cdrtfe review
A free Windows burner with broad disc support and gapless audio CD creation.
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
cdrtfe is a free, open-source optical-disc burning application for Microsoft Windows. It is aimed at solo users and small teams that need to create audio CDs, data discs or disc images from a desktop. Audio projects can use WAV, MP3, FLAC and OGG files, with support for gapless tracks. The software also handles XCDs, (S)VCDs, DVD-Video discs, rewritable-disc erasing and portable use, giving it a broad set of disc-authoring tasks in one application.
There is no paid tier to compare: cdrtfe is offered as open-source software with a free plan. Its feature set extends beyond basic audio burning, covering CD, DVD and BD data discs, ISO and BIN/CUE image creation, multisession CDs and simultaneous burning to multiple writers. Command-line options and project files add flexibility for repeatable workflows, while Windows Explorer shell integration can make disc projects easier to start from the desktop. The portable version is useful when installation on a particular Windows system is inconvenient.
The main fit question is platform scope. cdrtfe is designed for Windows desktop deployment, so it suits users who already work in that environment but not teams seeking macOS, Linux, mobile or browser-based access. Its graphical frontend for cdrtools and related utilities provides a focused optical-media workflow rather than a broader media-management system. The latest listed release is version 1.5.9, dated 25 October 2021, while the official site remains available with downloads. Choose cdrtfe for free, format-flexible disc burning on Windows; choose an alternative when cross-platform coverage or a newer release cadence is central.
cdrtfe pros and cons
- Where it wins
- Creates gapless audio CDs from WAV, MP3, FLAC and OGG
- Burns CD, DVD and BD data discs, ISO images and BIN/CUE projects
- Supports multisession discs and simultaneous burning to multiple writers
- Where it doesn't
- Windows-only coverage limits cross-platform use
- Desktop deployment does not suit mobile workflows
- Latest listed release dates to 25 October 2021
cdrtfe fact sheet, pricing and score →
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