M4A to MP3
M4A to MP3 converts voice memos and other M4A (AAC) audio to MP3 at 128, 192 or 320 kbps with the LAME encoder, running in your browser with no upload.
Drop a video or audio file, paste it, or click to choose one
M4A or AAC audio, such as an iPhone voice memo
Video or audio file · processed on your device, never uploaded
At a glance
- Accepts
- M4A and AAC audio, plus other common audio and video files
- Outputs
- MP3 at 128, 192 or 320 kbps, at the source's length
- Where it runs
- Entirely in your browser, on your device
- What leaves your device
- Nothing - the file never leaves your device
- Limits
- Apple Lossless (ALAC) M4A files and DRM-protected M4P purchases are not supported; MP3 re-encoding loses a little quality
- Account
- Not required - there is no sign-up
- Price
- Free, with no watermark and no usage cap
- Made by
- Visrut
- Last updated
- 11 October 2026
M4A is the audio file iPhones and Macs make: Voice Memos, GarageBand exports, iTunes purchases and many recorder apps all save it. It holds AAC audio, which plays almost everywhere, but some upload forms, transcription services, car stereos and older Windows software still only take MP3. This page re-encodes the M4A to MP3 in your browser, which matters when the recording is an interview, a lecture or a private note.
What a voice memo turns into
Measured on a 10-second, 16 kHz mono AAC test memo: at 128 kbps the MP3 came out as 10.06 seconds of mono audio at 44.1 kHz. The sample rate goes up because MP3's higher bitrates (192 and 320 kbps) only exist at 32, 44.1 and 48 kHz, so the tool always encodes at one of those; it changes nothing you can hear. Mono stays mono, so the file is not padded with a duplicate channel.
Files this page can't convert
- Apple Lossless (ALAC) M4A. Voice Memos in Lossless mode, and some ripped CDs. You get a clear message instead of a broken file.
- Protected .m4p files and Apple Music downloads, which are encrypted.
Converting a recording only so a service will transcribe it? You can skip a step: Transcribe Audio takes the M4A as it is and also runs in your browser.
Frequently asked questions
Will it convert iPhone Voice Memos?
Yes, as long as the memo was recorded in the default Compressed quality, which saves AAC. If Voice Memos is set to Lossless, the file is Apple Lossless (ALAC) inside an .m4a, and this tool can't read that; it will tell you so rather than fail silently.
What bitrate should a voice memo use?
128 kbps. A memo is one voice recorded by a phone microphone, and a higher MP3 bitrate makes the file bigger without making that sound better. Keep 192 or 320 kbps for music.
Does converting M4A to MP3 lose quality?
A little. Both are lossy formats, so going from one to the other means decoding and encoding again. At 128 kbps or above the difference is hard to hear for speech. If the only reason is compatibility, check first: most players, phones and browsers made in the last decade play M4A as it is.
Can it convert songs bought from iTunes?
Songs bought since 2009 are DRM-free AAC files and convert fine. Older protected purchases (.m4p) and Apple Music downloads are encrypted, and no browser tool can read them.