AAC VS ALAC
The ultimate comparison guide. Understanding the technical differences between Advanced Audio Coding and Apple Lossless Audio Codec.
AAC
aacSuccessor to MP3 with better sound quality at similar bit rates.
Pros
- Better quality than MP3
- Standard for YouTube/Apple
Cons
- Lossy compression
- Complex licensing
ALAC
alacApple’s proprietary lossless codec designed for iTunes and Apple Music ecosystems.
Pros
- Lossless quality
- Native to Apple devices
- Supports metadata and artwork
Cons
- Bigger files than AAC
- Limited support outside Apple
- Encodes slower than lossy codecs
When AAC wins
Stay with AAC when you need itunes or youtube audio. Its strengths center on better quality than mp3 and a feature set native to Bell Labs.
When ALAC wins
Choose ALAC when your workflow prioritizes apple music libraries or audiophile playback. It delivers lossless quality plus modern compression perks.
Technical Specifications
| Feature | AAC | ALAC |
|---|---|---|
| MIME Type | audio/aac | audio/alac |
| Developer | Bell Labs | Apple |
| Release Year | 1997 | 2004 |
| Best For | iTunes, YouTube Audio, Streaming | Apple Music libraries, Audiophile playback, Mastering archives |
Need to switch?
Where AAC still wins
Keep AAC when you need better quality than mp3 and workflows depend on itunes / youtube audio. Link those teams directly to the converter above so they can ship ALAC deliverables without leaving their browser.
- • Reference the .aac glossary from this page.
- • Embed the conversion CTA in docs, wikis, and onboarding runbooks.
- • Use ALAC for apple music libraries while archiving originals as AAC.
Keep crawlers in the conversion hub
Link this comparison to the relevant tool, glossary, and documentation pages so every crawl discovers a monetizable route.