Top 24 Best Photo Management Software

If you’re looking for the best photo management software, this article might help you find the one that suits you best. Let’s take a look at 24 programs for photo managing.

Movavi Photo Editor is a desktop photo assistant. It will help you manage your entire photo collection, including images in RAW, JPEG, PNG, and other formats.

Another great thing is that the program selects photos that look similar, so you can edit them together or choose the best one and delete the rest.

The program also allows you to edit photos. You can edit one photo at a time or edit many pictures simultaneously. The Movavi photo-managing software allows you to crop, flip, and rotate images, and much more.

OS: Windows, Mac

Pros:

• The app allows you to edit multiple photos simultaneously.
• You can make a backup of your photos to restore the archive in case of loss.

Cons:

• 3-day free trial period.

This software is one of the best photo managers for those who are already using Adobe Creative Cloud programs like Photoshop. When you buy any Adobe program, Adobe Bridge goes with it – for free! Also, if you’re an Adobe user, you get a familiar interface, so it’ll be much easier for you to figure out.

The program allows you to import bulks of photos directly from your camera, export, and preview images. You can also edit photos in batches and protect your work by adding a watermark.

But Adobe Bridge has a disadvantage – if you’re not a user of Adobe Creative Cloud, the program will be paid. Also, if you’re not familiar with Adobe software, you might waste time on studying the interface.

OS: Windows, Mac

Pros:

• You can organize youк pictures based on keywords, labels, ratings, and metadata.
• It’s a perfect addition to Adobe Photoshop.

Cons:

• It’s a part of the Adobe creative environment and is mostly useful for those who use Adobe software on a regular business.

To find out what other users think about Adobe Bridge, follow the link below:

Review by G2

This software is great for Nikon users as it’s compatible with all current and previous Nikon cameras that can output RAW, JPG, or TIFF image files and .mov and .avi video files. Using Nikon ViewNX-i, you can:

• organize and browse images and videos
• edit still images or video files
• create slideshows with pictures, videos, music, and titles
• share files quickly and seamlessly

OS: Windows, Mac

Pros:

• It’s free; however, you need to have a Nikon camera.
• It imports the photos directly from your camera.

Cons:

• It only makes sense to use if you’re a Nikon camera user.

To find out what other users think about Nikon ViewNX-i, follow the link below:

Review by MacUpdate

This online service is something worth considering if you’re a professional photographer or want to be one. It not only allows you to store and categorize your pictures – but you can also sell your photos through the platform, have your clients sign legal documents, create professional invoices, and track all the payments. Reviews speak for themselves: over 95% of 5-star reviews on G2 don’t come from nothing.

OS: Any (web-based)

Pros:

• The galleries on ShootProof are beautiful: with an ability to add music to the gallery, viewing a wedding photo session becomes even more enjoyable.
• It’s a fully-fledged business tool for photographers.

Cons:

• There’s no reason to use this platform if you’re not a professional photographer.

To find out what other users think about ShootProof, follow the link below:

Review by G2

Photobucket is another online storage service. Unlike ShootProof, this one is not for professional use. With it, you can upload photos, sort them into galleries, and share the galleries and individual images through social media. Also, the Intermediate and Expert payment plans allow you to use the built-in photo editor. The pricing is transparent and reasonable, with an option to save money via yearly payments.

OS: Any (web-based)

Pros:

• Easy uploading from smartphones.
• A built-in photo editor looks useful.

Cons:

• The reviews vary from glowing to poor from website to website. We suggest you read different kinds of reviews before investing in one of the more expensive plans.

To find out what other users think about Photobucket, follow the link below:

Review by G2

Photo Mechanic claims to be the fastest photo browser on the market. It can upload photos from several memory cards simultaneously, backups them to your hard drive, allows you to edit metadata and select the best shots from a set. Professional photographers, who use this software, claim that it helps them save time every photo shoot. Amateurs may struggle with the learning curve, but managing photos becomes a piece of cake when one gets used to the interface.

OS: Windows, Mac

Pros:

• It allows you to process entire photo sessions in a matter of minutes.
• It previews huge RAW files in seconds.

Cons:

• Some users claim that the current version (Photo Mechanic 6) is slow and bulky. They recommend downgrading to Photo Mechanic 5.

To find out what other users think about Photo Mechanic, follow the link below:

Review by Expert Photography

PicBackMan is designed for making backups of your photos and videos. If you're using Google Photos, Google Drive, Dropbox, SmugMug, Flickr, pCloud, or OneDrive to store your photos already and you struggle with managing the folders through a browser, PicBackMan will help you upload files with just a couple of clicks. The program helps maintain a structure through the folders and can work with videos – a rare option for this list.

OS: Windows, Mac

Pros:

• The program recognizes dupe photos and can help you get rid of them.
• It marks all uploaded photos and videos private by default, so you don’t have to worry about your files getting leaked.

Cons:

• It doesn't sort photos automatically: all the preparation for the uploading is still your responsibility.

To find out what other users think about PicBackMan, follow the link below:

Review by G2

Canto is a platform that allows for sharing photos inside an organization. Let's imagine a big company that works with a stock of images. It doesn't matter where the company gets them from, but many employees need to use the same pictures. This platform stocks your photographs and makes them accessible for all the employees interested. With clients like NASA, Harvard University, and the American Red Cross, you can be sure that you'll have the best customer experience.

OS: Any (web-based)

Pros:

• Your images will be safe from deletion and outside access.
• Users of the stock can be assigned different roles depending on their access demands: admin, contributor, or consumer.

Cons:

• To find out the pricing for your company, you need to fill a form on the website.

jAlbum is a photo management software that is so versatile that it can act as an online store. Not what you've expected, right? Here's the explanation. This online storage platform can store pictures and share them through almost any website you need: from social media and WordPress blogs to your site. If you don't have a website, you can create one on jAlbum's domain – jalbum.net. The jAlbum website editor has different skins for your website. Some of them are ready-made templates for online stores. You can use it to sell your pictures as well as what's on the images themselves. jAlbum has payment integrations with PayPal, Google Checkout, and Fotomoto – this should be enough if your final goal is not just storing pictures but also making money.

OS: Windows, Mac, Linux, Android, iOS, web version

Pros:

• This photo manager can be anything: from a humble photo backup to a personal website or an online store.
• It’s accessible from almost any device.

Cons:

• If you want it for commercial use, the price doubles.

To find out what other users think about jAlbum, follow the link below:

Review by Capterra

This one is primarily photo-editing software. However, it has an excellent catalog system that lets you manage pictures in the same window you edit them. With a built-in AI to help you edit anything (from smoothing out skin to changing sky), this is a powerful tool not many programs can compete with. So, if you're not into paying for a photo editor and photo manager separately, this tool should suit you well.

OS: Windows, Mac

Pros:

• The powerful AI elevates almost any photo processed.
• For those whose main issue is grainy photos – the noise removal feature works perfectly.

Cons:

• Since photo management is just a secondary feature of this software, it may not be as convenient as tools that focus on the task.

To find out what other users think about Luminar, follow the link below:

Review by PCMag

Unlimited storage space and zero ads – what else could you possibly want from an online photo management platform? Maybe, apps for your every device, from a smartphone to Apple TV? SmugMug is just the service for you. Although on average, SmugMug's prices are higher than the ones of previously mentioned Photobucket, SmugMug provides you with more features and promises 24/7/364 human support for customers (yeah, we're also wondering what this special day is).

OS: Any (web-based)

Pros:

• Unlimited storage space for the files that meet maximum requirements (pictures under 150 MB, videos of 1080p smaller than 3 GB up to 20 minutes).
• It’s integrated with other photo management tools, like previously mentioned PicBackMan.

Cons:

• Experienced users say that the Basic plan is too restrictive. They consider it a trial plan if the free 14-day trial hasn't been adequate. To make the best use of the platform, you need to have at least the Power plan.

To find out what other users think about SmugMug, follow the link below:

Review by PCMag

MAGIX Image Manager Deluxe is not only a photo manager but also a photo editor. The intuitive user interface makes it an ideal choice for both novice and experienced users.

Using the app, you can import images from a number of online cloud services, so that you can see all of your pictures in one location, no matter where you've saved them in the past. You can organize your photographs by labeling them with keywords, locations, star ratings of faces. The program also allows you to edit your photos. There’re simple but essential features such as auto-enhancing, color correction, and image sharpening.

OS: Windows

Pros:

• The program has a cloud service to make sure your photos are safe.
• The software sorts out poor shots and duplicates.

Cons:

• Users report a lack of customer support and rare updates.

To find out what other users think about MAGIX Photo Manager Deluxe, follow the link below:

Review by TopTenReviews

If you need a photo manager that supports different formats, this program is exactly what you’re looking for. Apowersoft Photo Viewer supports professional image formats like HEIC or CDR as well as popular formats like PNG, JPG, and TIFF. Also, you no longer need a PDF reader, because this software is capable of viewing PDFs directly! Aside from that, the tool supports batch processing. You can convert, resize or rename images in just a few clicks.

The program has many exciting features, here's one of them: it allows you to take screenshots and add texts, lines, and arrows to them. You can save the screenshots to your computer: just copy to clipboard to paste it somewhere.

OS: Windows

Pros:

• It supports many professional image formats.
• Clear and simple interface.

Cons:

• Users report screenshot management being difficult.

To find out what other users think about Apowersoft Photo Viewer, follow the link below:

Review by TechRadar

If you’re looking for a picture manager for your PC that can also be used in a network environment, this might be the one. Using this tool, you can easily sync photos on the network and share them with family and friends: multiple users can watch the photos at the same time.

You can sort your photos by categories using icons. One of the program’s features is that you can assign one photo to multiple categories at the same time. You can use icons from a standard icon set, or make an icon from the imported picture.

Another useful feature is that you can hide private photos. It’s a great option when you want to show your photos to friends but also want to keep some of the photos to yourself. To tuck the images away, just mark some of them using the “hidden” tag.

OS: Windows

Pros:

• It has a free version to test out.
• It supports over 60 image formats.

Cons:

• The program hasn’t got an update since 2010.

To find out what other users think about PicaJet, follow the link below:

Review by TopTenReviews

This software allows you to organize photos according to different characteristics: keywords, date, location, color, or faces. You can also create your own categories that make the most sense for you! The program also offers advanced editing tools like object removal and focus stacking.

ACDSee System is a paid program, but they give you a free trial and 30-day money-back guarantee. Only available for Windows.

OS: Windows

Pros:

• It has a face recognition system that makes picture management easier.
• The software allows for batch conversion of photos.

Cons:

• The interface may seem overwhelming.

To find out what other users think about ACDSee System, follow the link below:

Review by PCMag

Phototheca is created by Lunarship Software, and it's a photo management app with a built-in photo editor. Unlike many programs like this, Phototheca focuses on photo management and makes it as intuitive as possible. You can see how efficient it is just by looking at the screenshot. It recognizes faces, types of shots (panoramas, portraits, screenshots), organizes pictures by dates and events.

OS: Windows

Pros:

• Many automated categories to sort pictures: face recognition, calendar events, camera models, etc.
• Duplicate deletion.

Cons:

• Not Android-compatible (but compatible with iPhone). Why not target both platforms?

StudioLine has a range of photo editing and managing programs. Prices vary from $70 to $460 per license. There’s also a free option, which is called Photo Basic. However, it’s not what we’ll be talking about since it’s just a free trial of StudioLine Photo Classic. This program is a fully-fledged photo editor with added photo management features. Despite not the most modern-looking website, the software still gets updates.

OS: Windows

Pros:

• It has a load assistant that allows you to import pictures from your camera without much effort.
• The software can sort photos by tags, categories, date, and keywords.

Cons:

• The interface may seem outdated.

To find out what other users think about StudioLine Photo Classic, follow the link below:

Review by TopTenReviews

Apple Photos is a standard program for Mac users – it’s preinstalled on your computer, iPhone, and iPad, so it’s really easy to manage all of your photos. When you connect your iPhone or iPad to your Mac, the desktop version opens automatically.

The program sorts your photos by time, locations, faces and creates amazing slideshows itself. You can also search for photos by objects, such as a tree or a glass, and find the desired photo. The app is compatible with RAW files and has standard editing functions. The great thing about the program is that it’s free. But it’s only for Mac users.

OS: Mac

Pros:

• It’s an excellent basic photo manager if you’re not into looking for additional software for your Mac.

Cons:

• It’s basic: if you’re a professional photographer, you won’t be satisfied with the features suggested.

If the default Mac tool doesn’t satisfy you, Pictorial is another option to consider. While making the software, Team Pictorial focused on two aspects: being perfect for Mac computers and editing raw photos from any camera a Mac user can use. That’s why the software has accurate color rendition with Retina displays and can work with pictures from over 500 camera models, including iPhone and iPad cameras.

OS: Mac

Pros:

• It has a powerful photo-editing tool that allows for object removal and precise retouching.
• Non-destructive editing: you can revert any changes made to your pictures.

Cons:

• Only the paid version has the RAW format support.

Here’s another great photo management software. digiKam is an advanced open-source tool that is supported by Linux, Windows, and macOS. The app helps you manage, edit, and share photos. With digiKam you can:

• assign tags, ratings, and labels to your photos
• search the photo library by a wide range of criteria
• do basic editing like adjusting colors, cropping, and sharpening
• use advanced tools like curves adjustment or panorama stitching

OS: Windows, Mac, Linux AppImage

Pros:

• It allows you to edit metadata.
• The program still gets updates even after more than 15 years since the first release.

Cons:

• Some users say that the interface isn’t that intuitive, but they still think that it’s a great open-source software for RAW editing.

If you’re looking for the best free photo management software, you should give Google Photos a shot – the app has an overall App Store rating of 4.7 stars! Especially if you are familiar with Google services. If you’ve ever used Google Drive, it will be very easy for you to understand the interface. Using this service, you can store an unlimited number of photos and videos in reduced quality. Another option is up to 15 GBs of free storage in high quality – it’s up to you to choose.

Google Photos connects to Google Drive and allows you to share photos via links with customizable options. So, you can share your photos and prohibit or allow viewers to make changes.

OS: Any (web-based)

Pros:

• Google Photos is accessible from any device: Pcs, Macs, tablets, smartphones, iPhones, iPads, etc.

Cons:

• If you need more than 15 GB of storage space, you’ll need to pay additionally.

If you’re an experienced PC user capable of digging into the topic of hosting your website, Lychee is a program you should consider. It allows you to host your photo-gallery website and customize it to suit your needs. With Lychee, you’re in control of everything without paying a single dollar for a subscription. Used by real estate agents and photographers, Lychee proves to be versatile.

OS: Any (server-based)

Pros:

• It’s self-hosted: you don’t need a website to upload your photos.
• Its plugin system enlarges the pool of what the software is capable of.

Cons:

• To host this photo manager, you need to be an advanced PC user.

To find out what other users think about Lychee, follow the link below:

Review by G2

XnView MP is a new photo management tool deemed to replace XnView Classic. Sure, both photo managers are great, but we choose XnView MP over the Classic version for its OS support: there are versions for Windows, Mac, and Linux. In both MP and Classic versions, the management feature works through the system of labels and marks you apply to the pictures. The program is free unless you need it for commercial use.

OS: Windows, Mac, Linux

Pros:

• Over 500 image formats supported; exporting images to over 70 formats.
• Batch conversion.

Cons:

• The changelog on the website states that the last update was in November 2019.

To find out what other users think about XnView MP, follow the link below:

Review by TechRadar

nomacs is, basically, a Windows Photo Viewer alternative with some extra features. One of those extras is photo management. You can sort pictures by name or date and filter them. As you can see from this brief description, it’s elementary for a photo manager. People who recommend nomacs are usually fans of the original Windows Photo Viewer interface and want to have a similar program on a Windows 10 PC, Mac, or Linux computer.

OS: Windows, Mac, Linux

Pros:

• It has a portable Windows version.
• It had basic editing features like resize, crop, turn, and flip.

Cons:

• Its photo management features are minimal.

No matter what software you choose, we can guarantee that you will be satisfied. If you’re looking for a fast and reliable photo manager that works on both PC and Mac, we recommend you try Movavi Photo Editor. Download the software to explore its features and easy-to-use interface.