Compress audio file
Compress MP3 and other audio to a smaller file. Pick a quality, or a size that fits WhatsApp (16 MB) or an email, and the tool shows the bitrate and the new size before it starts. A free way to reduce MP3 file size without sending the file anywhere: nothing is uploaded.
How to compress an MP3 file
- 1Drop an audio file in, or click to choose one
- 2Under "How small", pick a quality or a target size
- 3Read the plan: bitrate, mono or stereo, the new size
- 4Click "Compress" and save the MP3
- A smaller MP3, saved to your device
What happens to your files
- Nothing is uploaded.Your audio is read and compressed by your browser, on your own device
- You see the size first.The plan names the bitrate, mono or stereo, and about how big the file will be
- It fits a size limit.For a target in MB, the tool picks the highest standard MP3 bitrate that fits
What you can do
- Pick a quality under "Pick a quality": 128 or 96 kbit/s for music, 64, 48 or 32 kbit/s for speech
- Aim for a size instead: "WhatsApp (16 MB)", "Email, Gmail (25 MB)", "Email, Outlook (20 MB)" or "Custom size" with your own number of MB
- Shrink recordings in other formats too. WAV, M4A, OGG, OPUS and FLAC files and the sound of MP4, MOV and MKV videos all come out as MP3
- See what it saved: the result shows its size and how many percent smaller it is than before
- Listen to the result in the player before you send it on. It starts only when you press play
Good to know
- The result is always an MP3. Below 96 kbit/s it is saved in mono (one channel)
- Sizes are counted in decimal MB (1 MB = 1,000,000 bytes)
- A target that is too small for the length of the recording is refused, and the tool names the smallest size that works
- If the file is already as small as the quality or the target you picked, the tool says so and does not start
- Compressing takes detail out of the sound for good, so keep the original. The tool works best in desktop Chrome or Edge
Questions
How do I reduce MP3 file size?
Drop the MP3 in, choose a lower quality, such as 96 kbit/s for music or 64 kbit/s for speech, and click "Compress". The plan shows the new size before you start.
How do I make an audio file small enough for WhatsApp or email?
Choose "WhatsApp (16 MB)" or one of the email entries under "How small". The tool then picks the highest MP3 bitrate that keeps the file under that size.
Does a compressed MP3 sound worse?
Somewhat, and more so the further you go. The list marks 128 kbit/s as good for music and 64 kbit/s as good for speech. 32 kbit/s is the smallest setting and meant for speech only.
Is my file uploaded when I compress it online?
No. The file is read and compressed by your browser, on your own device. The tool makes no request with it.
Why is my file mono after compressing?
Below 96 kbit/s the MP3 is saved with one channel. At such low bitrates the bits go further in one channel than spread over two.
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