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Cardinal vs plugdata: catalog facts
Cardinal	plugdata
Free Free and open source.	Free Free and open source under the GPL-3.0 licence.
Windows, macOS, Linux, Web	Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS
1382 built-in modules with nothing extra to install Works as AU, CLAP, LV2, VST2 and VST3 plugin or standalone	Runs standalone or as a VST3, AU, CLAP or LV2 plugin Bundles ELSE, Cyclone and Gem libraries
Cannot load external Rack modules Modular patching has a learning curve for newcomers	Visual patching has a learning curve for newcomers to Pure Data Some Pure Data externals may need checking for compatibility
Downloadable app, Web application	Downloadable app
Open source	Open source
License not stated	License: GPL-3.0
No account needed	No account needed
Works offline	Not stated if it works offline
Official website Full listing and sources Checked September 24, 2026	Official website Full listing and sources Checked October 1, 2026

Catalog facts only. Anything “not stated” is unconfirmed. Check full listings for details.