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Convert M4B to M4A Online — Strip Chapter Markers

Convert M4B audiobook files to standard M4A format. Strips chapter metadata and bookmarks.

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50 MB or 2 hours per file Up to 50 files 3 parallel conversions 1 credit per 5 minutes

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How it works

  1. 1 · Drop your files

    Drag & drop or choose M4B files. No account required—paid plans unlock bigger batches, higher limits, and priority queues.

  2. 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. 3 · Download & auto-delete

    Grab your M4A files in seconds. Files delete automatically after 1 hour. Delete anytime after downloading with one click.

M4B is Apple's audiobook format, essentially an M4A file with chapter markers and bookmark support. Introduced with iTunes in 2003, M4B uses AAC audio encoding in an MPEG-4 container—the same codec as M4A—but with additional metadata for chapter navigation and resume-position bookmarks. This makes M4B ideal for long-form audio content like audiobooks and podcasts. Files from Audible (after DRM removal), iTunes Store, and Librivox commonly use M4B format.

Learn more: M4B on Wikipedia

M4B supports sample rates up to 96 kHz and multi-channel audio, though most audiobooks use mono or stereo at 44.1 kHz for efficiency. The chapter markers embedded in M4B files enable navigation to specific sections—a feature lost when converting to formats like MP3 or WAV. For maximum compatibility with car stereos, older MP3 players, and non-Apple devices, converting M4B to MP3 is often necessary. For archival or editing, WAV extraction provides lossless quality.

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.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between M4B and M4A?

M4B and M4A use the same AAC audio codec and deliver identical audio quality. The only difference is metadata: M4B files contain chapter markers and bookmarks designed for audiobooks, while M4A is a standard audio container. When you convert M4B to M4A, the audio stream is preserved exactly—only the chapter metadata is stripped.

Will converting M4B to M4A reduce audio quality?

No. Both M4B and M4A use the same AAC codec. Converting M4B to M4A is a metadata-only operation—the audio stream is copied without re-encoding. Quality remains identical. For universal MP3 compatibility, try our M4B to MP3 converter. For lossless archival, use our M4B to WAV converter.

Why would I convert M4B to M4A?

Compatibility and simplicity. Some devices or players don't recognize the M4B extension but handle M4A perfectly. Converting to M4A also strips chapter markers, which can simplify playback on players that don't support chapter navigation. If you're sharing audiobook files with non-Apple users, M4A is often better recognized.

What happens to chapter markers and bookmarks?

Chapter markers are stripped. The output M4A file contains the full audio stream without chapter metadata. Resume-position bookmarks are also removed. If you need to preserve chapters for audiobook navigation, keep the original M4B file or use a player that supports chapter markers.

How do file sizes compare between M4B and M4A?

File sizes are nearly identical. Since both formats use the same AAC audio codec and only differ in metadata, the output M4A file will be the same size as the input M4B file (minus a few kilobytes of chapter metadata).

What happens to iTunes metadata and album art?

Audio properties (duration, sample rate, channels) and text metadata (title, artist, album) are preserved. Embedded album art is stripped due to container format constraints—keep your original M4B if cover art is important.

How long can my audio files be?

Duration limits depend on your plan: Guest/Free: 120 minutes, Pro: 600 minutes (10 hours), Business: 3000 minutes (50 hours). This accommodates everything from short clips to full audiobook chapters and podcasts.

What are the limits for this converter?

TierMax File SizeMax Files/BatchParallel Processing
Free50 MB50 files3 at once
Pro500 MB200 files6 at once
Business2048 MB1000 files10 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:

TierDaily LimitMonthly Limit
Free50 credits/day
Pro10,000 credits/month
Business30,000 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.

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Limits shown for M4B to M4A conversion. One subscription unlocks the entire Tools.FAST Network. Plans cover Convert.FAST, Compress.FAST, PDF.FAST (soon), and all future tools.

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$0

For occasional personal use

  • 50 MB per file
  • 50 files per batch
  • 3 parallel conversions
  • 50 credits/day
  • Standard priority
  • Email support
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Pro

$9 /month

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

$19 /month

1 seat

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 M4B to M4A

Latest improvements to this converter

Last updated December 16, 2025
Dec 16, 2025

Initial release of M4B to M4A converter for stripping audiobook chapter metadata.