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Head-to-head · Audio CD Ripping Software

Exact Audio Copy vs Asunder

  • Updated Oct 2026
  • Both researched from official sources
  • 3 checks side by side
Higher score Exact Audio Copy #1 in Audio CD Ripping Software 9.4/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 1 of 2 features Try Exact Audio Copy
Asunder #6 in Audio CD Ripping Software 8.5/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 1 of 2 features Visit Asunder

Exact Audio Copy leads on 0 checks, Asunder on 0, and 3 are even. Who comes out ahead on the 3 yes/no, price and count checks where we have data for both products. The editor score weighs everything else too.

Our verdict

  • Highest scoreExact Audio Copy · 9.4/10
  • Free planboth

Exact Audio Copy scores higher on our rubric for audio cd ripping software: 9.4 against 8.5 out of 10; our editors rank them #1 and #6.

Exact Audio Copy is the better fit for windows users prioritizing verified, secure rips. Asunder is the better fit for linux users seeking straightforward free ripping.

  • Exact Audio Copy fits best

    Windows users prioritizing verified, secure rips

  • Asunder fits best

    Linux users seeking straightforward free ripping

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Side by side

Feature Exact Audio Copy 9.4/10 Visit ↗ Asunder 8.5/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score 9.4 8.5
Ranking #1 in Audio CD Ripping Software #6 in Audio CD Ripping Software
Best for Windows users prioritizing verified, secure rips Linux users seeking straightforward free ripping
Pricing model Free Free
Starting price Free Free plan
Free plan ✓ ✓
Free trial — —
Deployment Desktop Desktop
Platforms Windows Linux
Built for Solo Solo
Features Exact Audio Copy 1/2 · Asunder 1/2
Secure ripping ✓ (best) Not checked yet
Batch ripping Not checked yet ✓ (best)
Specs
Lossless formats FLAC, WAV WAV, FLAC, WavPack, Monkey’s Audio
Metadata sources AccurateRip metadata service; MusicBrainz plugin CDDB
Supported platforms Windows Linux
Our review
Pros
  • Secure mode checks sectors repeatedly or uses drive error information
  • Supports AccurateRip, CUE sheets, and track-name editing
  • Works with external encoders for MP3, WMA, FLAC, and Ogg Vorbis
  • Rips tracks to formats including WAV, FLAC, MP3, Ogg Vorbis and Opus
  • Uses CDDB to name and tag tracks
  • Can rip and encode simultaneously and create M3U playlists
Cons
  • Private, non-commercial use only
  • Windows desktop software, with no other platform listed
  • External encoders are needed for supported compressed formats
  • Linux-only, with no listed support for other platforms
  • Relies on CDDB for track naming and tagging
  • Desktop-only, without a listed web or mobile version
Our verdict

Exact Audio Copy (EAC) is Windows desktop software for extracting audio from CDs with standard CD and DVD-ROM drives. It suits people who want to check for possible read errors and manage how tracks are extracted, rather than simply make…

Read the review →

Asunder is a free graphical audio CD ripper and encoder for Linux desktop users who want to copy tracks into digital formats. Its focus is the core CD-ripping workflow: it can save tracks in formats including WAV, MP3, Ogg Vorbis, FLAC,…

Read the review →
  1. Exact Audio CopyAudio CD Ripping Software 9.4Free plan
  2. AsunderAudio CD Ripping Software 8.5Free plan

Strengths and trade-offs

  • Exact Audio Copy — where it wins

    • Secure mode checks sectors repeatedly or uses drive error information
    • Supports AccurateRip, CUE sheets, and track-name editing
    • Works with external encoders for MP3, WMA, FLAC, and Ogg Vorbis

    Where it doesn't

    • Private, non-commercial use only
    • Windows desktop software, with no other platform listed
    • External encoders are needed for supported compressed formats

  • Asunder — where it wins

    • Rips tracks to formats including WAV, FLAC, MP3, Ogg Vorbis and Opus
    • Uses CDDB to name and tag tracks
    • Can rip and encode simultaneously and create M3U playlists

    Where it doesn't

    • Linux-only, with no listed support for other platforms
    • Relies on CDDB for track naming and tagging
    • Desktop-only, without a listed web or mobile version

More comparisons

All audio CD ripping software comparisons → · Full ranking →

Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026

Last updated · How we research and update