Format comparison
AAC vs AIFF
How do AAC and AIFFcompare? Here's everything you need to know to choose the right format — and how to convert between them.
.aac
Full guide →Advanced Audio Coding
AAC is the successor to MP3, offering better sound quality at lower bitrates. It's the default audio format for Apple Music, YouTube, and most streaming platforms.
.aiff
Full guide →Audio Interchange File Format
AIFF is Apple's uncompressed audio format, the macOS equivalent of WAV. It stores full-quality audio data and is commonly used in professional audio production on Apple systems.
| Specification | AAC | AIFF |
|---|---|---|
| Full name | Advanced Audio Coding | Audio Interchange File Format |
| Extension | .aac | .aiff |
| MIME type | audio/aac | audio/aiff |
| Category | Audio | Audio |
| Developer | ISO / Fraunhofer / Dolby / Sony / Nokia | Apple |
| Year introduced | 1997 | 1988 |
| Compression | Lossy | Lossless |
AAC advantages
- Better quality than MP3 at same bitrate
- Default format for iTunes and Apple Music
- Widely used in streaming
- Supports up to 48 channels
AAC limitations
- Patent-encumbered
- Slightly less universal than MP3
- Encoding quality varies by implementation
- DRM can restrict usage
AIFF advantages
- Lossless — full audio quality
- Native macOS support
- Rich metadata support
- Industry standard in Apple-based studios
AIFF limitations
- Very large file sizes
- Less universal than WAV on Windows
- No compression in standard form
- Being replaced by ALAC/FLAC
Which should you use?
AAC is practical for everyday listening with good compression. AIFF is essential for professional audio work where every detail matters.
Best uses for AAC
Apple Music and iTunes
YouTube and streaming platforms
Mobile music playback
Digital broadcasting (DAB+)
Best uses for AIFF
Professional audio on macOS
Logic Pro and GarageBand projects
Audio mastering
High-quality audio archival
Convert between AAC and AIFF
Need to switch formats? Convert for free with SquishConvert.