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fre:ac vs LAME: catalog facts
fre:ac	LAME
Free Free to use; the project accepts donations.	Free Free and open source under the LGPL.
Windows, macOS, Linux	Windows, Command line
Wide range of input and output formats Converts whole libraries and keeps folder structure	High MP3 quality at mid to high bitrates and VBR Long development history and still actively released
Releases are infrequent Interface is functional rather than modern	Encodes MP3 only No graphical interface of its own
Downloadable app	Downloadable app
Open source	Open source
License not stated	License: LGPL
No account needed	No account needed
Works offline	Works offline
Official website Full listing and sources Checked September 23, 2026	Official website Full listing and sources Checked October 1, 2026

Catalog facts only. Anything “not stated” is unconfirmed. Check full listings for details.