Convert M4A to MP3 Online — Universal Compatibility
Convert Apple M4A files to universal MP3 for playback on any device or player.
Drop up to 50 files at once — no install, no sign-up required.
Drop M4A Files Here
Encrypted EU Servers Auto-delete 1h
How it works
- 1 · Drop your files
Drag & drop or choose M4A files. No account required—paid plans unlock bigger batches, higher limits, and priority queues.
- 2 · We convert securely
Processed on our dedicated servers. Encrypted in transit & at rest. We never store filenames—only file types & sizes for accounting.
- 3 · Download & auto-delete
Grab your MP3 files in seconds. Files delete automatically after 1 hour. Delete anytime after downloading with one click.
M4A (MPEG-4 Audio) is Apple's container format for AAC-encoded audio, introduced with iTunes in 2001. AAC itself was standardized by MPEG in 1997 (MPEG-2) and enhanced in 1999 (MPEG-4), achieving compression ratios of 8:1 to 12:1. M4A has become synonymous with Apple's ecosystem—it's the default for iTunes purchases, Apple Music downloads, and iPhone voice memos. At equivalent bitrates, AAC delivers better quality than MP3, with 256 kbps M4A typically matching 320 kbps MP3.
Learn more: M4A on Wikipedia
M4A supports sample rates up to 96 kHz and up to 48 audio channels, including surround sound configurations. The main limitation is compatibility—while modern devices handle M4A well, older hardware and some software (particularly on Windows and Linux) may not support it natively. For universal playback, MP3 remains the safer choice. M4A excels for Apple-centric workflows: syncing to iPhone, organizing in iTunes/Music app, or archiving Apple Music downloads.
MP3 (MPEG-1 Audio Layer III) revolutionized digital audio when it was standardized in 1993 by the Fraunhofer Society. Using psychoacoustic compression, MP3 removes audio frequencies that humans typically cannot perceive, achieving 10:1 compression or better while maintaining excellent subjective quality. MP3 supports sample rates from 8-48 kHz and 16-bit audio. At 256 kbps, most listeners cannot distinguish MP3 from the original source in blind tests.
Learn more: MP3 on Wikipedia
MP3 remains the most universally compatible audio format, supported by every music player, smartphone, computer, and web browser. While newer codecs like AAC and Opus offer marginally better compression efficiency, MP3's ubiquitous support makes it the safest choice for sharing audio. The format's patents expired in 2017, making it completely free to use without licensing concerns.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between M4A and MP3?
Will converting M4A to MP3 reduce audio quality?
Why would I convert M4A to MP3?
What MP3 settings do you use?
How do file sizes compare between M4A and MP3?
What happens to iTunes metadata and album art?
How long can my audio files be?
What are the limits for this converter?
| Tier | Max File Size | Max Files/Batch | Parallel Processing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free | 50 MB | 50 files | 3 at once |
| Pro | 500 MB | 200 files | 6 at once |
| Business | 2048 MB | 1000 files | 10 at once |
Note: File size limits are specific to this converter. Batch and parallel processing limits apply to all images converters site-wide. See all converter limits →
How are credits calculated for this conversion?
Cost: 1 credit per 5 minutes
How it works:
- Files up to 5 minutes: 1 credit (minimum)
- 6-10 minutes: 2 credits
- 11-15 minutes: 3 credits
- 16-20 minutes: 4 credits
Example: A 10-minute file = 1 credit. A 180-minute (3h) audiobook = 36 credits.
Why per-minute? Audio conversion time scales with content duration, not file size. Longer audio requires proportionally more processing.
What are my daily and monthly credit limits?
Credit allocations vary by account tier:
| Tier | Daily Limit | Monthly Limit |
|---|---|---|
| Free | 50 credits/day | — |
| Pro | — | 10,000 credits/month |
| Business | — | 30,000 credits/month |
Daily credits (Free tier, including guests) reset every day at midnight UTC. Monthly credits (Pro & Business) reset on your billing cycle date.
Note: With 1 credit per 5 minutes, audio files under 5 MB cost 1 credit each. Pro users can convert 10,000 audio files per month.
Answers at a Glance
Quick answers to common questions.
- Are my files secure?
- How long do you keep my files?
- What metadata do you keep?
- What happens after I drop a file?
- Why are conversions so fast?
- How do you measure performance?
- What are the exact limits for each plan?
- Can I process files in bulk?
- Why did my file fail to convert?
- Do you use my files to train AI?
Choose Your Plan
Limits shown for M4A to MP3 conversion. One subscription unlocks the entire Tools.FAST Network. Plans cover Convert.FAST, Compress.FAST, PDF.FAST (soon), and all future tools.
Free
For occasional personal use
- 50 MB per file
- 50 files per batch
- 3 parallel conversions
- 50 credits/day
- Standard priority
- Email support
No sign-up required. Create an account for your own credit pool.
Pro
For independent work
- 500 MB per file
- 200 files per batch
- 6 parallel conversions
- 10,000 credits/month across Tools.FAST
- High priority
- Email & chat support
- One subscription for the entire Tools.FAST network
Business
For production scale
- 2 GB per file
- 1000 files per batch
- 10 parallel conversions
- 30,000 credits/month across Tools.FAST
- Add seats to invite team members
- Highest priority
- Priority email & chat support
- One subscription for the entire Tools.FAST network
How Credits Work
- Usually 1 credit per conversion. Exact cost shown before you start.
- Credits refresh monthly on your billing cycle.
- Unused credits roll over, capped at your plan's monthly amount.
- One subscription, all sites. Works across Convert.FAST, Compress.FAST, and future tools.
What's New in M4A to MP3
Latest improvements to this converter
Initial release of M4A to MP3 converter with high-quality LAME encoding.