Upload your video file below and choose your audio format. Extraction happens instantly in your browser - fast, easy, and completely free.
About This Video to Audio Extractor
SoundTools Video to Audio is a free browser-based tool that extracts the audio track from any video file and saves it as MP3, FLAC, WAV, AAC, or OGG. Upload an MP4, MOV, AVI, MKV, WEBM, FLV, or WMV file — if your video plays on your device, this tool can extract its audio. Everything runs in your browser using WebAssembly. Your video is never uploaded to any server.
Key Features
- All major video formats: MP4, MOV, AVI, MKV, WEBM, FLV, WMV — any format your browser can handle
- Five audio output formats: MP3 (320kbps, most compatible), FLAC (lossless), WAV (uncompressed), AAC (efficient), OGG (open source)
- No file size limit: No server upload means no arbitrary cap — your device's memory is the only constraint
- Works on any device: iPhone, Android, Mac, Windows, Linux — any modern browser
- 100% private: Your video never leaves your device. No upload, no cloud storage, no third-party access
- Completely free: No account, no watermark, no usage limits, no subscriptions
- Fast: No upload wait — a 3-minute video typically extracts in under 20 seconds
How to Extract Audio from Video
- Upload your video: Click "Upload Your Video File" or drag and drop any video file onto the page. Supports MP4, MOV, AVI, MKV, WEBM, FLV, and WMV. Works from your phone, tablet, or computer — including selecting from your iPhone's Photos library or iCloud Drive.
- Choose your audio format: MP3 is the best choice for most uses — universally compatible, excellent quality at 320kbps, and the smallest file. Choose FLAC or WAV if you need lossless quality for editing or archiving. AAC is the most efficient format for Apple devices. OGG is open source and works well for gaming and web projects.
- Extract and download: Click "Extract Audio." Processing happens in your browser — no upload, no server queue. A 3-minute video typically completes in under 20 seconds. Your audio file downloads automatically, ready to use.
Which Format Should I Choose?
MP3 (320kbps) — Best for almost everyone. Universal compatibility across every device and app, excellent quality, and roughly 90% smaller than the source video. Start here unless you have a specific reason to use another format.
FLAC or WAV — Choose these if you're editing the audio in a DAW, producing music, or archiving important recordings. FLAC is lossless (identical to the source audio) but compressed. WAV is lossless and uncompressed — the largest files but the most universally editable.
AAC — Good choice if you're primarily using Apple devices (iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Music). Efficient at smaller file sizes while maintaining excellent quality.
One important note: your output quality is limited by the original video's audio quality. Extracting a low-bitrate video to FLAC won't improve it — you'll just get a larger file with the same fidelity. The format choice matters most when the source audio is already high quality.
Use Cases
Content Creators — Repurpose Video Audio
Extract audio from your videos to create reusable clips for TikTok, Instagram Reels, and YouTube Shorts. If you filmed something with great audio — a funny line, a perfect reaction, a signature sound — extract just the audio and upload it as a standalone sound. Screen recordings, Zoom clips, and phone videos all work. Save the MP3, import it into your next video, done.
Podcasters — Video Interviews to Episodes
Recording video interviews via Zoom or Google Meet is easier than audio-only calls — but your podcast is audio. Extract the audio track from the recording as a high-quality MP3 or FLAC, clean it up with our Noise Remover, trim it with our Audio Trimmer, and publish. No need to re-record or run a separate audio setup during the interview.
Storage & File Management
Video files are enormous. A 30-minute interview recorded on an iPhone can easily be 3GB. The audio track extracted as MP3 is around 70MB — a 97% reduction. If you recorded something for the audio (voice memos on the camera app, meetings, lectures), extract the audio and delete the video. Especially valuable for iPhone users managing limited storage.
Music and Personal Libraries
Extract audio from concert recordings, live performance videos, home recordings captured on video, and music videos you created yourself. Download as FLAC or WAV for lossless quality, add metadata with our Metadata Editor, and import into your music library. Note: only extract audio from videos you own or have explicit permission to use — respect copyright.
Accessibility and Multitasking
Audio is more versatile than video. Extract the audio from lectures, conference talks, tutorials, and documentary content so you can listen while commuting, exercising, or doing other tasks. Background audio playback works in situations where background video doesn't. Audio files are also far easier to share — email attachments, messaging apps, and cloud storage all handle a 20MB MP3 effortlessly where a 500MB video causes friction.
How SoundTools Compares to Other Video to Audio Converters
The most popular online video-to-audio tools — Clideo and VEED — upload your video to their servers, impose file size limits on free tiers, and add watermarks to output. Zamzar and CloudConvert are broader file conversion platforms with the same server-upload model and usage caps. Desktop software like VLC or HandBrake is free and unlimited but requires installation. SoundTools processes everything in your browser — no upload, no watermark, no file size cap, and no install required. It works on iPhone and Android where desktop software can't go. The honest tradeoff: desktop software like VLC is faster for large files on a powerful machine. For most people extracting audio from occasional videos, browser-based processing is plenty fast and significantly more convenient.
| Feature | SoundTools | Clideo | VEED | VLC (desktop) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| No install required | ✅ Browser-based | ✅ Browser-based | ✅ Browser-based | ❌ Desktop install |
| No file upload | ✅ 100% local | ❌ Server upload | ❌ Server upload | ✅ Local |
| No account required | ✅ | ✅ Basic use | ❌ | ✅ |
| Free, no watermark | ✅ | ⚠️ Watermark on free | ⚠️ Watermark on free | ✅ |
| No file size limit | ✅ | ⚠️ 500MB free | ⚠️ Varies by plan | ✅ |
| Works on iPhone & Android | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ |
| Output formats | MP3, FLAC, WAV, AAC, OGG | MP3, WAV, M4A | MP3, WAV | MP3, FLAC, WAV, more |
| Processing speed | ✅ Fast (no upload) | ⚠️ Upload + queue | ⚠️ Upload + queue | ✅ Very fast |
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I extract audio from a video file?
Upload your video file using the button above, choose your output format (MP3 for most uses), and click "Extract Audio." Processing happens in your browser — no upload required. Your audio file downloads automatically in seconds.
What video formats are supported?
MP4, MOV, AVI, MKV, WEBM, FLV, and WMV. If your video plays on your device, the tool can extract its audio. This covers iPhone camera recordings (MP4/MOV), screen recordings, downloaded videos, and virtually any video file you're likely to encounter.
Does extracting audio reduce quality?
Not if you choose FLAC or WAV — these are lossless formats that produce bit-perfect copies of the audio in your video. MP3 at 320kbps introduces minimal compression that's imperceptible to most listeners. The key principle: your output quality is limited by the source video's audio quality. Extracting a low-quality video to FLAC won't improve it — it just creates a larger file.
Can I extract audio from a video on my iPhone?
Yes. Open this page in Safari on your iPhone, tap the upload button, and select your video from Photos, Files, or iCloud Drive. Choose MP3, tap Extract Audio, and the file downloads to your iPhone. Works on iOS 14 and newer.
How long does extraction take?
A 3-minute video typically extracts in under 20 seconds. A 30-minute video takes about 2-3 minutes. Since processing is local, there's no upload wait — the clock starts immediately when you click Extract Audio.
Is there a file size limit?
No server-imposed limit. The only constraint is your device's available memory. Very large files (5GB+) may cause issues on older devices — if that's a concern, trim the video to the relevant section first using our Audio Trimmer.
Can I extract only part of a video's audio?
This tool extracts the complete audio track. For a specific section, extract the full audio first, then use our Audio Trimmer to cut the exact portion you need.
Is this a Clideo alternative?
Yes. Clideo uploads your video to their servers, adds a watermark to free-tier output, and caps free files at 500MB. SoundTools extracts audio entirely in your browser — no upload, no watermark, no file size limit, completely free. For private, unlimited, watermark-free audio extraction, SoundTools is the cleaner option.
Is this a VEED alternative for extracting audio from video?
Yes, for this specific use case. VEED is a full online video editor with audio extraction as one of many features — it requires an account and watermarks free-tier exports. SoundTools is purpose-built for audio extraction: no account, no watermark, no upload, no file size limit, and outputs five audio formats including lossless FLAC and WAV.
Is this really free? What's the catch?
Completely free — no account, no watermark, no usage limits, no subscriptions. The tool runs in your browser, so there are no server costs to recover from users. Extract audio from unlimited videos at no cost.
Common Questions: Extracting Audio from Video
Can I extract audio from YouTube videos?
Technically yes - if you download the YouTube video first (using third-party downloaders), you can extract the audio. However, downloading YouTube videos may violate YouTube's Terms of Service. Only download and extract audio from videos you own or have explicit permission to use. Respect copyright laws and content creators' rights.
How do I extract audio from Instagram videos?
For videos YOU posted to Instagram: Download your video from Instagram (in-app: three-dots menu → Save), then upload to our extractor and extract the audio. For others' videos: You need their permission. Instagram's Terms of Service prohibit downloading others' content without permission.
Can I extract only part of the audio (not the whole video)?
Our video-to-audio tool extracts the complete audio track. If you want only a portion of the audio, first extract the full audio, then use our Audio Trimmer tool to cut the specific section you need. Alternatively, extract the audio then edit it in audio software like Audacity (free) or GarageBand (Mac/iOS).
Why is my extracted audio larger than I expected?
If you extract to lossless formats (WAV, FLAC), the audio file will be significantly larger than the compressed audio in the video. For example: A 100MB video with compressed AAC audio might have only 10MB of actual audio data, but when extracted to WAV (uncompressed), the audio becomes 80-100MB. Solution: Extract to MP3 at 320kbps for excellent quality at smaller file size.
Can I extract audio from multiple videos at once (batch processing)?
Currently our tool processes one video at a time. For batch extraction, you'll need to extract each video individually. However, there are no limits on how many videos you can process - just handle them one after another. Consider using desktop software if you need to batch-process 50+ videos regularly.
Does extracting audio delete the video?
No. Extraction creates a copy of the audio as a separate file. Your original video remains untouched. You can manually delete the video afterward if you only need the audio, but extraction itself never modifies or deletes the source video.
What if my video has no audio?
If your video file contains no audio track (silent video), the extraction will fail or produce a blank audio file. Check that your video actually has sound by playing it first. Screen recordings sometimes don't capture audio if microphone wasn't enabled.
Can I extract audio from very long videos (1+ hour)?
Yes, but processing time increases with video length. A 10-minute video extracts in ~30 seconds. A 60-minute video might take 2-3 minutes. Very large files (5GB+) may cause browser memory issues on older devices. For very long videos, consider using desktop software or splitting the video into smaller segments first.
Will extracting preserve audio quality if I extract from 4K video?
Video resolution (4K, 1080p, 720p) doesn't affect audio quality. Audio quality depends on the audio codec and bitrate in the video file. A 4K video might have 128kbps AAC audio (mediocre), while a 720p video might have 320kbps AAC audio (excellent). The visual quality and audio quality are independent. Extracting preserves whatever audio quality was in the source video.
Is extracting audio from video free?
Yes, completely free with no file size limits, no daily usage limits, no subscriptions, no watermarks, and no hidden fees. Extract audio from unlimited videos at no cost. The tool works entirely in your browser, so there are no server costs to pass on to users.
Is this a Clideo alternative?
Yes. Clideo is a popular online video converter that uploads your video to their servers, adds a watermark to the output on the free tier, and caps file sizes at 500MB. SoundTools extracts audio entirely in your browser — no upload, no watermark, no file size limit, completely free. Clideo supports a broader range of conversion types (it's a full video editor too), while SoundTools is focused on audio extraction and does it faster since there's no upload wait. For extracting audio from videos without uploading them or getting watermarked output, SoundTools is the cleaner option.
Is this a VEED alternative for extracting audio from video?
Yes, for this specific use case. VEED is a full online video editor with audio extraction as one of many features — it requires an account and adds a watermark to free-tier exports. SoundTools extracts audio from video in your browser with no account, no watermark, no upload, and no file size limit. If you only need the audio from a video and don't need VEED's editing features, SoundTools is faster and completely free with no friction.