kittenTag review
A focused Mac editor for batch tags, artwork, filenames, and review-before-save workflows.
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
kittenTag is a free, open-source desktop application for manually editing music metadata, embedded artwork, and filenames on macOS. It suits solo users and small collections who want direct control over tags and album assets without re-encoding audio. Supported formats include MP3, M4A, AAC, FLAC, Ogg Vorbis, Opus, WAV, and AIFF. The app works offline and preserves metadata fields that are not exposed in its editor.
Its strongest workflow is batch preparation with review controls. You can scan folders and subfolders, edit tags across multiple tracks, and add, replace, resize, remove, or optimize embedded artwork. Filename templates can rename files with previews, while filename parsing can extract tags before you apply changes. Search, sorting, customizable columns, and CSV metadata export help organize larger folders. Collision checks flag duplicate or existing filenames, and review-before-save screens let you inspect tag and artwork changes before committing them.
The product stays deliberately focused on local, manual organization. It is free with no expiration date, and there are no paid tiers to compare. That keeps the cost straightforward, but users seeking automated metadata lookup will need another tool because MusicBrainz lookup is not included. The macOS-only desktop deployment also excludes Windows and Linux workflows, while support is handled through email. Choose kittenTag for careful batch cleanup, artwork operations, and template-based file management on a Mac; consider an alternative if cross-platform access or online catalog matching is central to your process.
kittenTag pros and cons
- Where it wins
- Batch-edit tags and artwork across tracks or whole albums
- Preview filename templates, tag extraction, and changes before saving
- Free, open-source desktop app that works offline
- Where it doesn't
- Runs on macOS only
- No MusicBrainz or other lookup integration
- Support is provided through email
kittenTag fact sheet, pricing and score →
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