APE file format: what it is and how to use it

Monkey's Audio (.ape) squeezes the strongest lossless compression of the classic codecs, at the cost of slow decoding and Windows-centric tooling. Learn when to use it and what to choose instead.

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What is a APE file?

An .ape file is audio compressed with Monkey's Audio, the lossless codec Matthew T. Ashland released in 2000. It pushes prediction and entropy coding harder than its rivals: the tightest ratios among the classic lossless codecs, at the price of noticeably heavier decoding and error sensitivity. Whole-CD images plus a .cue sheet remain a common sight in sharing communities.

When should you use APE?

  • Squeezing a few more percent: the highest practical ratios when size rules over speed.
  • Existing APE collections: plenty of archives still ship .ape + .cue rip pairs.
  • Desktop-only playback: fine when a PC does the decoding and portable support is irrelevant.

When is another format a better fit?

For nearly the same ratio with fast decoding and universal support, FLAC is the practical standard. WavPack adds a hybrid lossy+lossless mode APE lacks. And on anything battery-powered or embedded, APE's decode cost makes it a poor citizen. Decode once to FLAC and move on.

The short version: APE trades decode speed and portability for slightly smaller files, a specialist's choice that FLAC displaced for good reason.

How to open a APE file

On Windows

Double-click the file, or open it with Foobar2000.

On macOS

VLC opens APE files on macOS.

In your browser

Open APE files right in a browser tab or with the dexrr viewer. No install, no upload.

Also opens in

  • Foobar2000
  • VLC
  • Monkey's Audio
  • AIMP

View or convert APE files

A quick preview or a new format. No install, no upload.

View APE files Preview and inspect APE files Convert to APE Turn files into APE APE to FLAC Free Lossless Audio Codec APE to WV WavPack audio APE to ALAC Apple Lossless Audio Codec

APE technical details

Full name
Monkey's Audio
Extensions
.ape
MIME type
audio/ape, audio/x-ape, audio/x-monkeys-audio
Magic bytes
4D 41 43 20 (MAC )
Compression
Lossless
Developer
Matthew T. Ashland
Specification
www.monkeysaudio.com

APE questions, answered

How do I open an .ape file?

foobar2000, VLC, JRiver and FFmpeg-based tools decode it; stock OS players generally do not. dexrr plays and converts ape files directly in your browser.

Can I convert APE files online?

Yes, dexrr converts ape locally in your browser: APE to FLAC for universal lossless, APE to WAV for editing or APE to MP3 for sharing.

Is APE better than FLAC?

Only on compression ratio, and only by a few percent. FLAC decodes much faster, plays on more hardware and is the safer long-term bet.

What is the .cue file next to my .ape?

A cue sheet describing how one big rip splits into tracks. Players and converters use it to restore per-track boundaries and titles.

Is the APE format outdated?

It is stable but niche: maintained, yet clearly eclipsed by FLAC for everything except its existing archive footprint.