Guide
How to Play FLAC on iPhone & iPad
Apple's Music app doesn't support FLAC. Here's how to play your lossless collection on iOS, with honest comparisons of your options.
The Problem with FLAC on iPhone
You have a FLAC collection. You want to listen on your iPhone. Apple says no.
The built-in Music app only plays Apple's formats: AAC, MP3, ALAC, and a few others. FLAC isn't on the list. The Files app can technically play FLAC files, but it's not a music player. No library view, no playlists, no gapless playback. Just one file at a time.
Apple's official solution is to convert your FLAC files to ALAC (Apple Lossless). Both are lossless, so there's no quality loss. But if you have thousands of files, that's a lot of converting. And you'd have two copies of everything.
Why FLAC Matters
FLAC (Free Lossless Audio Codec) stores music without throwing anything away. Unlike MP3 or AAC, which compress audio by removing data, FLAC keeps everything. The file size is larger, but the sound is identical to the original CD or master.
If you've spent years ripping CDs, buying from Bandcamp or HDtracks, or downloading from Qobuz, your collection is probably FLAC. It's the standard for lossless audio outside Apple's ecosystem. The good news: third-party apps can play it just fine.
Your Options
There are three ways to play FLAC on iPhone. Each works well for different situations.
Prices listed are in USD and current as of January 2026. Check each app for current pricing.
1. Local Music Players
These apps store your music directly on your iPhone or iPad. No server required. Works offline, anywhere.
Best for: People who want their music on their device. Travelers, commuters, anyone who doesn't want to depend on an internet connection or home server.
BitDek
One-time purchase. Import via WiFi from any computer, no cables needed. Audiophile features like gapless playback, bit-perfect DAC output, and real-time visualizations. Built by an indie developer who uses it daily.
Disclosure: This is our app.
Doppler
One-time purchase. Clean design, solid library management. Import via Files app or Mac Finder. A well-established option with a good reputation.
VLC
Free and open source. Plays almost any format. But it's a video player first. The music library features are basic, and there's no gapless playback.
Flacbox
Freemium model with paid cloud features. Strong format support and cloud integration for streaming from Google Drive or Dropbox.
2. Server-Based Players
These stream music from a server you run at home (or in the cloud). Your library stays on the server, and you access it from your phone.
Best for: People with large collections (too big for a phone), existing home servers, or multi-room audio setups. Requires technical setup and reliable internet at home.
Roon
The audiophile gold standard. Beautiful interface, incredible metadata, multi-room support. Requires Roon Core software on a computer or dedicated device. Subscription pricing ($15/month or $830 lifetime) plus hardware costs.
Plexamp
Music-focused player for Plex. Free to use with gapless playback, visualizers, and smart playlists included. Premium features like offline downloads, lyrics, and equalizer require Plex Pass ($5/month or $120 lifetime). Requires Plex Media Server running on a computer at home.
Navidrome + Substreamer
Self-hosted and free. Navidrome runs on your own server, and Subsonic-compatible apps like Substreamer connect to it. More technical to set up, but no ongoing costs.
3. Cloud Storage Players
These stream from cloud storage like Google Drive or Dropbox. No home server needed, but you pay for storage.
Best for: People who want remote access without running a server. Works anywhere with internet, but streaming uses data and requires a connection.
VOX
Free local playback with optional LOOP cloud storage (subscription). Upload your library to their servers and stream anywhere. The subscription makes it ongoing cost, not one-time.
Evermusic / CloudBeats
Connect to your existing cloud storage (Dropbox, Google Drive, OneDrive). Stream or download files on demand. Useful if you already pay for cloud storage.
Which Option Is Right for You?
"I want my music on my phone, available offline."
Use a local player like BitDek or Doppler. One-time cost, no subscription, works anywhere.
"My collection is too big for my phone."
Consider Plex or Roon if you can run a home server. They stream your full library and can sync favorites for offline listening.
"I already have a Plex server."
Plexamp is the obvious choice. It's purpose-built for music and works with your existing setup.
"I want the best possible experience and don't mind paying for it."
Roon is hard to beat. The metadata, the interface, the multi-room support. It's expensive, but audiophiles love it for a reason.
"I just need something free."
VLC works. It's not pretty and lacks music-specific features, but it plays FLAC and costs nothing.
Getting Started with Local Files
If you choose a local player, you'll need to get your FLAC files onto your device. Here's how it typically works:
WiFi Transfer (BitDek)
BitDek runs a local web server on your phone. Open a browser on any computer, drag files into the window, and they transfer directly. No cables, no cloud, no iTunes. Works from Mac, Windows, or Linux.
Files App / iCloud Drive
Most players can import from the iOS Files app. Upload your music to iCloud Drive (or another cloud service), then import into your player. Works well for smaller transfers.
Mac Finder (Doppler)
Connect your iPhone to your Mac with a cable. Open Finder, select your device, and drag files into the app. Traditional but reliable.
A Note on Audio Quality
Playing FLAC is just the first step. To get the most from your lossless files, consider your playback chain.
Wired headphones or a DAC will sound better than Bluetooth. The iPhone's built-in DAC is decent, but a dedicated USB DAC can make a noticeable difference. Look for apps that offer bit-perfect output (BitDek and some others support this).
Gapless playback matters for live albums, classical music, and concept albums. Not all players support it. If continuity between tracks is important to you, check before you buy.
The Short Version
Apple doesn't support FLAC, but plenty of third-party apps do. For most people with a reasonable-sized collection, a local player like BitDek or Doppler is the simplest option. One-time purchase, offline playback, no server to maintain.
If you have a massive library or want multi-room streaming, look into Plex or Roon. They're more complex and cost more, but they're built for exactly that use case.