AIFF vs WAV — Comparison & Free Converter
Fast, instant AIFF to WAV conversion. No signup required. Just drop your .aiff file and get .wav in seconds.
Batch Settings
Some metadata may not survive
Your AIFF file may contain ID3v2, AIFF chunks metadata. WAV has limited or no support for these metadata types. Location data (GPS), camera settings, and color profiles may be stripped during conversion.
About AIFF to WAV Conversion
AIFF or WAV — which format should you use? The answer depends on your needs. Here's a quick breakdown.
AIFF is Apple's uncompressed audio format — equivalent to WAV in quality. It has mostly universal platform support. WAV is uncompressed PCM audio — studio quality with no data loss, but large file sizes. It has universal platform support.
Full Name: AIFF uses Audio Interchange File Format, while WAV uses Waveform Audio. Compression: AIFF uses None (uncompressed), while WAV uses None (uncompressed). Typical File Size: AIFF uses 10 MB per minute at 44.1 kHz/16-bit stereo, while WAV uses 10 MB per minute at 44.1 kHz/16-bit stereo.
So when should you convert AIFF to WAV? This conversion is ideal when you You need a file that works in web browsers, or when you You need maximum device and software compatibility. This conversion helps you convert between formats quickly.
Converting AIFF to WAV maintains high quality with CocoConvert's optimised encoder settings. Common misconception: ""WAV will be smaller than my AIFF file"" — in reality, wav uses no compression, so the output file is often larger than a lossy aiff. if you need a small file, wav may not be the right choice.
If you've decided WAV is the right choice, CocoConvert makes the conversion effortless. Upload your .aiff file, pick WAV, and click Convert — done in seconds. The converter runs on secure servers in Germany, powered by FFmpeg, Sharp, and qpdf. Files are encrypted via TLS and erased within 24 hours.
Free tier: 5 files/hour, 250 MB each. Pro: 100 files/hour, 5 GB each. Works in every modern browser on desktop and mobile.
How to Convert AIFF to WAV
- 1
Choose your AIFF file
Upload your .aiff file using drag-and-drop or the file browser. Batch mode lets you add multiple files.
- 2
Set format to WAV
Select .wav from the output options. The converter applies optimal quality settings automatically.
- 3
Run the conversion
Click Convert. Server-side processing means your device stays fast — even for large audio files.
- 4
Get your WAV file
Download your converted file instantly. Batch downloads are available as a zip archive.
What Happens When You Convert AIFF to WAV
Your AIFF audio is decoded into raw PCM samples, then re-encoded as WAV. No audio quality is lost in this conversion.
Your AIFF file is decoded — compressed audio becomes raw PCM waveform data
The raw audio is re-encoded using Waveform Audio's none codec
Metadata (tags, artwork, track info) is transferred where WAV supports it
The WAV file is saved and ready for download
AIFF vs WAV — Detailed Comparison
| Feature | .AIFF | .WAV |
|---|---|---|
| Full Name | Audio Interchange File Format | Waveform Audio |
| Compression | None (uncompressed) | None (uncompressed) |
| Typical File Size | 10 MB per minute at 44.1 kHz/16-bit stereo | 10 MB per minute at 44.1 kHz/16-bit stereo |
| Platform Support | Very Wide | Universal |
| Browser Support | Limited | Universal |
| Year Created | 1988 | 1991 |
| Open Standard | No | Yes |
Should You Convert AIFF to WAV?
When to Convert
- ✓You need a file that works in web browsers
- ✓You need maximum device and software compatibility
Common Mistakes When Converting AIFF to WAV
"WAV will be smaller than my AIFF file"
WAV uses no compression, so the output file is often larger than a lossy AIFF. If you need a small file, WAV may not be the right choice.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I use AIFF or WAV?
It depends on your goal. AIFF preserves full quality. WAV preserves full quality. Choose based on whether file size or quality matters more for your use case.
Is WAV higher quality than AIFF?
Not necessarily. Converting AIFF to WAV maintains high quality with CocoConvert's optimised encoder settings. Quality depends on the compression type and settings, not just the format name.
Can I convert AIFF to WAV on Mac and Windows?
Yes. CocoConvert is a web-based tool that works in all modern browsers — Chrome, Safari, Firefox, Edge — on any operating system including macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS, and Android.
Is CocoConvert free for AIFF to WAV?
Yes. Free users get 5 conversions per hour (250 MB each). Pro subscribers unlock 100 files per hour, 5 GB per file, and priority processing.
What tools does CocoConvert use for AIFF to WAV?
CocoConvert uses FFmpeg for audio/video, Sharp for images, and qpdf for documents — the same open-source libraries used by Netflix, YouTube, and major enterprise platforms.
Versions are pinned in our worker Dockerfile and re-built via CI on every change.