The Best Audio CD Ripping Software in 2026
We researched audio CD ripping software using official vendor websites, including pricing pages, plan tables, and product documentation. Rankings consider each product’s core ripping capabilities, value for money, and verified features for extracting CD tracks, identifying metadata, and saving digital audio files.
Our top picks
-
Top ranked
Exact Audio Copy#1 of 319.4/10A free Windows ripper for users who want error checks and control over extraction.
Free plan
-
Runner-up
CUERipper#2 of 319.0/10A free Windows ripper focused on secure extraction and verification against ripping databases.
Free plan
-
Top-ranked free plan
CDex#4 of 318.8/10A free Windows ripper with flexible formats, metadata support, and jitter correction.
Free plan
Advertiser disclosure: iTechGuides is reader-supported. Vendors can pay for top positions in our rankings and for a place on other products' pages, and we may earn a commission when you click some links. How we rank.
The full ranking 31 tools, best first
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Best forWindows users prioritizing verified, secure rips
A free Windows ripper for users who want error checks and control over extraction.
- Secure ripping
9.4/10★★★★★Try Exact Audio Copy -
Best forWindows users who want secure ripping for free
A free Windows ripper focused on secure extraction and verification against ripping databases.
- Secure ripping
9.0/10★★★★☆Visit CUERipper -
Best forCollectors seeking premium, secure ripping
A paid desktop ripper for collectors who want verification and control over output.
- Secure ripping
8.9/10★★★★☆Visit dBpoweramp -
Best forWindows users wanting a free, flexible ripper
A free Windows ripper with flexible formats, metadata support, and jitter correction.
8.8/10★★★★☆Visit CDex -
Best forLinux users wanting metadata-rich CD ripping
A free, open-source Linux ripper with broad format support and MusicBrainz lookup.
8.7/10★★★★☆Visit KDE -
Best forLinux users seeking straightforward free ripping
Free CD ripping for Linux, with CDDB tagging and multiple output formats.
- Batch ripping
8.5/10★★★★☆Visit Asunder -
Best forWindows users wanting simple ripping and tagging
A straightforward Windows ripper with format choice, track lookup and tag editing.
8.4/10★★★★☆Visit NCH Software -
Best forWindows users wanting an established free ripper
A free Windows ripper with format, metadata and batch-processing controls.
- Secure ripping
- Batch ripping
8.3/10★★★★☆Visit Nero -
Best forUsers needing a free ripper and audio converter
A desktop ripper and batch audio converter for Windows, macOS, and Linux.
8.2/10★★★★☆Visit fre:ac -
Best forWindows users who also digitize tapes or vinyl
A free-to-start Windows ripper for CDs and analog audio, with a paid ad-free edition.
8.0/10★★★★☆Visit Audiograbber -
Best forListeners who want a free player with CD ripping
A free, customizable music player that includes audio CD ripping and format conversion.
7.9/10★★★★☆Visit foobar2000 -
Best forLinux users seeking low-level error-correcting extraction
A focused Linux ripper for corrected audio extraction, with no metadata lookup or graphical interface.
- Secure ripping
7.9/10★★★★☆Visit cdparanoia -
Best forLinux users focused on rigorous rip verification
A focused WAV ripper for Linux users who want repeated reads and database verification.
- Secure ripping
- Batch ripping
7.9/10★★★★☆Visit Blobfolio -
Best forLinux users wanting broad formats and rip checks
A format-rich CD ripper with error recovery and checksum verification, built for command-line workflows.
- Secure ripping
- Batch ripping
7.8/10★★★★☆Visit cyanrip -
Best forLinux or macOS users seeking secure free ripping
An open-source ripper with repeated-read comparison, editable tags, and multiple codecs.
- Secure ripping
- Batch ripping
7.7/10★★★★☆Visit Rubyripper -
Best forMac users who also need extensive audio conversion
A free Mac desktop app for CD ripping, lossless conversion, and batch audio work.
7.6/10★★★★☆Visit site -
Best forLinux users who want scripts and disc archives
A Linux command-line ripper for flexible formats, metadata lookup, and disc archives.
7.5/10★★★★☆Visit abcde -
Best forLinux users wanting metadata and artwork workflows
A free, open-source CD ripper with metadata lookup, artwork, and batch workflows.
- Batch ripping
7.4/10★★★★☆Visit Jack -
Best forCross-platform users comfortable with command-line tools
A free, open-source CD ripper for users who want configurable extraction from the command line.
- Secure ripping
- Batch ripping
7.3/10★★★★☆Visit cdrtools -
Best forWindows users wanting free normalization and tagging
A free Windows CD ripper with normalization, tagging, and lossless-format exports.
- Secure ripping
- Batch ripping
7.2/10★★★★☆Visit FMJ-Software -
Best forWindows users wanting a free, simple secure ripper
A free Windows CD ripper with metadata lookup, secure retries and several output formats.
- Secure ripping
- Batch ripping
7.1/10★★★★☆Try Blackbox Ripper -
Best forLinux users wanting AccurateRip-checked FLAC rips
A free, open-source Linux ripper for AccurateRip-checked FLAC extraction.
- Secure ripping
- Batch ripping
7.0/10★★★★☆Visit Whipper -
Best forMac users wanting free ripping and conversion
A free, open-source Mac app for CD ripping and format conversion with detailed controls.
6.9/10★★★☆☆Visit Max -
Best forWindows users wanting low-cost basic ripping
A free Windows ripper for selected tracks, format conversion, and metadata lookup.
- Batch ripping
6.8/10★★★☆☆Visit FreeRIP -
Best forLinux users comfortable configuring open-source tools
A free, open-source desktop ripper for Linux and other Unix-like systems.
6.7/10★★★☆☆Visit Grip -
Best forWindows or Linux users needing basic WAV extraction
A free console utility for extracting CD audio to RIFF-WAV on Windows or Linux.
- Secure ripping
6.6/10★★★☆☆Visit CsharpRipper -
Best forLinux or BSD users wanting basic album ripping
A free, open-source option for Linux or BSD users who want straightforward album ripping.
- Batch ripping
6.4/10★★★☆☆Visit RipperX -
Best forMac users ripping CDs from multiple drives
A focused macOS ripper with multi-drive support and lossless output.
- Batch ripping
6.3/10★★★☆☆View Phile Audio -
Best forUsers needing a broad paid audio-conversion suite
A broad Windows audio suite pairing secure CD ripping with extensive conversion and disc tools.
6.2/10★★★☆☆Visit Poikosoft -
Best forWindows users wanting paid batch and track editing
A Windows CD ripper with batch conversion, track editing, and a one-time price.
- Batch ripping
6.1/10★★★☆☆Visit Xilisoft -
Best forWindows users seeking basic ripping within a media player
A free Windows media player with CD ripping alongside playback and library tools.
6.0/10★★★☆☆Visit Microsoft
No tools match those filters.
Compare at a glance
| # | Tool | Free plan | Paid from | Secure ripping | Lossless formats | Metadata sources | Batch ripping | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Exact Audio Copy | Yes | None | Yes | FLAC, WAV | AccurateRip metadata service; MusicBrainz plugin | — | 9.4 |
| 2 | CUERipper | Yes | None | Yes | WAV, FLAC, APE, ALAC, TTA, WavPack | MusicBrainz, freeDB | — | 9.0 |
| 3 | dBpoweramp CD Ripper | No | — | Yes | FLAC, Apple Lossless (ALAC), AIFF, WAV, WavPack | AccurateRip Meta, GD3, Discogs, MusicBrainz, freedb | No | 8.9 |
| 4 | CDex | Yes | None | — | — | — | — | 8.8 |
| 5 | Audex | Yes | None | — | FLAC | CDDB, MusicBrainz | — | 8.7 |
| 6 | Asunder | Yes | None | — | WAV, FLAC, WavPack, Monkey’s Audio | CDDB | Yes | 8.5 |
| 7 | Express Rip | Yes | $35/unit/yr | — | WAV, FLAC, AIFF | Online database (database name not specified) | — | 8.4 |
| 8 | Nero CD Ripper | Yes | — | Yes | FLAC, WAV, AIFF | Gracenote | Yes | 8.3 |
| 9 | fre:ac | Yes | None | — | — | — | — | 8.2 |
| 10 | Audiograbber | Yes | — | — | — | — | — | 8.0 |
| 11 | foobar2000 | Yes | None | — | — | — | — | 7.9 |
| 12 | cdparanoia | Yes | None | Yes | WAV, AIFC, raw 16-bit linear PCM | — | — | 7.9 |
| 13 | Rip Rip Hooray! | Yes | None | Yes | WAV | AccurateRip; CUETools | Yes | 7.9 |
| 14 | cyanrip | Yes | None | Yes | FLAC, TTA, WavPack, ALAC, WAV, ALAC in MP4, raw PCM | MusicBrainz; AccurateRip database for rip verification; Cover Art Archive for cover art | Yes | 7.8 |
| 15 | Rubyripper | Yes | None | Yes | FLAC, WAV | gnudb, MusicBrainz | Yes | 7.7 |
| 16 | X Lossless Decoder | Yes | None | — | — | — | — | 7.6 |
| 17 | abcde | Yes | None | — | FLAC | MusicBrainz, CDDB, CD-TEXT | — | 7.5 |
| 18 | Jack | Yes | None | — | FLAC, Ogg/Vorbis, WAV | MusicBrainz, freedb/gnudb | Yes | 7.4 |
| 19 | cdda2wav | Yes | None | Yes | WAV, AIFF, AIFC, AU/Sun, CDR, raw | CDDBP; CD-Text on disc | Yes | 7.3 |
| 20 | ACDR | Yes | None | Yes | AIFF, APE, FLAC, WAV, WMA Lossless, WavPack (WV) | gnudb.org | Yes | 7.2 |
| 21 | Blackbox Ripper | Yes | None | Yes | FLAC, WAV, AIFF | MusicBrainz; Cover Art Archive | Yes | 7.1 |
| 22 | Whipper | Yes | None | Yes | FLAC | MusicBrainz | Yes | 7.0 |
| 23 | Max | Yes | None | — | — | — | — | 6.9 |
| 24 | FreeRIP MP3 Converter | Yes | — | — | WAV, FLAC | FreeRIP CD DB, freedb, CD-Text | Yes | 6.8 |
| 25 | Grip | Yes | None | — | FLAC | — | — | 6.7 |
| 26 | CsharpRipper | Yes | None | Yes | RIFF-WAV (PCM) | — | — | 6.6 |
| 27 | RipperX | Yes | None | — | FLAC | CDDB | Yes | 6.4 |
| 28 | Phile Audio | No | — | — | FLAC, Apple Lossless, WAV, AIFF | gnudb, iTunes, Music | Yes | 6.3 |
| 29 | EZ CD Audio Converter | No | — | — | — | — | — | 6.2 |
| 30 | Xilisoft CD Ripper | No | $29.95 one-time | — | FLAC, WAV lossless, WMA lossless | — | Yes | 6.1 |
| 31 | Windows Media Player | Yes | None | — | — | — | — | 6.0 |
Head-to-head All 28 comparisons →
- Exact Audio Copy vs CUERipper
- Exact Audio Copy vs dBpoweramp CD Ripper
- Exact Audio Copy vs CDex
- Exact Audio Copy vs Audex
- Exact Audio Copy vs Asunder
- Exact Audio Copy vs Express Rip
- Exact Audio Copy vs Nero CD Ripper
- CUERipper vs dBpoweramp CD Ripper
- CUERipper vs CDex
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How we rank audio CD ripping software
Every tool on this page was researched by iTechGuides Editors from its official website — pricing pages, plan tables and product documentation. We rank on how well each one does this category's core job, what the free or entry plan includes, and where it falls short. Where we have enough verified facts, the score out of 10 is a rubric — job fit, value and how much we could verify — shown with its breakdown on every tool's page; a tool we have not verified enough to score yet shows its rank without a number. Scores are re-checked when a product changes its plans. Read the full editorial policy, or submit a tool we missed.
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
Last updated · How we research and update