MediaInfo alternatives: 2 apps ranked by verified data

Facts checked Oct 30, 2026AppBreakup editorialHow we rank

Common reasons people leave MediaInfo: read-only: it can't edit or strip metadata, and desktop interface looks dated and is dense for newcomers. We ranked 2 alternatives by how directly each one replaces MediaInfo, then by reviews, real visits and how recently each app's facts were checked against its own website. ExifTool currently ranks first.

Quick comparison

#	App	Pricing	Open source	Platforms	Verified facts	Score
1	ExifTool	Open source	Yes	Windows, macOS, Linux	5 of 5	66.5
2	VLC media player	Open source	Yes	Windows, macOS, Linux +2	3 of 3	48.1

1. ExifToolTop pick
Best for: Photographers and technical users who need to read, fix or strip metadata in bulk
Open sourceWindows, macOS, Linux
66.5
score / 100
Why switch from MediaInfo
Reads and also writes metadata across photos, video and audio, for when you need to change tags, not just view them.
Pros
Supports a huge range of metadata formats and camera maker notes
Can write and remove tags, not just read them
Scriptable for batch renaming, date shifting and geotagging
Free, actively maintained, with frequent releases
Cons
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
Visit ExifTool Details and reviews
How this score is calculated
Editorial fit ×0.3100
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 ExifTool a good MediaInfo alternative?
Verified facts
5 of 5 verified
Type
Command-line app and Perl library
Checked Oct 30, 2026exiftool.org(opens source in a new tab)
Formats
EXIF, GPS, IPTC, XMP, ID3 and more
Checked Oct 30, 2026exiftool.org(opens source in a new tab)
Platforms
Windows executable, macOS package, Perl
Checked Oct 30, 2026exiftool.org(opens source in a new tab)
License
Same terms as Perl
Checked Oct 30, 2026exiftool.org(opens source in a new tab)
Developer
Phil Harvey
Checked Oct 30, 2026exiftool.org(opens source in a new tab)
2. VLC media player
Best for: Anyone who wants one free player that opens almost any file on every device
Open sourceWindows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android
48.1
score / 100
Why switch from MediaInfo
Its codec information window covers the basics (codecs, resolution, bitrate) if you already have VLC installed.
Pros
Plays nearly every format without extra codecs
Free and open source, no ads or tracking
Available on desktop and mobile platforms
Cons
Interface looks dated and settings are hard to navigate
Library and metadata features are basic
HDR and high-end video output lag behind mpv-based players
Visit VLC media player Details and reviews
How this score is calculated
Editorial fit ×0.346
Reviews ×0.363
Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
Freshness ×0.1570
Votes ×0.150
0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula
Is VLC media player a good MediaInfo alternative?
Verified facts
3 of 3 verified
License
GPL-2.0
Checked Oct 25, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab)
Open source
Yes
Checked Oct 25, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab)
Tagline
Plays everything, runs anywhere
Checked Oct 25, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab)