Format comparison
OGG vs AIFF
How do OGG and AIFFcompare? Here's everything you need to know to choose the right format — and how to convert between them.
.ogg
Full guide →Ogg Vorbis
OGG (Vorbis) is a free, open-source lossy audio format that offers better quality than MP3 at comparable bitrates. It's widely used in gaming, open-source software, and web audio.
.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 | OGG | AIFF |
|---|---|---|
| Full name | Ogg Vorbis | Audio Interchange File Format |
| Extension | .ogg | .aiff |
| MIME type | audio/ogg | audio/aiff |
| Category | Audio | Audio |
| Developer | Xiph.Org Foundation | Apple |
| Year introduced | 2000 | 1988 |
| Compression | Lossy | Lossless |
OGG advantages
- Better quality than MP3 at same bitrate
- Completely free and open source
- No patents or licensing fees
- Good streaming support
OGG limitations
- Less universal than MP3
- Not supported by Apple devices natively
- Smaller ecosystem of tools
- Less mainstream recognition
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?
OGG is practical for everyday listening with good compression. AIFF is essential for professional audio work where every detail matters.
Best uses for OGG
Video game audio
Open-source projects
Web audio (HTML5 fallback)
Streaming platforms
Best uses for AIFF
Professional audio on macOS
Logic Pro and GarageBand projects
Audio mastering
High-quality audio archival
Convert between OGG and AIFF
Need to switch formats? Convert for free with SquishConvert.