MusicBrainz Picard
Free open-source music tagger that fixes tags and file names using the MusicBrainz database.
Updated · AppBreakup editorial · Windows, macOS, Linux
Is MusicBrainz Picard free?
Yes, free and open source
- License:
- GPL 2.0 or later
Checked on MusicBrainz Picard's site Nov 8, 2026
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All 7- Verified facts
- 4 of 4
- Alternatives ranked
- 7
- Approved reviews
- 0
- Visits sent from here
- 0
About MusicBrainz Picard
MusicBrainz Picard is the official tagging app of MusicBrainz, the open, community-run music database. You drag in your music files, Picard groups them into albums and matches them against MusicBrainz releases, using AcoustID audio fingerprints when a file has no useful tags. It then writes artist, album, track and release details plus cover art, and can rename and move files into a folder structure you define with its scripting language. It reads and writes all the common formats, including MP3, FLAC, Ogg, M4A, WMA and WAV, can look up a whole CD, and has a plugin system for extra features. Picard is free and GPL-licensed, maintained by the MetaBrainz Foundation, and runs on Windows, macOS and Linux. Its album-first workflow is very accurate for released music but can feel slow or confusing for loose singles, DJ mixes or recordings that aren't in the database.
Best for: Collectors who want albums tagged accurately from a large open music database.
Pros and cons
What works
- Matches files by audio fingerprint even when they have no tags
- Uses the large, open MusicBrainz database and Cover Art Archive
- Scripting for custom file naming and folder layouts
- Free, open source and cross-platform
Why people leave
- Album-centred workflow has a learning curve
- Less suited to manual bulk edits than Mp3tag
- Results depend on the release being in MusicBrainz
MusicBrainz Picard vs Kid3, puddletag and MusicBee
From each app's listing and the prices verified on its own site. A dash means we haven't verified it yet.
Top MusicBrainz Picard alternatives
See all 7- 1
Kid361.8Open-source tag editor with fine control over every tag frame, on desktop and Android.
- 2
puddletag59.4Spreadsheet-style tag editor for Linux that edits many files at once and can still pull data from MusicBrainz.
- 3
MusicBee50.0Windows music player with a built-in tag editor that can auto-fill album details from online databases.
- 4
TagScanner42.3More manual control over bulk renaming and text fixes on Windows.
- 5
Meta for Mac42.3Native Mac editor for hand-editing tags in batches, with Discogs lookups and cover art search.
Why people left MusicBrainz Picard
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MusicBrainz Picard: common questions
What is MusicBrainz Picard?
MusicBrainz Picard: Free open-source music tagger that fixes tags and file names using the MusicBrainz database. Best for collectors who want albums tagged accurately from a large open music database. Available for Windows, macOS and Linux.
Is MusicBrainz Picard free?
Yes. MusicBrainz Picard is free, open-source software.
Is MusicBrainz Picard open source?
Yes. The source code is on GitHub at metabrainz/picard.
What platforms does MusicBrainz Picard run on?
MusicBrainz Picard is available for Windows, macOS and Linux.
What are the best alternatives to MusicBrainz Picard?
The highest-ranked MusicBrainz Picard alternatives right now are Kid3, puddletag and MusicBee. See the full ranked list for pricing, platforms and verified facts.
MusicBrainz Picard vs Kid3: what's the difference?
Both MusicBrainz Picard and Kid3 are free and open source. Only Kid3 runs on Android.