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Cardinal vs Surge XT: catalog facts
Cardinal	Surge XT
Free Free and open source.	Free Free and open source.
Windows, macOS, Linux, Web	Windows, macOS, Linux
1382 built-in modules with nothing extra to install Works as AU, CLAP, LV2, VST2 and VST3 plugin or standalone	Many synthesis methods, filters and effects MPE and microtuning support
Cannot load external Rack modules Modular patching has a learning curve for newcomers	Large feature set takes time to learn
Downloadable app, Web application	Downloadable app
Open source	Open source
License not stated	License not stated
No account needed	No account needed
Works offline	Works offline
Official website Full listing and sources Checked September 24, 2026	Official website Full listing and sources Checked September 23, 2026

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