Head-to-head · Audio CD Ripping Software
Exact Audio Copy vs Audex
Exact Audio Copy leads on 0 checks, Audex on 0, and 2 are even. Who comes out ahead on the 2 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
- Most featuresExact Audio Copy · 1 of 2
Exact Audio Copy scores higher on our rubric for audio cd ripping software: 9.4 against 8.7 out of 10; our editors rank them #1 and #5.
Exact Audio Copy is the better fit for windows users prioritizing verified, secure rips. Audex is the better fit for linux users wanting metadata-rich CD ripping.
- Exact Audio Copy fits best
Windows users prioritizing verified, secure rips
- Audex fits best
Linux users wanting metadata-rich CD ripping
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Side by side
| Feature | Exact Audio Copy 9.4/10 Visit ↗ | Audex 8.7/10 Visit ↗ |
|---|---|---|
| At a glance | ||
| Editor score | 9.4 | 8.7 |
| Ranking | #1 in Audio CD Ripping Software | #5 in Audio CD Ripping Software |
| Best for | Windows users prioritizing verified, secure rips | Linux users wanting metadata-rich CD ripping |
| Pricing model | Free | Free |
| Starting price | Free | Free plan |
| Free plan | ✓ | ✓ |
| Free trial | — | — |
| Deployment | Desktop | Desktop |
| Platforms | Windows | Linux |
| Support | Community | Community, Docs |
| Integrations | 3 integrations | 2 integrations |
| Built for | Solo | Solo |
| Features Exact Audio Copy 1/2 · Audex 0/2 | ||
| Secure ripping | ✓ (best) | Not checked yet |
| Batch ripping | Not checked yet | Not checked yet |
| Specs | ||
| Lossless formats | FLAC, WAV | FLAC |
| Metadata sources | AccurateRip metadata service; MusicBrainz plugin | CDDB, MusicBrainz |
| Supported platforms | Windows | Linux |
| Our review | ||
| Pros |
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| Cons |
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| 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 → |
Audex is a free, open-source desktop application for extracting audio from CDs, aimed at Linux users who want metadata and format choices in one ripper. It can retrieve disc information from CDDB and MusicBrainz, integrate cover art, and… Read the review → |
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
Audex — where it wins
- Looks up metadata through CDDB and MusicBrainz, with cover art integration
- Encodes to FLAC, MP3, Opus, Ogg Vorbis, and AAC
- Offers cue-sheet output, offset correction, and custom encoder profiles
Where it doesn't
- Linux only; no Windows or macOS support
- Secure ripping is not specified
- No explicit batch-ripping support
- Exact Audio Copy9.4/10 · Free plan
A free Windows ripper for users who want error checks and control over extraction.
Try Exact Audio CopyFull verdict → - Audex8.7/10 · Free plan
A free, open-source Linux ripper with broad format support and MusicBrainz lookup.
Visit KDEFull verdict →
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All audio CD ripping software comparisons → · Full ranking →
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
Last updated · How we research and update