WMA Compressor
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Supports: WMA
Advanced Options - Our defaults are optimized for the best results. We recommend you keeping the defaults unless you have a specific need.
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Need help?How to Compress WMA Audio Online
- Upload Your WMA Files — Drag and drop or select one or more WMA audio files.
- Choose a Compression Method — Pick from File Size Percentage (default 80% — a 10 MB file becomes ~8 MB), Specific file size (enter an exact target in KB or MB), Custom Bitrate (enter any value in bps, Kbps, or Mbps), Constant Bitrate (presets from 8 kbps to 384 kbps — 64 kbps is the default), or Variable Bitrate (codec-dependent ranges for WMA v1/v2, e.g., 48k–64k, 96k–128k, 160k–192k).
- Adjust Audio Settings (Optional) — Change the Audio Channel to Mono or Stereo, or set a specific Sample Rate (8000 Hz, 16000 Hz, 24000 Hz, 44100 Hz, or 48000 Hz).
- Trim (Optional) — Set a start time and duration in seconds or HH:MM:SS.sss to extract a specific segment.
- Compress & Download — Click Compress and download the smaller WMA file.
Why Compress WMA Files?
WMA (Windows Media Audio) was Microsoft's answer to MP3, and it remains common in legacy Windows media libraries, audiobook collections, and older portable devices. High-bitrate WMA files (192–320 kbps) can be unnecessarily large for spoken-word content, podcasts, or background music. Reducing the bitrate to 64–128 kbps cuts file size by 50–75% with minimal perceptible quality loss for speech. For music, 128–192 kbps WMA delivers quality comparable to a 192–256 kbps MP3.
WMA Bitrate vs File Size
| Bitrate | Quality | ~Size per Minute | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| 32 kbps | Low | ~240 KB | Voice memos, phone recordings |
| 64 kbps | Acceptable | ~480 KB | Podcasts, audiobooks |
| 128 kbps | Good | ~960 KB | Music streaming, general listening |
| 192 kbps | High | ~1.4 MB | High-quality music |
| 320 kbps | Very high | ~2.4 MB | Archival, critical listening |
WMA vs Other Audio Formats
| Feature | WMA | MP3 | AAC | OGG Vorbis |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Developed by | Microsoft | Fraunhofer | Apple / ISO | Xiph.Org |
| Lossy compression | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Typical quality at 128 kbps | Good | Good | Better | Better |
| DRM support | ✅ | ❌ | ✅ | ❌ |
| Windows native support | ✅ | ✅ | Partial | ❌ |
| macOS / iOS native support | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ |
Use Cases
- Legacy Windows libraries — Shrink large WMA collections without converting to another format.
- Audiobooks & podcasts — Reduce spoken-word WMA files to 32–64 kbps where full-bandwidth music quality is unnecessary.
- Email attachments — Compress WMA files below common email size limits (10–25 MB) using the Specific file size option.
- Portable devices — Older MP3 players and car stereos that support WMA benefit from smaller files that fit more content on limited storage.
Is WMA still worth using?
WMA is a legacy format. For new projects, AAC or Opus offer better compression at the same quality. However, if you already have a WMA library or need Windows-native compatibility, compressing existing WMA files is more practical than converting everything.
What bitrate should I use for WMA compression?
For speech (podcasts, audiobooks), 48–64 kbps is sufficient. For music, 128 kbps offers a good balance. Use 192–256 kbps only if you need near-transparent quality for critical listening.
Can I change the audio codec when compressing WMA?
Yes. Under Audio Codec in Advanced settings, you can switch to WMA v1 or WMA v2 (default). Both are available for the WMA output format.
Can I convert WMA to a smaller format instead?
Yes, but this page focuses on compressing within the WMA format. If you want to convert to MP3 or AAC for broader compatibility, use the WMA to MP3 converter.
Does trimming reduce file size?
Yes. Trimming removes audio outside the selected time range, directly reducing file size proportional to the removed duration. Combine trimming with bitrate reduction for maximum savings.