Audio & Video Formats Comparison 2024Complete Format Guide & Converter

Comprehensive comparison of audio formats (MP3, FLAC, WAV, AAC, WMA, OPUS, APE, OGG) and video formats (MP4, MOV, AVI, MKV, WEBM, 3GP). Learn about quality differences, compression ratios, and when to use each format.

Whether you're wondering "should I use MP3 or FLAC?", "what's the difference between WAV and MP3?", or "how to convert WEBM to MP3?", this comprehensive guide covers everything about audio and video formats in 2024.

Audio Formats Quick Comparison

Compare quality, file size, and compatibility at a glance

Format	Type	Quality	File Size	Compatibility	Best For	Convert
MP3	Lossy	★★★☆☆	Small	Universal	General listening	Target format
FLAC	Lossless	★★★★★	Large	Good	Archiving	→ MP3
WAV	Uncompressed	★★★★★	Very Large	Universal	Professional	→ MP3
AAC	Lossy	★★★★☆	Small	Good	iTunes/YouTube	→ MP3
WMA	Lossy	★★★☆☆	Small	Limited	Windows	→ MP3
OPUS	Lossy	★★★★☆	Very Small	Limited	Streaming	→ MP3
APE	Lossless	★★★★★	Large	Limited	Audiophile	→ MP3
OGG	Lossy	★★★☆☆	Small	Moderate	Open-source	→ MP3

Video Formats Quick Comparison

Extract audio from any video format

Format	Quality	Compression	Compatibility	Common Use	Extract Audio
MP4	★★★★☆	High	Universal	Most popular	→ MP3
MOV	★★★★★	Moderate	Good	Apple/QuickTime	→ MP3
AVI	★★★☆☆	Low	Universal	Legacy format	→ MP3
MKV	★★★★★	High	Moderate	HD/4K movies	→ MP3
WEBM	★★★★☆	High	Web only	YouTube/Web	→ MP3
3GP	★★☆☆☆	Very High	Limited	Mobile phones	→ MP3

MP3 vs FLAC: Which Should You Choose?

The eternal debate: lossy MP3 vs lossless FLAC. Here's when to use each:

Choose MP3 when:

• You need universal compatibility
• Storage space is limited
• Streaming or sharing music online
• Listening on mobile devices

Choose FLAC when:

• Archiving your music collection
• You have audiophile equipment
• Storage space isn't a concern
• Maximum quality is required

Pro tip: Keep FLAC for archiving and convert to MP3 for daily use.

WAV vs MP3: Understanding the Difference

Uncompressed WAV vs compressed MP3 - a 10x size difference:

WAV advantages:

• Perfect quality (uncompressed)
• Professional standard
• No generation loss
• Best for editing

MP3 advantages:

• 90% smaller file size
• Universal playback
• Metadata support
• Streaming friendly

Recommendation: Convert WAV to MP3 for sharing and storage.

AAC vs MP3: Modern vs Classic

AAC (Advanced Audio Coding) is technically superior to MP3:

AAC benefits:

• Better quality at same bitrate
• More efficient compression
• iTunes/Apple standard
• YouTube audio format

MP3 benefits:

• Universal compatibility
• Works on all devices
• No licensing issues
• Industry standard

Best practice: Convert AAC to MP3 for maximum compatibility.

Video Format Audio Quality Ranking

Audio quality in video formats from best to worst:

🥇
MKV- Supports multiple audio tracks, lossless audio→ Extract
🥈
MOV- High-quality audio, ProRes support→ Extract
🥉
MP4- Good quality, AAC audio standard→ Extract
4️⃣
WEBM- Opus/Vorbis audio, efficient→ Extract
5️⃣
AVI- Variable quality, older format→ Extract
6️⃣
3GP- Low quality, mobile optimized→ Extract

Common Format Questions & Answers

Is FLAC better than MP3?

FLAC is lossless and preserves all audio data, while MP3 is lossy but much smaller. FLAC is "better" for archiving, but MP3 is more practical for everyday use.

Convert FLAC to MP3 →