M4A to ALAC Audio Converter
Drop your M4A files — the ALAC audio is generated in your browser in seconds. Multiple files at once, no upload on the fast path.
9,214+ audio files converted
ALAC (Apple Lossless) is a popular target for a reason: it is best for Lossless libraries in Apple Music. This converter encodes straight to ALAC (Apple Lossless) in your browser, so even large libraries convert quickly and privately — nothing is sent to a server on the fast path.
Looking to programmatically convert M4A to ALAC?
Same engine, available as a JSON API. Drop a file or URL via REST and get the converted audio back — no browser, no UI, no rate limits on paid tiers.
Fast response on common audio pairs
Webhook delivery for batch jobs
Dozens of audio format pairs supported
M4A vs ALAC: how they compare
The numbers and capabilities at a glance, so you know what you're trading.
M4A
- Year released
- 2001
- Compression
- Lossy (AAC) or Lossless (ALAC)
- Lossless
- No
- Channels
- Multichannel
- Player support
- Apple ecosystem
- Best for
- Apple Music & iTunes downloads
ALAC (Apple Lossless)
- Year released
- 2004
- Compression
- Lossless
- Lossless
- Yes
- Channels
- Multichannel
- Player support
- Apple ecosystem
- Best for
- Lossless libraries in Apple Music
Heads up before converting to ALAC (Apple Lossless)
What this specific conversion changes about your audio.
ALAC (Apple Lossless) will not improve your M4A audio
Going from lossy M4A to lossless ALAC (Apple Lossless) cannot recover detail that M4A already discarded. You get a much larger file with the same audible quality. This only makes sense for editing or archiving workflows that need a lossless container.
Best practices for ALAC (Apple Lossless)
Small choices that keep your output sounding right.
- Play the first converted file before batch-converting the rest, so you catch a wrong setting early.
- ALAC (Apple Lossless) is lossless — ideal for editing or archiving. Expect files several times larger than an MP3 or AAC equivalent.
- Check that title, artist, album and cover art survived the conversion; some players cache old tags.
When NOT to convert to ALAC (Apple Lossless)
Cases where a different format serves you better.
When the file must play on older devices
ALAC (Apple Lossless) is not supported everywhere (Apple ecosystem). For old phones, car stereos, or legacy software, MP3 or AAC is a safer choice than ALAC (Apple Lossless).
The importance of a good audio conversion
Why getting M4A → ALAC right matters more than you think.
Frequently asked
The basics everyone asks before dropping a track.
Convert M4A to other formats
Convert other formats to ALAC