MP3 vs AIFF
How do MP3 and AIFFcompare? Here's everything you need to know to choose the right format — and how to convert between them.
.mp3
Full guide →MPEG Audio Layer III
MP3 is the most popular audio format in the world. It revolutionized digital music by compressing audio files to a fraction of their original size while maintaining good quality. Nearly every device and application supports MP3.
.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 | MP3 | AIFF |
|---|---|---|
| Full name | MPEG Audio Layer III | Audio Interchange File Format |
| Extension | .mp3 | .aiff |
| MIME type | audio/mpeg | audio/aiff |
| Category | Audio | Audio |
| Developer | Fraunhofer Society / Moving Picture Experts Group | Apple |
| Year introduced | 1993 | 1988 |
| Compression | Lossy | Lossless |
MP3 advantages
- Universal compatibility — works everywhere
- Excellent compression ratios
- Metadata support (ID3 tags)
- Variable and constant bitrate options
MP3 limitations
- Lossy compression — some quality loss
- Not suitable for professional audio production
- Patent-encumbered (patents expired 2017)
- Inferior quality to modern codecs at same bitrate
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?
MP3 is practical for everyday listening with good compression. AIFF is essential for professional audio work where every detail matters.
Best uses for MP3
Best uses for AIFF
Convert between MP3 and AIFF
Need to switch formats? Convert for free with SquishConvert.