CUERipper

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Score7.0

Rank#4 of 34

PriceFree

Free planYes

Runs onLinux, Windows

Summary

CUERipper is a free CD audio extraction program included in the CUETools package. It can save a disc as one image or as separate tracks, with lossy or lossless output. Supported formats include WAV, FLAC, APE, lossyWAV, ALAC, TTA, and WavPack. For disc information and verification, it supports MusicBrainz and freeDB metadata, plus AccurateRip and CTDB. Extraction choices include Burst, Secure, and Paranoid modes; Secure and Paranoid can retry sections when results differ or the drive reports C2 errors. Test & Copy checks tracks before extraction and records Test CRC values in the EAC-style log. Other options include track indexes, M3U playlists, album-art search, and preserving hidden track one audio from the first-track pregap. The download is an archive that can be unpacked without setup, and portable use is available by changing a profile file. Windows requires Microsoft .NET Framework 4.x, and external encoder programs must be downloaded separately. The maker describes CUERipper as having fewer settings than EAC and being somewhat easier to use.

Who it is for

It suits people who want to extract CDs with selectable output formats, metadata lookup, and different read-error handling modes. Users needing external encoders should expect to obtain those separately.

What is good

Free and included in CUETools
Supports single-image or separate-track output
Offers Secure and Paranoid retry modes
Supports AccurateRip and CTDB
Portable use is available

What to know first

Windows requires .NET Framework 4.x
External encoder executables are not included
FFmpeg plugin requires additional DLL files

Verdict

CUERipper offers several extraction modes and metadata and verification options in a free package. Check its Windows prerequisite and separate encoder requirements before setting it up.

CUERipper plans and pricing

All plans

CUERipper Free Included in the CUETools package · Windows download cue.tools · 3 Oct 2026

Compared on audio converter software

Free plan: Yescue.tools
Batch conversion: Yescue.tools
Supported formats: WAV, FLAC, APE, lossyWAV, ALAC, TTA, WavPackcue.tools
Quality controls: Yescue.tools
Metadata editing: Yescue.tools
CD ripping: Yescue.tools
Cloud conversion: Nocue.tools

Facts

Purpose: CUERipper extracts digital audio from CDs and is described as an open-source alternative to EAC.cue.tools · 2 Oct 2026
Included software: CUERipper is included in the CUETools package.cue.tools · 2 Oct 2026
Disc databases: It supports MusicBrainz and freeDB metadata databases, plus AccurateRip and CTDB.cue.tools · 2 Oct 2026
Extraction output: Users can choose lossy or lossless output and extract a disc as one image or as separate track files.cue.tools · 2 Oct 2026
Secure extraction: Secure mode retries sections up to 30 more times when read results differ or the drive reports C2 errors.cue.tools · 2 Oct 2026
Paranoid extraction: Paranoid mode retries sections up to 61 more times when read results differ or the drive reports C2 errors.cue.tools · 2 Oct 2026
Metadata search: Metadata search can use MusicBrainz, Discogs and freeDB, with Fast, Default and Extensive search modes.cue.tools · 2 Oct 2026
Album art: Album art search can be disabled, limited to the selected metadata, or expanded to CDTOC-associated art and fuzzy search.cue.tools · 2 Oct 2026
Logs and playlists: Options include EAC-style extraction logs and creation of M3U playlists.cue.tools · 2 Oct 2026
Track details: In tracks mode, CUERipper can preserve hidden track one audio as a separate track 00 file.cue.tools · 2 Oct 2026
Portable use: The download page says CUERipper can run portably from a USB stick by removing the user_profiles_enabled file.cue.tools · 2 Oct 2026
Platform and prerequisites: The download page provides a Windows release and lists Microsoft .NET Framework 4.x as a prerequisite; it also notes that Windows 8, 10 or 11 should include it.cue.tools · 2 Oct 2026
External encoders: External encoder executables are not included and must be downloaded separately by the user.cue.tools · 2 Oct 2026
Known issues: The maker says known issues are tracked on GitHub and the Hydrogenaudio forum.cue.tools · 2 Oct 2026
Ease of use: The maker says it has fewer configuration options than EAC and is somewhat easier to use.cue.tools · 3 Oct 2026
Metadata and verification: It supports MusicBrainz and freeDB metadata, plus AccurateRip and CTDB.cue.tools · 3 Oct 2026
Extraction modes: It can rip to a single image or to separate track files, with selectable lossless or lossy output.cue.tools · 3 Oct 2026
Rip checks: Test & Copy tests all tracks before extraction and adds Test CRC values to the EAC-style log.cue.tools · 3 Oct 2026
Read-error handling: Burst, Secure, and Paranoid extraction modes use progressively more retries when results differ or the drive reports C2 errors.cue.tools · 3 Oct 2026
Gap and hidden audio: Options include detecting track indexes and preserving Hidden Track One Audio from the first track pregap.cue.tools · 3 Oct 2026
Cover art: CUERipper can search for album art, embed it when the output format permits, and choose thumbnail or full-size image searches.cue.tools · 3 Oct 2026
Portability: The download is an archive that can be unpacked without setup, and removing user_profiles_enabled makes settings save in the install folder for portable use.cue.tools · 3 Oct 2026
Platform requirement: The download page lists Microsoft .NET Framework 4.x as a prerequisite and says it should be preinstalled on Windows 8, 10, or 11.cue.tools · 3 Oct 2026
Optional codec dependency: Using the FFmpeg plugin requires additional DLL files to be copied into its x64 or win32 plugin directory.cue.tools · 3 Oct 2026
Privacy detail: CTDB submission logs include contributor IP addresses and CD drive models, which the database page says are used to screen submissions.cue.tools · 3 Oct 2026
Known issues and support: The maker directs users to GitHub and the Hydrogenaudio forum for known issues and discussion.cue.tools · 3 Oct 2026