In this study, we compared the quality and sensory characteristics of 4 types of fresh tomatoes and 2 types of canned tomatoes, and then determined the most preferred quality characteristics and tomato type for the production of tomato sauce. The sample tomatoes were prepared by cutting after either peeling or heating for 5 min. Soluble solids were in the following order: Italian canned >American canned, Cherry> Vita king > Aranka > general tomatoes. The primary free sugars were fructose and glucose, and we determined that fructose and glucose were the most prevalent sugars in the cherry and American canned tomatoes. The total sugars, which were the sum of the fructose and glucose contents, were consistent with the soluble solid contents. pH was measured in the following order: general> Italian canned> Cherry, Vitaking> Aranka> American canned tomatoes. The most abundant amino acid was glutamic acid, and its content in the unheated tomatoes occurred in the following order: American canned> Italian canned> Vita king> Cherry> general tomatoes; however, after heating, the Vita king tomato was followed by the American canned tomato. The lightness (L value) of the fresh tomatoes tended to be higher than that of the canned tomatoes, and it decreased after heating. The redness (a value) of the unheated tomatoes was in the following order: Italian canned> American canned> Vitaking tomatoes; after heating, the Vitaking evidenced the highest values, followed by the canned tomatoes. The result of our QDA profile of sensory characteristics according to redness, aroma, sweet taste, sour taste, palatability, and viscosity was in the following order: Italian canned > American canned > Vitaking tomatoes, which evidenced the most balanced hexagonal shape. In the preference test, 2 types of canned tomatoes and Vitaking tomatoes were the most preferred among the fresh tomatoes. From the correlation coefficients among the sensory characteristics, canned tomatoes were the most preferred for the production of tomato sauce due to its high redness, flavor, palatability, and viscosity values. Vitaking tomatoes were the most appropriate among the fresh tomatoes.