IrfanView: when to install it, and when not to
IrfanView is a tiny, fast Windows viewer that opens an extraordinary range of image and media formats, with batch convert, rename and basic edit built in.…
The short version
IrfanView: Opens a 50 megapixel photo before other viewers have finished launching. Also batch-resizes, converts and rotates entire folders. Not free for commercial use, which catches people out.
| Licence / price | Free for personal use |
|---|---|
| Platforms | Windows |
| Category | Graphics & Design — 7 programs |
| Official download | https://www.irfanview.com/64bit.htm ↗ |
What it is for
IrfanView is a tiny, fast Windows viewer that opens an extraordinary range of image and media formats, with batch convert, rename and basic edit built in. On an older machine it is still the quickest way to thumb through a folder of photos.
When to pick something else
Windows-only and visually stuck in an earlier era, with a 32-bit core that occasionally complicates plugins. It is a viewer and light editor, not a place for serious retouching or organised photo libraries.
How it compares in Graphics & Design
These are the alternatives we would consider for the same job. The notes are the same ones used on the main list, so there is no separate ranking hiding on this page.
| Program | Licence / price | Platforms | Why it is on the list |
|---|---|---|---|
| GIMP Publisher's site ↗ | Free · Open source | Windows, macOS, Linux | The closest thing to a free Photoshop: layers, masks, curves, batch processing, plugin ecosystem. The interface takes a week to stop annoying you. Worth it if you edit photos regularly. |
| Krita Publisher's site ↗ | Free · Open source | Windows, macOS, Linux | Built for drawing and painting rather than photo editing: brush engines that feel like real media, onion skinning, animation timeline. The best free option for a drawing tablet. |
| Inkscape Publisher's site ↗ | Free · Open source | Windows, macOS, Linux | Vector editing for logos, icons and print-ready SVG. If you need to draw shapes that stay sharp at any size, this replaces Illustrator for most real-world jobs. |
| Paint.NET Publisher's site ↗ | Free · Closed source | Windows | The sweet spot between Paint and GIMP: layers, selections, effects, and an interface you understand in ten minutes. This is what most people actually want. Windows only. |
| XnView MP Publisher's site ↗ | Free for personal use | Windows, macOS, Linux | A photo browser and converter that reads over 500 formats, with tagging and a real database behind it. Use this instead of IrfanView if you also work on a Mac. |
Practical notes
- Use the batch conversion for resizing a whole trip's worth of photos at once.
- Add the plugins pack to unlock extra formats.
- The thumbnail view beats Explorer for quick browsing.
Questions people ask
Is IrfanView free?
Free for personal use; a commercial licence is required for business use.
Why not just use the Photos app?
Speed, format support and batch tools the built-in app lacks.
Does it edit video?
It can play some, but editing belongs in a real media tool.
Where it appears in our guides
See the full Graphics & Design explainer for the other 6 programs in this category.
How to read this page. How to read this page. Platform, licence and publisher details come from our directory data. Where an independent review, audit or survey is mentioned, it is summarised in our own words with the source named and linked; our /sources page sets out that policy. The recommendation, the trade-offs and every 'skip it if' line are our editorial judgement. We do not run benchmarks, publish measured performance figures or host installers, and every download link goes to the publisher's own site. If a detail is out of date, our About page explains how to tell us.