AppBreakup
Submit an app

ExifTool alternatives: 2 apps ranked by verified data

Facts checked Oct 29, 2026AppBreakup editorialHow we rank

Common reasons people leave ExifTool: no official graphical interface; command-line options take time to learn, and easy to overwrite data by mistake without backups. We ranked 2 alternatives by how directly each one replaces ExifTool, then by reviews, real visits and how recently each app's facts were checked against its own website. MediaInfo currently ranks first.

Quick comparison

#AppPricingOpen sourcePlatformsVerified factsScore
1MediaInfo logoMediaInfoOpen sourceYesWindows, macOS, Linux +35 of 562.6
2digiKam logodigiKamOpen sourceYesWindows, macOS, Linux4 of 451.2
  1. MediaInfo logo

    1. MediaInfoTop pick

    Best for: Editors, encoders and media collectors who need to see exactly how a video or audio file is built

    Open sourceWindows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS, Web

    62.6

    score / 100

    Why switch from ExifTool

    Clearer, more detailed reports on video and audio streams, with a GUI.

    Pros

    • Very detailed stream-level info for a wide range of containers and codecs
    • GUI, command-line and library versions from the same project
    • Exports reports as text, CSV or HTML
    • Free and open source under a BSD-style licence

    Cons

    • Read-only: it can't edit or strip metadata
    • Desktop interface looks dated and is dense for newcomers
    • Little support for photo EXIF compared with ExifTool
    Visit MediaInfo Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.387
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.1585
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is MediaInfo a good ExifTool alternative?

    Verified facts

    5 of 5 verified
    License
    BSD-style
    Checked Oct 29, 2026mediaarea.net(opens source in a new tab)
    Platforms
    Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS
    Checked Oct 29, 2026mediaarea.net(opens source in a new tab)
    Interfaces
    GUI, command line, library
    Checked Oct 29, 2026mediaarea.net(opens source in a new tab)
    Export formats
    Text, CSV, HTML
    Checked Oct 29, 2026mediaarea.net(opens source in a new tab)
    Web version
    MediaInfoOnline
    Checked Oct 29, 2026mediaarea.net(opens source in a new tab)
  2. digiKam logo

    2. digiKam

    Best for: Enthusiasts managing huge local libraries who want open formats

    Open sourceWindows, macOS, Linux

    51.2

    score / 100

    Why switch from ExifTool

    Photo manager with a built-in metadata editor, for people who'd rather edit tags inside a library app.

    Pros

    • Free and open source on all desktop OSes
    • Handles large libraries and RAW files
    • Face recognition, geotagging and powerful search

    Cons

    • No cloud backup or phone sync
    • Dense interface with a learning curve
    • Performance tuning needed for very large databases
    Visit digiKam Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.341
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.15100
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is digiKam a good ExifTool alternative?

    Verified facts

    4 of 4 verified
    Open source
    Yes
    Checked Oct 29, 2026digikam.org(opens source in a new tab)
    Platforms
    Linux, Windows and macOS
    Checked Oct 29, 2026digikam.org(opens source in a new tab)
    RAW support
    Via LibRaw
    Checked Oct 29, 2026digikam.org(opens source in a new tab)
    Data collection
    None
    Checked Oct 29, 2026digikam.org(opens source in a new tab)

The best ExifTool alternative for…

The highest-ranked app in this list for each need.

MediaInfo logo

Best ExifTool alternative for most people

MediaInfo

Clearer, more detailed reports on video and audio streams, with a GUI.

digiKam logo

Best ExifTool alternative for a free option

digiKam

Photo manager with a built-in metadata editor, for people who'd rather edit tags inside a library app.

MediaInfo logo

Best ExifTool alternative for open source

MediaInfo

Clearer, more detailed reports on video and audio streams, with a GUI.

MediaInfo logo

Best ExifTool alternative for Mac

MediaInfo

Clearer, more detailed reports on video and audio streams, with a GUI.

MediaInfo logo

Best ExifTool alternative for Windows

MediaInfo

Clearer, more detailed reports on video and audio streams, with a GUI.

MediaInfo logo

Best ExifTool alternative for Linux

MediaInfo

Clearer, more detailed reports on video and audio streams, with a GUI.

MediaInfo logo

Best ExifTool alternative for iPhone and Android

MediaInfo

Clearer, more detailed reports on video and audio streams, with a GUI.

MediaInfo logo

Best ExifTool alternative for working in the browser

MediaInfo

Clearer, more detailed reports on video and audio streams, with a GUI.

ExifTool alternatives: common questions

What is the best alternative to ExifTool?

MediaInfo ranks first right now. Clearer, more detailed reports on video and audio streams, with a GUI.

Is there a free alternative to ExifTool?

Yes. MediaInfo (open source) and digiKam (open source) have a free option. Check each app's verified facts for current plan limits.

Is there an open-source alternative to ExifTool?

Yes: MediaInfo and digiKam.

Which ExifTool alternatives work on Linux?

MediaInfo and digiKam run on Linux.

Why do people switch from ExifTool?

The complaints we hear most: no official graphical interface; command-line options take time to learn; easy to overwrite data by mistake without backups; output for video streams is less readable than MediaInfo's.

How is this list ranked?

Every app is scored with the same published formula: how directly it replaces ExifTool, reviews (weighted by verification), visits from AppBreakup, how recently its facts were checked against its own website, and reader votes.