Photini
Ranked in Photo Metadata Editors ·Free plan
About
Photini is a free desktop application for editing digital photograph metadata in Exif, IPTC, and XMP formats. It can apply metadata to multiple images and adjust their dates, times, and time zones. Metadata can be saved in image files or XMP sidecars, with all three formats available for compatibility. Map tabs provide place search, satellite imagery, and tools for setting photo locations through Google, Azure, or Mapbox/OpenStreetMap. Map access is free within service limits, while address lookup has a small per-lookup charge. Photini can copy photos from a camera or computer directory; direct camera import requires python-gphoto2, which is unavailable on Windows. It also uploads to Flickr, Ipernity, and Pixelfed, and lets users mark and label photo regions. Photini says it does not directly collect user information, though map and uploader services may collect information; uploader OAuth tokens are stored locally using Python keyring. The project warns that bugs may damage photographs and recommends backing them up before use. It is available for Linux, macOS, and Windows under GPL-3.0-or-later.
Who it is for
Photini suits desktop users who need to edit photo metadata, geotag images, or apply metadata to batches. It is available on Linux, macOS, and Windows.
What is good
- Edits Exif, IPTC, and XMP metadata.
- Applies metadata to multiple images at once.
- Supports photo locations and region labels.
- Uploads to Flickr, Ipernity, and Pixelfed.
- Free software under GPL-3.0-or-later.
What to know first
- Direct camera import is unavailable on Windows.
- Address lookup has a per-lookup charge.
- The developer warns bugs may damage photos.
Verdict
Photini provides broad metadata editing, batch operations, geotagging, and upload integrations in a free desktop application. Back up photographs before editing, and account for online service limits and address lookup charges.
Compared on photo metadata editors
- Free plan
- Yesgithub.com
- Metadata scope
- exif_iptc_xmpgithub.com
- Batch editing
- Yesgithub.com
- RAW file support
- Yesgithub.com
- Platform
- desktopgithub.com
- GPS metadata tools
- Yesgithub.com
- Metadata templates
- Yesgithub.com
Facts
- Purpose
- Photini is a graphical application for editing digital photograph metadata in Exif, IPTC and XMP formats.github.com · 30 Sept 2026
- Metadata storage
- Photini writes metadata to image files or XMP sidecar files and can write Exif, IPTC and XMP to maximize compatibility.github.com · 30 Sept 2026
- Geotagging
- Its map tabs support Google, Azure and Mapbox/OpenStreetMap, place search, satellite imagery and setting photo locations.photini.readthedocs.io · 30 Sept 2026
- Online service requirements
- Map and address lookup features rely on commercial online services; map access is free up to usage limits and address lookup has a small per-lookup charge.photini.readthedocs.io · 30 Sept 2026
- Photo import
- Photini can copy photos from a camera or computer directory, while direct camera import requires python-gphoto2, which is unavailable on Windows.photini.readthedocs.io · 30 Sept 2026
- Social integrations
- Photini supports uploading to Flickr, Ipernity and Pixelfed using photo metadata.github.com · 30 Sept 2026
- Flickr integration
- The Flickr uploader reuses Photini’s descriptive metadata for titles, descriptions and tags, and can synchronize metadata with Flickr.photini.readthedocs.io · 30 Sept 2026
- Image regions
- Users can mark and label regions of a photo, with region data stored in IPTC, MWG and Microsoft Photo formats within XMP.photini.readthedocs.io · 30 Sept 2026
- Security and privacy
- Photini says it does not directly collect user information; map and uploader services may collect information, and uploader OAuth tokens are stored locally using Python keyring.github.com · 30 Sept 2026
- Support
- The developer lists email support, a Google Groups forum and GitHub issues for problems and bug reports.github.com · 30 Sept 2026
- Limitations
- The project warns that bugs may damage photographs and recommends backing them up before use.github.com · 30 Sept 2026
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Sources
- github.com/jim-easterbrook/Photini· checked 30 Sept 2026
- photini.readthedocs.io/en/latest/manual/map.html· checked 30 Sept 2026
- photini.readthedocs.io/en/latest/other/api_keys.html· checked 30 Sept 2026
- photini.readthedocs.io/en/latest/manual/importer.html· checked 30 Sept 2026
- photini.readthedocs.io/en/latest/manual/flickr.html· checked 30 Sept 2026
- photini.readthedocs.io/en/latest/manual/regions.html· checked 30 Sept 2026