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Head-to-head · Audio CD Ripping Software

Exact Audio Copy vs CDex

  • Updated Oct 2026
  • Both researched from official sources
  • 2 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
CDex #4 in Audio CD Ripping Software 8.8/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 0 of 2 features Visit CDex

Exact Audio Copy leads on 0 checks, CDex 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 8.8 out of 10; our editors rank them #1 and #4.

Exact Audio Copy is the better fit for windows users prioritizing verified, secure rips. CDex is the better fit for windows users wanting a free, flexible ripper.

  • Exact Audio Copy fits best

    Windows users prioritizing verified, secure rips

  • CDex fits best

    Windows users wanting a free, flexible ripper

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Side by side

Feature Exact Audio Copy 9.4/10 Visit ↗ CDex 8.8/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score 9.4 8.8
Ranking #1 in Audio CD Ripping Software #4 in Audio CD Ripping Software
Best for Windows users prioritizing verified, secure rips Windows users wanting a free, flexible ripper
Pricing model Free Free
Starting price Free Free plan
Free plan ✓ ✓
Free trial — —
Deployment Desktop Desktop
Platforms Windows Windows
Support Community Community, Docs
Integrations 3 integrations 1 integrations
Built for Solo Solo, Small business
Features Exact Audio Copy 1/2 · CDex 0/2
Secure ripping ✓ (best) Not checked yet
Batch ripping Not checked yet Not checked yet
Specs
Lossless formats FLAC, WAV Not checked yet
Metadata sources AccurateRip metadata service; MusicBrainz plugin Not checked yet
Supported platforms Windows Not checked yet
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 CDs and converts between WAV and compressed audio formats
  • Supports jitter correction, normalization, and multiple-track recording
  • Handles CDDB and CD-Text metadata, audio tags, and M3U or PLS playlists
Cons
  • Private, non-commercial use only
  • Windows desktop software, with no other platform listed
  • External encoders are needed for supported compressed formats
  • Windows-only desktop software
  • No cloud conversion
  • Does not list explicit external rip-verification features
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 →

CDex is a free, open-source Windows desktop application for extracting audio CDs and converting audio files. It suits solo users and small setups that want flexible local ripping without a paid plan. Tracks can be extracted to WAV or…

Read the review →
  1. Exact Audio CopyAudio CD Ripping Software 9.4Free plan
  2. CDexAudio CD Ripping Software 8.8Free 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

  • CDex — where it wins

    • Rips CDs and converts between WAV and compressed audio formats
    • Supports jitter correction, normalization, and multiple-track recording
    • Handles CDDB and CD-Text metadata, audio tags, and M3U or PLS playlists

    Where it doesn't

    • Windows-only desktop software
    • No cloud conversion
    • Does not list explicit external rip-verification features

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