Asunder review
Free CD ripping for Linux, with CDDB tagging and multiple output formats.
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
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, Opus, WavPack, Musepack, AAC, and Monkey’s Audio. It also creates M3U playlists and does not require a particular desktop environment, making it suitable for solo Linux users who want a straightforward desktop tool rather than a broader media-management system.
Its main strength is format and workflow flexibility within that focused job. Asunder supports lossless formats such as WAV, FLAC, WavPack, and Monkey’s Audio, alongside compressed formats, and can encode to multiple formats in one session. Simultaneous ripping and encoding may suit users who want those tasks to overlap, while M3U playlist creation adds a simple way to organize ripped tracks. The published product information describes these capabilities, but the tool remains centered on local desktop use rather than a wider music library ecosystem.
Metadata is handled through CDDB, which Asunder uses to name and tag tracks. That is a useful part of the ripping workflow, but buyers who need deeper metadata sourcing or stronger verification signals may prefer to compare alternatives. Asunder makes sense for Linux users who value a free, direct route from audio CD to several output formats; it is a less natural fit for users on other operating systems or those seeking broader platform support and metadata depth.
Asunder pros and cons
- 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
Asunder fact sheet, pricing and score →
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