Works with .aif, .aiff and 24-bit files
The two extensions are the same format. Add either and you get an .mp3 back. Our 24-bit test file converted with no setting to change and no error.
AIFF to MP3 Converter
Add an AIFF or AIF file and get an MP3 back, about 16 times smaller in our test. No software to install.
To convert aiff to mp3, add the .aif or .aiff file, keep MP3 as the output format and download the result. In our test a 24-bit stereo AIFF of 2.6 MB became a 161 KB mp3 at 128 kbps, with title, artist and album kept and the cover picture left out.
Transfers use HTTPS, and files converted on the free tier are deleted after 24 hours, so the result is not a long-term archive. Quality depends on the source file, so open the MP3 file once before you share it.
FromAIFFLossless
AIFF (Audio Interchange File Format)
Apple's uncompressed audio container, built on Electronic Arts' IFF and specified in version 1.3 in January 1989. It usually holds linear PCM, so the sound is stored as recorded and the files are large. It is common in Mac-based music production, uses .aif or .aiff, and can carry text chunks for name, author, copyright and annotations.
ToMP3Lossy
MP3 (MPEG-1 Audio Layer III)
The oldest widely used lossy audio format, dating from the early 1990s. Its compression is less efficient than AAC, but virtually every car stereo, portable player, operating system and audio program made since can open it.
A 10-second 24-bit stereo AIFF test tone with tags and cover art, converted on indox.org
- AIFFthe original, 24-bit stereo, 44.1 kHz, 10 s
- 2.6 MB
- MP3from indox, 128 kbps, about 16× smaller
- 161 KB
- AIFF mono16-bit, 22.05 kHz, 6 s
- 265 KB
- MP3 monofrom indox, 32 kbps
- 24 KB
Why use indox to convert AIFF to MP3?
Nothing to install, on Mac or anywhere else
The conversion runs on indox servers, so it works in the browser on a Mac, a Windows PC, an iPhone or an Android phone. You do not need GarageBand, Logic or a desktop converter.
Tags and limits shown from a real run
We converted a tagged AIFF and read the MP3 back. Title, artist and album carried over; the cover art did not. The page also says what happens when you pick no bitrate.
What happens to your AIFF
Stays
- Your original AIFF, which is not touched
- Title, artist and album tags, in our test
- The sample rate and channel count when you pick no setting, 44.1 kHz stereo in our test
- The length of the audio, plus about 31 ms of encoder padding
Changes
- Compression: lossless PCM becomes lossy MP3
- File size: 2.6 MB became 161 KB in our test, about 16 times smaller
- Bitrate: 128 kbps for 44.1 kHz stereo when none is set
- Frequencies above about 16.6 kHz are cut in our test
- Cover art: the embedded picture is dropped
How do I convert AIFF to MP3 online?
- 1
Add your AIFF or AIF file
Drop the file on the box or choose it from your device. Keep the original AIFF. It is your uncompressed master, and an MP3 cannot be turned back into it.
- 2
Confirm MP3, then start the conversion
Check that MP3 is the output format, then start. We used the default settings. In our test it took 4.2 seconds from the click to Completed for a 2.6 MB file.
- 3
Download the MP3 and play it
Save the MP3 and listen to a few seconds before you send it. If you added cover art to the AIFF, add it again in your music app, because it is not carried over.
What do I get from indox's AIFF to MP3 converter?
You hand over an AIFF or AIF file and take away an MP3 small enough to email, upload or put on a phone. Before you convert, the page says what MP3 cannot keep, so you can judge whether the result fits the job.
- One MP3 for each AIFF you add, in a few clicks
- Nothing installed on a Mac, a PC or a phone
- What changes is stated from our own measured run
- Your original AIFF is left as it was
What are the limits for AIFF to MP3?
Size
The upload box shows the live size limit before you add a file. Signing in raises it; a paid plan does not change it.
Formats
AIFF in, MP3 out. Pick another output on the converter if you need a different format.
Privacy
Files are encrypted in transit over HTTPS and processed on indox infrastructure.
Deletion
Free-tier files are kept for 24 hours after the job finishes, then deleted automatically.
Limits worth knowing
- MP3 is lossy and cannot be turned back into AIFF. Keep the AIFF if you may mix, edit or master the track again.
- Embedded cover art is dropped. An MP3 made here has no picture unless you add one afterwards in a music app.
- We did not test AIFC, the compressed variant of AIFF, or files larger than a few megabytes. We cannot say how those behave here.
- The bitrate depends on the source when you set nothing. We saw 128 kbps for 44.1 kHz stereo and 32 kbps for a 22.05 kHz mono file. A quiet voice recording at a low sample rate may therefore sound thinner than you expect.
- We saw no upload size limit or quota message in our run, but we only tested small files. The page states that files converted on the free tier are deleted after 24 hours, so download your MP3 promptly.
When the result is not what you expected
| What you see | Why | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| The MP3 has no cover picture | An MP3 made here carries no image from the AIFF | Add the artwork again in your music app |
| The audio sounds thinner than the AIFF | MP3 is lossy and a low-rate or mono source gets a low default bitrate | Compare with the AIFF, and keep the AIFF for editing and mastering |
| You need a lossless copy | MP3 cannot be a lossless version of the AIFF | Use AIFF to WAV or AIFF to FLAC if you want to keep every sample |
| A site still rejects the file | Renaming the extension does not change the contents | Upload the converted .mp3, not a renamed AIFF |
| The MP3 is a little longer than the AIFF | The encoder adds a few milliseconds of padding, 31 ms in our test | No action is needed |
What do the free and paid plans add?
Free
- All converters
- Daily credit refresh
- Email support
Basic
- Access to all features
- AI Extract
- Priority conversions
- Email support
Highest priority
Premium
- Everything in Basic
- Highest priority queue
- Priority support
Pay-As-You-Go
- No subscription
- Credits never expire
- Opt-in auto-refill
- Access to all features
Which conversions are close to AIFF to MP3?
AIFF vs MP3: what is the difference?
| Compared on | AIFF | MP3 |
|---|---|---|
| Compression | Usually uncompressed PCM, so the sound is stored as recorded | Lossy, so hard-to-hear detail is discarded and files are smaller |
| File size | Large. 2.6 MB for 10 seconds of 24-bit stereo in our test | Small. 161 KB for the same clip at 128 kbps |
| Typical use | Music production and archives on Apple systems | Sharing, playback on phones and cars, uploads |
| Tags | Text chunks, and ID3 tags in some files | ID3 tags, with optional cover art |
| Where it opens | Mac apps and most audio editors | Practically every player, phone, car stereo and web page |
Who can use a AIFF to MP3 converter?
When to use it
- Sending a rough mix from GarageBand or Logic to a collaborator by email.
- Putting an AIFF track on a phone, a car USB stick or an old player that only reads MP3.
- Uploading a voice recording to a podcast host or website that does not accept AIFF.
- Making a small listening copy of an uncompressed master for a client, while the AIFF stays on your drive.
Where can I read more about converting files?
Sources
- AIFF (Audio Interchange File Format)Library of Congress
- MP3 (MPEG Layer III Audio Encoding)Library of Congress
- FFmpeg Codecs Documentation: libmp3lameFFmpeg
Facts checked on November 5, 2026
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AIFF to MP3 FAQs
How do I convert AIFF to MP3 for free?
Open the converter, add your AIFF or AIF file, keep MP3 as the output and download the result. You do not need GarageBand, iTunes or any software on your computer.
Will converting AIFF to MP3 lose quality?
Yes, some. AIFF is uncompressed and MP3 discards sound that is hard to hear. In our test the MP3 lost the very highest frequencies, with the sweep stopping near 16.6 kHz instead of 20 kHz. For listening this is often fine, but keep the AIFF as a master.
What bitrate will my MP3 have?
In our test we picked nothing. A 44.1 kHz stereo file came out at 128 kbps and a 22.05 kHz mono file at 32 kbps. We did not test other settings, so we cannot show a 320 kbps result here.
Why is the MP3 so much smaller than the AIFF?
AIFF stores every sample of the audio without compression, and an MP3 stores a reduced version. Our 2.6 MB AIFF became a 161 KB MP3, about 6% of the size. Real music with more detail than our test tones may come out larger.
Are tags and album art kept?
Partly. In our test the title, artist and album were readable on the MP3. The 300 × 300 cover picture inside the AIFF was not carried over, so add it again in your music app.
Can I convert 24-bit AIFF files?
Yes. Our 24-bit, 44.1 kHz test file converted with no setting to change and no error.
Is an AIF file the same as an AIFF file?
Yes. AIF and AIFF are the same format with a shorter and a longer extension. Both are accepted here and the output is an .mp3 file.
How do I convert AIFF to MP3 on a Mac or an iPhone?
Open the converter in Safari or any browser on the device, add the file and download the MP3. Nothing needs to be installed. The Music app on a Mac also has its own import setting for creating MP3 copies, if you prefer to stay in the app.
Should I keep my AIFF files after converting?
Yes if you may edit or master the audio again. An MP3 cannot be turned back into the original, so treat it as a listening copy.