Since FLAC is supported by so many different programs, it can be a daunting task for the new user to choose a suitable program. This page will walk you through the steps. First, choose what environment you want to play FLAC files:

• Windows
• Mac OS X
• Linux, *BSD, and other Unixes
• Portable players, set-top boxes, car audio etc.

Using iTunes? Sorry, due to iTunes' design we can't add FLAC support; ask Apple to support FLAC!

If you want to play FLAC files, here is how with some popular players:

• Windows Media Player (WMP) - install the Xiph's OpenCodec plugins
• Winamp - Winamp plays FLAC out of the box (download the Full version to also get FLAC encoding).
• foobar2000 - A nice player that converts as well
• (more)

If you want to rip CDs to FLAC, here is a short list of the most popular programs. Experts generally prefer EAC for the most accurate ripping. dbPowerAMP also does a fine job and is easier to set up.

• Exact Audio Copy (EAC) - The official download ships with FLAC
• Winamp - Winamp can rip to FLAC out of the box since version 5.31 if you download the Full version (not Lite).
• Windows Media Player (WMP) - Sorry, Microsoft has made it impossible to rip to FLAC in WMP; hopefully this will change eventually.
• (more)

If you want to burn FLAC files to CD, here is a short list of the most popular programs:

• Windows Media Player (WMP) - Sorry, Microsoft has made it impossible to burn FLAC to CD in WMP; hopefully this will change eventually.
• Burrrn - Supports burning from FLAC out of the box.
• Nero - Supports FLAC starting from version 9

If you want to convert audio files to/from FLAC, there are quite a few programs:

• Winamp - Winamp can convert to/from FLAC out of the box since version 5.31 if you download the Full version (not Lite).
• dbPowerAMP Music Converter
• foobar2000 - A nice player that converts as well
• (more)

If you want to edit the tags in FLAC files:

• mp3tag - A free tag editor which supports editing tags, autotagging from online databases, cover art, and more.
• Most players (like foobar2000 and Winamp) are able to edit FLAC-tags as well

Using iTunes? Sorry, due to iTunes' design we can't add FLAC support; ask Apple to support FLAC!

If you want to play FLAC files, here is how with some popular players:

• VLC
• Clementine
• (more)

If you want to rip CDs to FLAC, there are a few options:

• Free Audio Converter, a free GUI audio file converter
• XLD a nice GUI ripper/converter/burner
• Max

If you want to burn FLAC files to CD:

• XLD a nice GUI ripper/converter/burner

If you want to convert audio files to/from FLAC:

• Free Audio Converter, a free GUI audio file converter
• XLD a nice GUI ripper/converter/burner
• MacFLAC. Also includes our command-line programs for converting FLAC files and editing metadata.
• MediaRage can edit FLAC tags.

In the Unix world, FLAC support is quite widespread and it's usually only a matter of installing packages, so here are a few pointers. See the software links section for many more.

To play FLAC files:

• AlsaPlayer
• Amarok
• MPlayer
• Muine: a music player for GNOME
• VideoLAN client
• Xine multimedia player
• xmcd: X CD player
• (more)

To rip CDs to FLAC:

• Grip is a great ripping and encoding front end and can be easily configured to use flac. See this thread on how to configure Grip for FLAC.
• xmcd is a CD ripper with CDDB support as well as a player.
• K3B, for KDE, has ripping possibilities
• (more)

To burn FLAC files to CD, here is a short list of the most popular programs:

• Arson: KDE ripper/burner
• K3B: CD/DVD creator for Linux
• (more)

To convert audio files to/from FLAC, there are quite a few programs:

• Official FLAC tools have the command-line programs.
• (more)