OGG vs MP3: Which Format Should You Choose?
MP3 is the format everyone knows. OGG is an open alternative that is less visible but just as capable. Which one is better depends on where the file will be used.
The basics
- MP3: introduced in the 1990s and supported by practically every player, phone, car stereo and website.
- OGG: an open container, most often holding audio compressed with Vorbis. It is free of licensing concerns and widely used in games, open-source software and some web audio.
Quality at the same size
Both are lossy. At the same bitrate, OGG generally sounds a little better than MP3, and the gap is clearest at low bitrates, such as 64 to 96 kbps. At high bitrates, such as 192 kbps and above, most listeners cannot tell them apart.
Compatibility
This is where MP3 wins. Almost everything plays MP3. OGG support is good in modern browsers and on Android, but some players, older devices, editing tools and upload forms do not accept it. If you do not know where the file will end up, MP3 is the safe choice.
Which to pick
| Situation | Choice |
|---|---|
| Sharing with many people or unknown devices | MP3 |
| A form or platform that says "MP3" | MP3 |
| Small files at low bitrate for a website or game | OGG |
| You prefer open formats | OGG |
| Master copies, archives, datasets | Neither: use WAV or FLAC |
Convert between them
The Sayvoi converter converts to and from both. Remember that converting between two lossy formats loses a little more quality each time, so convert from the original WAV or FLAC when you can. For the full picture of the formats, read WAV vs MP3 vs FLAC, and for MP3 settings, MP3 bitrate explained.
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