What is FLAC and Why Audiophiles Care?

FLAC (Free Lossless Audio Codec) can completely preserve all the content of the original recording and also reduce the file size. Therefore, it is highly suitable for archiving, professional listening, and music libraries without device limitations. The high-resolution version usually adopts 24-bit depth, 48/96/192 kHz sampling rates. Compared to 16-bit/44.1 kHz CD audio, it can provide a larger dynamic range and more detailed information.

Best FLAC Music Downloader Software

1. MusicFab All-in-One

MusicFab focuses on converting and saving music from major streaming service platforms into local FLAC format.  It supports over 10 music services, including Spotify, Apple Music, etc. It can keep the ID3 tags, cover images, and lyrics (if there are any). Besides, it's got batch processing and format selection features (including FLAC, M4A, WAV, MP3, AAC, etc.).

MusicFab Key Features:

Download Speed

20x faster than other software. No recording

Formats

FLAC, M4A, WAV, MP3, AAC,OPUS

Quality

Up to 320 kbps.

Free Trial

Download 3 songs from each platform

Download media songs, playlists, albums, podcasts
Advanced Feature Inbuilt browser, batch download
Pros Fastest and stable. User-friendly.
Cons Desktop-only for Windows & Mac

How to save FLAC with MusicFab

Step 1
Install and open MusicFab, pick a service within the main interface.
musicfab
Step 2
Sign in to the chosen service and choose the song or playlists to download. Click the download button on the bottom right.
musicfab
Step 3
Choose FLAC, sample rate, and your output folder on the pop-up window.
musicfab
Step 4
Click Download Now to start the conversion and check the results in the task manager.
musicfab

2. TuneCable BeatOne

TuneCable is a desktop FLAC music downloader that batches songs/playlists/albums from major services (Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon, TIDAL, etc.), outputs FLAC up to 24-bit/192 kHz, preserves ID3 tags, and supports 10X speed on Win/macOS. You can try it to record the first minute of each song during its free trial.

tunecable

Pros

  • Multi-service support (Spotify/Apple/Amazon/TIDAL…)
  • Exports FLAC (and MP3/AAC/WAV/AIFF/ALAC) with tags intact.

Cons

  • Slow recording speed

Want to download albums without any costs? Check this post to know how to download albums for free.

3. NoterBurner Music One

NoteBurner supports major streamers and exports to FLAC with hi-res targets. It can batch download playlists/albums, too. But it is the same as Tunecable, which records music rather than downloads.

noteburner

Pros:

  • Multiple languages support

Cons:

  • Features vary by streaming services.

Best Stores & Sites to Download FLAC Music 

Below are popular FLAC music download sites. I divided it into three categories to meet your different needs, including:

  • Top Hi-Res Audio Stores: Top online stores where you can purchase FLAC files and keep them.
  • Niche & Independent Platforms: Find unique tracks on independent artists and niche genres.
  • Free FLAC Music Resources: Digital libraries and archives about free FLAC music downloads. Perfect for live recordings and classic collections.

1. Hi-Res FLAC Download Sites

Hi-Res FLAC Download Sites
Sites Quality Pros Cons
Qobuz up to 24-bit/192 kHz True hi-res store with per-track purchases.

Catalog and pricing vary by region

Streaming downloads stay in-app (DRM) unless purchased

HDtracks up to 24-bit rates

Multiple file-format choices

30-sec previews

Some region restricted

Single-track purchases limited on many titles

7digital up to 24-bit rates Straightforward purchasing Hi-res is FLAC only
ProStudioMasters up to 24-bit rates Native hi-res masters Some formats vary by title
HIGHRESAUDIO up to 24-bit/384 kHz

Quality control

Very large curated catalog

Download manager and ZIP options

Refunds can be stricter than other stores

No single-track purchases

2. Niche & Independent FLAC Music Platforms

Bandcamp

Bandcamp is an online music store and community platform that lets music lovers directly support artists. It started as a platform for musicians to sell music and merch, and now it's a key place to discover independent and emerging artists of all styles. When fans buy music, they usually get to choose from a bunch of high-quality download formats, like lossless ones such as FLAC, ALAC, and WAV, plus the standard MP3 format.

bandcamp

Pros

  • Directly support artists
  • DRM-free re-downloads

Cons

  • Discovery can be manual
  • Hi-res rates depend on what artists upload

Bleep

Bleep is best for niche/independent genres with reliable FLAC ownership. Warp Records’ indie-leaning store sells DRM-free downloads and physical formats. Digital comes in MP3, WAV, or FLAC (16-bit/44.1 kHz) with unlimited re-downloads.

bleep

Pros

  • Unlimited re-downloads; indie breadth beyond Warp alone.
  • Clear 16-bit FLAC option; physical formats for collectors.

Cons

  • Not every title has 24-bit

Juno Download

It is also a download store (heavy on electronic/dance) selling MP3/WAV/AIFF/ALAC/FLAC; FLAC often priced at a premium. Best for DJs and electronic collectors who want FLAC. 

juno download

Pros

  • Deep dance/electronic catalog with curated charts and exclusives.
  • FLAC available (incl. 24-bit tiers listed).

Cons

  • Downloads can be slow
  • Some titles limited by territory

eClassical

eClassical is best for classical music lovers to build a classical FLAC library. It sells DRM-free FLAC (16-/24-bit, 44.1–192 kHz) and MP3. Clean navigation (by composer, performers) and simple ownership model. 

Pros

  • FLAC in both 16- and 24-bit; straightforward downloads you own.
  • Classical-friendly site structure for discovery.

Cons

  • Classical-only scope limits genre coverage.

Presto Music

If you want well-curated classical/jazz FLAC with occasional discounts, Presto Music is your lifesaver. It has classical & jazz specialists offering FLAC/ALAC/WAV up to 24-bit/192 kHz plus CDs/vinyl and even a streaming option; over 200k albums and >50k in studio-quality listed.

presto music

Pros

  • Large, well-organized classical/jazz catalog; offers streaming add-ons and extras (books/sheet music).
  • Hi-res FLAC (and ALAC/WAV) purchasing.

Cons

  • Genre-focused, less mainstream pop selection

Free Online FLAC Music Download Sites

Internet Archive

Internet Archive is a non-profit digital library. For music lovers, it's a really precious and hard-to-come-by resource. You can download music in all kinds of formats for free, even high-quality lossless files like FLAC, MP3, and WAV. And the collection especially has live concert performances from lots of artists.

archive

Pros

  • Free
  • Historic & live collections

Cons

  • Metadata quality varies

Musopen

Musopen is a nonprofit organization that wants to make music more accessible. It includes music recordings, sheet music, and educational materials. The best part is that it's all in the public domain, which means it's totally legal to download and use for your own projects or just for fun.

Musopen is especially great if you're into classical music. You can find high-quality files, like FLAC files, and lots of sheet music perfect for students, teachers, or anyone who just loves music.

musopen

Pros

  • Public-domain focus
  • Education friendly

Cons

  • FLAC/HD availability varies

How to choose a FLAC downloader?

tips icon
  • If you want free FLAC, start with Internet Archive and Musopen. Expect older/classical/live material
  • If you want streaming playlists as FLAC, use MusicFab.
  • If you want to own hi-res albums, buy from Qobuz, HDtracks.

FAQs 

Is FLAC better than MP3?

Yes. FLAC is lossless, so it preserves the full original signal; MP3 is lossy. Whether you’ll hear a difference depends on your gear and ears, but FLAC is preferred for archiving and high-fidelity playback. 

Where can I download FLAC music legally?

Qobuz Store, Bandcamp, 7digital, HDtracks, ProStudioMasters, and OTOTOY all sell DRM-free FLAC downloads (availability varies by region/title). Some stores may limit re-downloads over time; don’t rely on perpetual cloud access.

Can I download FLAC files from Tidal or Apple Music?

Tidal/Apple Music downloads inside the official apps are for offline playback only. To own FLAC, you can purchase it from a download store such as Qobuz. If you need local FLAC copies of your subscription music for personal, permitted use, MusicFab can save to FLAC with metadata.

What's the difference between 24-bit FLAC and 16-bit FLAC?

24-bit files can capture a wider dynamic range, paired with higher sample rates. It means to preserve more detail.