AIFF vs WAV: Which Should You Use?
Side-by-side comparison of AIFF and WAV audio formats — features, pros, cons, and conversion options.
AIFF is best for Professional audio production on macOS. WAV is best for Professional audio editing and recording.
Quick Verdict
- ✓ Lossless audio quality
- ✓ Metadata support
- ✓ Professional studio standard on Mac
- ✗ Very large file size
- ✓ Uncompressed lossless quality
- ✓ Universal compatibility
- ✓ No decoding overhead
- ✗ Very large file size
Specs Comparison
Side-by-side technical comparison of AIFF and WAV
| Feature | AIFF | WAV |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Audio | Audio |
| Year Introduced | 1988 | 1991 |
| MIME Type | audio/aiff | audio/wav |
| Extensions | .aiff, .aif | .wav |
| Lossy | ✗ | ✗ |
| Codec | PCM (uncompressed) | PCM (uncompressed) |
| Max Bitrate | unlimited (lossless) | unlimited (lossless) |
| Max Sample Rate | 48 kHz | 4 GHz (theoretical) |
| Channels | Stereo | 65,535 channels |
| Streaming | ✗ | ✗ |
Pros & Cons
AIFF
- ✓ Lossless audio quality
- ✓ Metadata support
- ✓ Professional studio standard on Mac
- ✗ Very large file size
- ✗ Limited streaming support
- ✗ Less cross-platform than WAV
WAV
- ✓ Uncompressed lossless quality
- ✓ Universal compatibility
- ✓ No decoding overhead
- ✗ Very large file size
- ✗ No built-in metadata tags
- ✗ Wasteful for distribution
When to Use Each
Choose AIFF when...
- You need files optimized for Professional audio production on macOS
- Lossless audio quality
- Metadata support
Choose WAV when...
- You need files optimized for Professional audio editing and recording
- Uncompressed lossless quality
- Universal compatibility
How to Convert
Convert between AIFF and WAV for free on ChangeThisFile
Frequently Asked Questions
AIFF is best for Professional audio production on macOS, while WAV is best for Professional audio editing and recording. Both are audio formats but they differ in compression, compatibility, and intended use cases.
It depends on your use case. AIFF is better for Professional audio production on macOS. WAV is better for Professional audio editing and recording. Consider your specific requirements when choosing between them.
Go to the AIFF to WAV converter on ChangeThisFile. Upload your file and the conversion processes on the server, then auto-deletes. It's free with no signup required.
Yes. ChangeThisFile supports WAV to AIFF conversion. Upload your file for server-side conversion — files are auto-deleted after processing.
File size depends on the content and compression settings. AIFF preserves full quality. WAV preserves full quality. For the smallest files, choose the format with lossy compression that meets your quality needs.
AIFF and WAV share some features but differ in others. Check the feature comparison table above for a detailed side-by-side breakdown.
Both AIFF and WAV are supported file formats that are free to use. You can convert between them for free on ChangeThisFile — server-side conversions are free with no signup required.
WAV is newer — it was introduced in 1991, while AIFF dates back to 1988. Newer formats often offer better compression and features, but older formats tend to have wider compatibility.
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