An audio file contains data beyond the recorded sound; this is called metadata. This information includes the title, artist, album, genre, album cover, release year, and more. You can use an MP3 tag editor to access hidden information, and in this article, we have reviewed 12 tools for desktop and mobile devices. You can also use this guide as a reference for editing metadata.
Part 1. What Is MP3 Metadata and Why Should You Edit It?
MP3 metadata are the hidden details your audio file holds. These can vary for many, but the metadata type for audio is EPA (Embedded Audio Metadata), which stores audio information such as the artist, album, genre, track number, year, title, and more.
But why is it important to edit MP3 metadata? Most music players use metadata or tags to build an organized playlist. Sometimes, it also helps correct mistakes in the details, such as misspelled names, missing album covers, and unknown labels.
Part 2. How We Test These MP3 Metadata Editors
As we embark on our review of tools, we have developed a set of criteria to identify the best software for editing MP3 tags.
- Platform
We check the availability of a tool on platforms like Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS. - Batch Editing
The tool offers a feature to apply shared tags to multiple audio files, creating batch editing. - Online Database Lookup
Access to online database lookups to automatically search for tags related to artists, song information, etc. - File Format Support
In addition to MP3, the tool should support other audio file formats, including AAC, WAV, and AIFF. - Album Artwork
The MP3 metadata editor also allows you to add and remove album covers. - File Renaming
Support simple editing of audio files. - Price
Affordable pricing based on accessibility and offered features.
Part 3. Best MP3 Metadata Editors for Windows & Mac
To start, review the following metadata editors for Windows and Mac, including their core features, pricing, and limitations.
1. AVAide Video Converter
AVAide Video Converter is an all-in-one solution that provides a simple yet effective MP3 metadata editor for Mac and Windows. With its intuitive UI, you can easily edit details for audio and video files, especially MP3, AAC, FLAC, MP4, etc. Moreover, the process takes only seconds, and there is no loss of quality once the metadata is changed.
FREE DOWNLOAD For Windows 7 or later
FREE DOWNLOAD For Mac OS X 10.13 or later
Core Features:
- Easy learning curve.
- Support video and audio formats for metadata editing.
- Able to edit comment, title, artist, album cover, composer, track, etc.
- Allow you to change the file name.
- Change the album cover.
- Offer additional editing tools, such as an enhancer, converter, and compressor.
Supported Platforms: Windows, Mac
Price: $18.00
Limitations:
- The free trial only allows short audio clips to be edited.
2. Mp3tag
Mp3tag is an outstanding alternative to a metadata editor, as it supports multiple tag formats like MP3, iTunes, and WMA. It's easier with Mp3tag, as it supports online database lookups from MusicBrainz, freedb, and other sources to help you tag your audio files.
Core Features:
- Support batch editing.
- Wide range of support audio files.
- Import and export tag information.
- Completely free for Windows users.
Supported Platforms: Windows, Mac
Price: $24.99/ one-time purchase
Limitations:
- Mac users have to pay for the pro version.
3. TagScanner
TagScanner allows you to simply edit metadata on most modern audio formats. Its unique features include organizing and managing music libraries, as well as renaming files and tags in one go.
Core Features:
- Access album information from Discogs and MusicBrainz.
- Able to format tag fields and rearrange.
- Support embedded lyrics and album covers.
Supported Platforms: Windows
Price: Free
Limitations:
- Steep learning curve.
- No native version for Mac and Linux.
4. MusicBrainz Picard
Another free solution to change metadata on MP3, which also organizes your collections through renaming and re-tagging. Furthermore, MusicBrainz Picard uses Acoustic ID to identify audio files even without editing metadata.
Core Features:
- Support a wide range of audio formats.
- Support custom scripts and plugins.
- Free and open source.
Supported Platforms: Windows, Mac, Linux
Price: Free
Limitations:
- Slow process due to limited metadata retrieval.
5. Kid3
Not only can you add metadata to MP3s with Kid3, but it also lets you convert tags between ID3v1 and ID3v2. This alternative is recommended for modern and rare audio files, as well as for batch editing to modify tags simultaneously.
Core Features:
- Get album cover from online databases.
- Support popular OS.
- Generate a file name from tags.
Supported Platforms: Windows, Mac, Android, iOS
Price: Free
Limitations:
- No Acoustic fingerprinting to find audio easily.
6. Metadatics
For Mac users, Metadatics is an advanced FLAC tag editor that lets you edit hundreds of audio files in one go. Its toolset includes options for creating number sequences, copying data, etc.
Core Features:
- Get track information from databases.
- Manage album covers and images.
- Easy to use.
Supported Platforms: Mac
Price: $14.99
Limitations:
- Limited to Mac only.
7. Music Tag Editor
This alternative is a powerful and beginner-friendly tool for editing MP3 tags. It allows you to read and edit metadata while supporting ID3v1 and ID3v2. You can even edit tags for files like AIFF, TrueAudio, and MPC.
Core Features:
- Simple but effective tag editor.
- Fast edit of title, album, genre, etc.
- Edit tags in batch.
Supported Platforms: Mac
Price: $9.99
Limitations:
- Software updates are rare.
Part 4. Best Online MP3 Metadata Editors
Next, let's take a look at some of the best MP3 metadata editors online.
1. TagMP3
TagMP3 helps to edit MP3 metadata and change song information as much as you need. It does not require installation, so you can easily upload your audio and start editing right away.
Core Features:
- Change the album cover.
- Fix missing ID3 tags.
- Quick and easy to use.
Browsers: Chrome, Safari, Firefox
Price: Free
Limitations:
- Support a limited number of audio formats.
2. MusicCreator AI
This alternative is dedicated to editing metadata effortlessly. And so, you can use MusicCreator AI to organize your music library and enhance your experience by eliminating mislabeled tracks.
Core Features:
- Create smart playlists.
- Make accurate audio tag information.
- Support MP3, WAV, OGG, etc.
Browsers: Chrome, Safari, Firefox
Price: $10.49/ month
Limitations:
- There is a price per generation.
3. Metadata2Go
Metadata2Go is an online tool that offers a quick way to remove metadata from video and audio files. What sets it apart from other solutions is its ability to edit information such as bitrate, sample rate, copyright, and more.
Core Features:
- No software installation required.
- Show all hidden tags.
- Batch edit is supported.
Browsers: Chrome, Safari, Firefox
Price: Free
Limitations:
- It can be too slow in processing.
Part 5. Best MP3 Metadata Editors for Mobile
Changing metadata on MP3 files is available on mobile phones. Here are the 2 apps to get on Android and iOS.
1. Evertag
Fix your MP3 metadata with Evertag on iPhone or iPad. It supports updating cover art and organizing your playlist in a few taps. Its best feature is an auto-tag finder that detects and fills in missing information.
Core Features:
- Repair broken characters.
- Built-in manager for music collections.
Supported Platforms: iOS
Price: $1.99/ month
Limitations:
- Bombarded by ads in the free version.
2. Audio Tag Editor
This MP3 metadata editor allows you to edit multiple files at a time. Of course, it supports repairing mislabeled tracks by editing tags and labels.
Core Features:
- Intuitive interface.
- Supports tag editing of ID3v1, ID3v2.3, ID3v2.4.
Supported Platforms: Android
Price: Free
Limitations:
- No built-in web search for tags.
Part 6. Which MP3 Metadata Editor Is Best for You
See below the comparison table for all MP3 metadata editors included in this article.
| MP3 Metadata Editors | Best For | Supported Platforms | Price |
| AVAide Video Converter | Professional metadata and audio editing | Windows, Mac | $18.00 |
| Mp3tag | Online database lookups | Windows, Mac | $24.99 |
| TagScanner | Organizing music collection | Windows, Mac | Free |
| MusicBrainz Picard | Identify audio files through Acoustic ID | Windows, Mac | Free |
| Kid3 | Convert tags | Windows, Mac, Android, iOS | Free |
| Metadatics | Advanced toolset | Mac | $14.99 |
| Music Tag Editor | Edit tag fields in various files, like TrueAudio | Mac | $9.99 |
| TagMP3 | Fix missing ID3 tags | Chrome, Safari, Firefox | Free |
| MusicCreator AI | Eliminate mislabeled tracks | Chrome, Safari, Firefox | $10.49 |
| Metadata2Go | Batch edit online | Chrome, Safari, Firefox | Free |
| Evertag | Auto tag finder | iOS | $1.99 |
| Audio Tag Editor | Supports ID3v1, ID3v2.3, ID3v2.4 | Android | Free |
How to edit MP3 metadata? With the reviewed tools, you can find the best one for you. Hopefully, you get to try AVAide Video Converter, as it is effective, fast, and delivers amazing results.
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