Kid3 review
A free, cross-platform metadata editor—not a tool for recording or multitrack audio editing.
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
Kid3 is a desktop and mobile application for editing audio metadata, aimed at people organizing music libraries rather than recording or mixing audio. It edits ID3v1 and ID3v2 tags, converts between those versions, and supports other tag formats across MP3, FLAC, Ogg/Vorbis, Opus, MP4/AAC, WAV, AIFF and additional audio and tracker formats. Its free, open-source availability across Linux, Windows, macOS and Android makes it a practical fit for individuals and small collections that need consistent tags across files. It is not a multitrack editor or digital audio workstation.
Metadata workflows are the product’s strength. Kid3 can batch-edit multiple files, generate tags from filenames or filenames from tags, and rename folders using tag data. Album information can be imported from gnudb.org, MusicBrainz, Discogs and Amazon; users can also export tag data, create playlists, and edit, import and export synchronized lyrics. For repeatable workflows, it offers command-line, QML/JavaScript and D-Bus interfaces. These capabilities suit library cleanup and file organization, but they do not replace tools for recording, arranging or shaping sound.
The category fit is therefore narrow: Kid3 does not support multitrack editing, MIDI sequencing, noise reduction, video sync or cloud collaboration. Its free, cross-platform scope is useful when metadata management is the actual task, but buyers seeking an audio editor’s core production tools should choose a different product. Documentation is the listed support channel, so the experience is oriented toward self-guided use rather than a broader support offering. Pick Kid3 for tagging and organizing audio files; skip it if the goal is to edit the audio itself.
Kid3 pros and cons
- Where it wins
- Batch-edits tags across multiple files
- Imports album data from gnudb.org, MusicBrainz, Discogs and Amazon
- Automates tasks through command-line, QML/JavaScript or D-Bus
- Where it doesn't
- Does not provide multitrack editing or MIDI sequencing
- No noise reduction, video sync or cloud collaboration
- Focuses on metadata, not audio recording or sound editing
Kid3 fact sheet, pricing and score →
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