Convert.FAST

Convert WAV to FLAC Online — Lossless Compression for Archival

Compress WAV to FLAC and save 50-70% storage with zero quality loss.

Drop up to 50 files at once — no install, no sign-up required.

Drop WAV Files Here

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

Encrypted EU Servers Auto-delete 1h

Median WAV → FLAC time (last 10k jobs): 1066ms per minute

How it works

  1. 1 · Drop your files

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

  2. 2 · We compress 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 FLAC files in seconds. Files delete automatically after 1 hour. Delete anytime after downloading with one click.

WAV (Waveform Audio File Format) is an uncompressed audio format developed by Microsoft and IBM in 1991. It stores raw PCM (Pulse Code Modulation) audio data, preserving every sample from the original recording without any quality loss. WAV supports 16/24/32-bit depth, sample rates from 8 kHz to 192 kHz (commonly 44.1/48 kHz), and up to 65,535 channels. It's the standard working format for audio professionals in recording studios, broadcast facilities, and sound design workflows worldwide.

Learn more: WAV on Wikipedia

The main tradeoff is file size: a 3-minute stereo track at CD quality (44.1kHz, 16-bit) is approximately 30 MB. While this makes WAV impractical for streaming or portable devices, it remains essential for editing, archiving, and any workflow where audio quality is paramount. Converting to MP3 reduces file size by 90% or more while maintaining perceptually transparent quality for most listeners.

FLAC (Free Lossless Audio Codec) is the open-source standard for lossless audio compression, developed by Xiph.Org Foundation and released in 2001. Unlike MP3 or AAC, FLAC compresses audio without discarding any data—the decoded output is bit-for-bit identical to the original. Typical compression ratios are 50-60%, meaning a 100 MB WAV becomes a 40-50 MB FLAC with zero quality loss.

Learn more: FLAC on Wikipedia

FLAC has become the format of choice for audiophiles, music archivists, and streaming services like Tidal, Qobuz, and (as of 2025) Spotify. It supports metadata, album art, and cue sheets for track indexing. The tradeoff is size and compatibility: FLAC files are 3-5x larger than equivalent MP3s, and some older devices lack native support. For permanent archives, FLAC preserves quality that can later be converted to any format without generation loss.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between WAV and FLAC?

WAV (Waveform Audio) stores uncompressed audio data-perfect quality but very large files. FLAC (Free Lossless Audio Codec) compresses the same audio data with zero quality loss, typically reducing file size by 50-70%. Both are lossless, but FLAC is much more space-efficient.

Will converting WAV to FLAC reduce audio quality?

No. FLAC is a lossless codec-your audio will be bit-for-bit identical to the original WAV. You get the same perfect quality with much smaller files. Convert with confidence knowing nothing is lost.

Why would I convert WAV to FLAC?

Space savings without compromise. FLAC files are typically 50-70% smaller than WAV while preserving 100% of the audio quality. FLAC also supports metadata (artist, album, track info) and is widely supported by media players. Need to edit your audio later? Convert FLAC back to WAV with zero quality loss.

What compression level do you use?

We use FLAC compression level 5 (the default), which provides an excellent balance between file size and encoding speed. Higher levels marginally reduce file size but take much longer. Level 5 achieves most of the compression benefit with fast processing.

How do file sizes compare between WAV and FLAC?

A typical 4-minute song might be 40-50 MB in WAV versus 20-30 MB in FLAC. The exact ratio depends on the audio content-simple audio compresses better than complex audio. Expect 50-70% size reduction with no quality loss.

Can I convert multiple WAV files at once?

Yes-that's what we're built for. Drop up to 50 files at once. We process 3 conversions in parallel, so batches complete faster than sequential tools.

What happens to metadata?

WAV files typically contain minimal metadata. The conversion preserves audio properties (sample rate, bit depth, channels). If your WAV has embedded metadata, it transfers to the FLAC output. You can add richer metadata to FLAC files afterward using tools like MusicBrainz Picard.

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 albums to full concert recordings and audiobooks.

Which devices and players support FLAC?

Most modern devices. Android phones, Windows/Mac/Linux computers, many car stereos, and audiophile hardware support FLAC natively. iPhones require third-party apps (VLC, Flacbox). Streaming services like Tidal and Amazon Music HD use FLAC for lossless streaming.

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.

Choose Your Plan

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

Monthly Annual 4 Months Free

Free

$0

For occasional personal use

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

No sign-up required. Create an account for your own credit pool.

Popular

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 WAV to FLAC

Latest improvements to this converter

Last updated December 15, 2025
Dec 15, 2025

Initial release of WAV to FLAC converter with lossless compression.