ALAC, etc. Download videos from 1000+ of sites. Build in video editing functionality. Comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee.

2. AII2MP3 - Convert FLAC to MP3 in 2 simple steps.

3. X Lossless Decoder - Completely free software that convert FLAC files in batches.

4. MediaHuman Audio Converter - Bulk FLAC converter that doesn’t compromise on quality.

5. Switch Audio File Converter - A versatile music converter that offers a decent free version and can process files in batches.

6. Bigasoft Audio Converter - Audio converter that comes with tons of features.

7. iSkysoft Video Converter Ultimate - Fast video converter that supports various formats.

8. fre:ac - Convert FLAC to MP3 and lossless format, edit metadata.

 

#1 Cisdem Video Converter

Compatibility: macOS 10.12 Sierra or above, Apple Silicon Macs included

Cisdem Video Converter is our first pick for FLAC conversion. It's capable of converting both audio and video files, 350+ formats provided in total, of which more than 50 audio formats and codecs. As the best FLAC converter Mac worthy of the name, it can quickly and massively change audio from larger lossless formats to smaller ones to save space.

Thanks to an impressive range of features bundled, the app also does well in downloading online songs, albums, and movies; ripping content from music videos, editing videos, and the like.

Despite the Mac FLAC converter being so powerful, its minimalist interface makes it easy to operate by any level of users, even for complete novices.

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Follow the guide to convert FLAC audio files on Mac with Cisdem:

Step 1. Import FLAC files.

Run the best FLAC converter for Mac. Upload your FLAC files by dragging and dropping them onto the “Convert” interface directly.

Step 2. Select the target format.

Open the format panel where format profiles are sorted. Either switch to the "General Audio" category or “Apple Software” > “iTunes” to choose a compatible format for Mac.

Step 3. Adjust output settings if need.

Click to the right-hand side of the format. Then, tweak settings prior to transcoding FLAC.

Step 4. Convert FLAC to MP3 or other formats on Mac.

When all settings are done, start the conversion process by clicking the spin button in the lower right corner. In a very short time, you can find your converted files from the finished tab.

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#2 AII2MP3

Compatibility: Mac OS X 10.7 Lion to macOS 10.13 High Sierra

All2MP3 is a wonderful FLAC converter, especially for music lovers and producers. As the name suggests, it helps you convert all music and audio formats to MP3. With an intuitive interface, Mac users can easily create MP3 from a wide range of formats such as FLAC, MPC, AIFF, WAV, OGG, etc. If your target output format is MP3, AII2MP3 is indeed a good choice. The drag and drop design lets you add your audio files lightning fast.

Two simple steps to convert FLAC files to MP3 with All2MP3:

1. After launching All2MP3, drag and drop your FLAC files to the interface of this tool directly or add FLAC files by click “+ Add” button at the bottom.
2. Convert to MP3 immediately with a click on “Convert” button.

 

#3 X Lossless Decoder

Compatibility: Mac OS X 10.11 El Capitan or higher

X Lossless Decoder, only designed for the Apple system, is an open-source conversion tool supporting all major lossless audio formats. It is really convenient to convert FLAC with it. Apart from transcoding, it can also play AIFF, WAV, and MP3 files directly.

However, unlike other traditional FLAC converters for Mac, you won’t see the main interface after opening the APP, which makes users confused about how to use the software correctly. You can learn XLD configuration guide for beginners here.

Steps to convert FLAC with X Lossless Decoder successfully:

1. Run the software, and click “XLD - Preferences” in the menu bar.
2. Set the desired options, mainly including “Output format”, “Output directory”, “Maximum #Threads” and “File Naming”.
3. Add your FLAC files on Mac by clicking “File - Open”.
4. Start conversion. The process of conversion will be finished in very short time and files will be stored in the folder you set up in advance.

 

#4 MediaHuman Audio Converter

Compatibility: macOS 10.12 Sierra or later

MediaHuman Audio Converter is an easy-to-use program that lets macOS users convert FLAC files to MP3, M4R, or other formats. Once installed, you can FLAC music into various formats for free. This tool will give you the most authentic experience on your cellphones and musical devices. The conversion is quick and won’t impact the quality of the audio. Using MediaHuman is easy and doesn’t require any tech skills. This is why many Mac users prefer this application.

The following is the guide on how to convert FLAC with the best FLAC converter for Mac --- MediaHuman Audio Converter:

1. Add FLAC files that you need to convert by dropping files or clicking “+” button.
2. Choose the output format.
3. Begin to convert your audio file by clicking the conversion icon.

 

#5 Switch Audio File Converter

Compatibility: Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard or above

Switch Audio File Converter is a free audio converter developed by NCH Software. It keeps routinely updated. The app helps you convert FLAC to common as well as no-so-common audio formats like MIDI, GSM, DS2, VOX, CDA, etc. The audio enhancement and editing features are extensive, and there is even an audio effects option, ensuring your final files are tailored to your liking.

To import and convert FLAC files, you just need to click the “Add Files” button, select your audio file, and click Convert. Much easier than most of the tools on the market.

Read the following tutorial helps you convert FLAC audio files on Mac by Switch Audio File Converter:

1. Import FLAC files from your Mac. Your FLAC files can be imported either by dragging to the interface directly or clicking the button “Add” at the top of the interface.
2. Set the output formats for your FLAC audio. At the bottom of the interface, You can choose the output formats you need and the file location to be stored.
3. Start your conversion by clicking “Convert”. Your FLAC files then will be converted quickly.

 

#6 Bigasoft Audio Converter

Compatibility: Mac OS X 10.4 Tiger or later

Bigasoft Audio Converter, as indicated by its icon, is a music converter that facilitates simple conversion between widely used audio formats. Not only does this smart tool allow you to convert FLAC files on Mac, but it also comes with practical functions and a design that puts the users first. For example, users can find the tutorial on how to convert audio files in the interface.

Before the conversion, you can trim, merge and split the audio. And during conversion, you can pause, stop, and continue at any moment. These distinctive features make it easy to operate.

Steps to convert FLAC on Mac using Bigasoft Audio Converter:

1. Run the software and add FLAC files that you wish to convert.
2. (Optional) Before conversion, you can trim or merge the audio files.
3. Set the output format and file destination.
4. Click on the blue button in the lower right corner to start the conversion.

#7 iSkysoft Video Converter Ultimate

Compatibility: Mac OS X 10.10 Yosemite or later

iSkysoft Video Converter Ultimate helps convert video, audio and even DVD file to various formats, including MP4, FLAC, MOV, HD MPEG, etc. This best FLAC converter on Mac provides you a solution to convert your FLAC files with simple operation and high quality. The program opens with an intuitive interface, divided into several modules that enclose the tool’s major functions, which allows you to easily finish your task. This software is intended to be a complete video and audio manager.

Steps to convert FLAC on Mac using iSkysoft Video Converter Ultimate:

1. Run iSkysoft on your Mac. And you can click the “Add Files” button or drag the audio file directly to the central area.
2. Set the target format and output folder. And click “Convert” to start the audio conversion on your Mac.

 

#8 fre:ac

Compatibility: Intel and Apple Silicon Macs, macOS 11 Big Sur or later

fre:ac was originally developed to convert audio to MP3 and loss/lossless format. Now, it is an audio converter as well as a CD ripper. Its UI is multilingual and supports 43 languages.

With this free FLAC converter for Mac, you can create audio formats from FLAC effortlessly. It also helps you turn audio files into any regular format like MP3, WAV, AAC, FLAC, WMA, etc. in high sound quality. Before conversion, you have the ability to supplement the file with artist, title, album, genre, and other metadata information.

Steps to convert FLAC on Mac using fre:ac:

1. Import FLAC files. You can either drag to the blank area or click the first button at the top of the interface.
2. Select the target encoder format you need and decide on the location where the converted file gets saved.
3. After these settings have been adjusted, you can start your conversion with a click on start button.

 

Questions and Answers

1. What is FLAC?

FLAC (Free Lossless Audio Codec) is an audio format similar to MP3. Audio files compressed in FLAC has no any quality loss. Due to its lossless compression, FLAC is widely used in audio， especially for classical music. However, it is difficult to play FLAC audio on Mac. The inconvenience makes Mac users convert FLAC to other more manageable and portable formats, like MP3, AAC, WAV.

2. Is FLAC better than MP3?

FLAC and MP3 are both popular music formats. As lossless file format, FLAC doesn't destroy any of the original audio messages after compression. In contrast, MP3 is a lossy file format which means that the compression may cause MP3 files sound distortion. In terms of sound quality, FLAC, to some degree, is better than MP3.
However, it is not absolutely right. For example, if you do not have a good headphones, you cannot distinguish the difference between FLAC and MP3. What’s more, if you are running out of your laptop’s memory and need a small size format, perhaps MP3 is the right one for you. Therefore, the answer is really up to you.

3. Can iTunes convert FLAC to MP3 on Mac?

No, iTunes does not support FLAC files so it cannot convert FLAC to MP3. Therefore, if you are trying to convert FLAC to MP3, give up iTunes and try best FLAC converters for Mac just mentioned in this article. You won’t be disappointed!

 

Conclusion

Mac users have a high demand for best FLAC converter. After in-depth testing and analysis of various FLAC converters for Mac, we’ve found the best options to help you convert FLAC audio files quickly and efficiently. When you finish reading this article, we wish you have found an ideal one that best suits your need.