If you find the Photos app in Windows 10 or Windows 11 uncomfortable to use and are searching for alternatives, here’s a list of the best free photo viewers for you.
This list has been specially compiled for the users of Windows 10 and Windows 11, Who are not pleased with the native Windows photo viewer. These 8 suggested third-party photo viewers can also be used on Windows 8 and Windows 7 as well.
Why Windows 10 Or Windows 11 Users Like Third-Party Photo Viewers?
There are essentially four main reasons why users of Windows 10 and Windows 11 often prefer to use third-party photo viewer apps or software.
Many users who have upgraded from Windows 7 to Windows 10 or Windows 11 often find themselves struggling with the Image or Photo Viewer app.
The native Photo Viewer called Photos app in Windows 10 and Windows 11 doesn’t support a wide range of image formats such as WebP and HEIC.
Due to hard disk performance issues and other related problems, the Photo Viewer app runs very slowly for many users.
Some Windows 10 and Windows 11 users are seeking alternatives to the Photos app for added features, like bulk image conversion, image editing and more.
FastStone Image Viewer
FastStone Image Viewer could easily make it to the top of the best photo viewers list. FastStone Image Viewer is more than just a standard photo viewer.
FastStone Image Viewer excels with its user-friendly File Explorer, making photo management effortless. When you select an image using your mouse or keyboard, a preview instantly appears on the left side of the interface. This time-saving feature allows you to quickly browse, sort, and delete unwanted or duplicate photos without opening each individually.
A notable feature of the slideshow viewer is the ability to set slide durations, add background music, and apply transition effects, enhancing the overall slideshow experience.
Its built-in image editor lets you Apply bump map, sketch, oil painting, lens, blur, watermark, frame, mask, and border effects.
This lightweight image viewer offers ultra-fast loading, a built-in video player, image editor, batch rename, format converter, and more—all in a free-to-use package.
FastStone Image Viewer is free for personal use and compatible with Windows 11, 10, 8, 7, and other versions.
Recommended – Free And Best Offline Dictionaries PC Windows 11/10/7/8/Mac/Linux
IrfanView
IrfanView has been a reliable and way much better alternative to Windows Image Viewer since Windows 95, offering faster image loading. This lightweight yet feature-rich photo viewer was and is appreciated by users across nearly all Windows versions.
With IrfanView installed, you won’t need additional programs. It includes a video player, a basic photo editor, a batch image converter, a bulk rename utility, and a slideshow creator.
The image effects in IrfanView allow you to transform your photos with color adjustments, filters, and creative enhancements. You can sharpen details, boost brightness, or apply artistic styles like sepia, black-and-white, or vintage to enhance clarity and add a unique touch.
You can further extend IrfanView’s capabilities by installing additional plug-ins, thanks to its plug-in functionality.
Available at no cost for personal use, IrfanView is compatible with various Windows editions, including Windows 11, 10, 7, and 8.
XnView
XnView is a widely-used, free image viewer known for its extensive features. Its tabbed interface sets it apart from other viewers, offering a superior alternative to the default Windows viewer.
To streamline your workflow, this fast and lightweight image viewer allows you to open multiple images or tabs within a single window, keeping everything organized and accessible.
XnView includes a built-in video player, slideshow viewer, and image converter. It also offers options to add text, apply watermarks, correct red-eye, and use various image effects.
For easy photo renaming and image conversion, XnView provides batch convert and batch rename features.
The slideshow viewer allows you to customize your presentation by setting the duration for each slide, selecting background audio, and applying transition effects to enhance the overall experience.
While developing software requires effort and resources, and monetization is not inherently wrong, misleading users into installing unnecessary programs is unethical. Many users skip installation prompts, which can lead some companies to add unwanted software without their consent.
During the XnView installation, we noticed that the photo viewer either forces or suggests installing two additional pieces of software.
This monetization strategy does not imply that XnView is unsafe. You can simply skip these optional offers or choose to install them if you wish to support them.
XnView is free for personal, educational, or non-profit use and is compatible with Windows 11, 10, 7, 8, and other editions.
BandiView
After hearing numerous mentions of BandiView, we decided to evaluate it ourselves. Upon visiting their website, we discovered that BandiView is not offered as a free photo viewer.
We downloaded the free trial version and found another surprise after installation: the trial version of BandiView displays advertisements.
We tested BandiView for an hour but couldn’t determine why this photo viewer is popular or what features justify its status as a paid product.
BandiView is a straightforward photo and slideshow viewer that supports almost all popular image formats. Its image loading speed is doubtlessly impressive.
This photo viewer is regularly updated and is compatible with Windows 11, 10, 8, and 7.
GonVisor
GonVisor is a free image viewer for Windows, and it stands out among third-party options.
Although GonVisor doesn’t have many features, this lightweight viewer loads images quickly.
Supporting WebP images, GonVisor is an excellent choice for anyone needing a WebP-compatible photo viewer.
While GonVisor lacks photo editing features, it still offers several useful viewing options.
With the magnifier tool, you can focus on specific sections of an image without zooming in on the whole picture.
Popular among comic book readers, GonVisor supports multiple file formats.
GonVisor is designed for Microsoft Windows and runs on Windows 11, 8, 10, and 7.
Image Glass
This list of the best photo viewers includes a free and open-source program for viewing digital images which is called Image Glass.
Use Image Glass if you don’t need an image editor but are looking for a lightweight and efficient photo viewer.
Image Glass is easy on system resources and swiftly loads digital photos. It supports popular image formats like PNG, JPG, and most others, including WebP.
While Image Glass doesn’t have a built-in photo editor, it offers essential tools for rotating, zooming, cropping, and starting slideshows.
You can download Image Glass for free as a standard installer, or choose the paid version available on the Microsoft Store for Windows 11 and Windows 10.
This open-source viewer is compatible with Windows 11, 10, 8, and 7.
DigiKam
DigiKam is more than just a photo viewer; it’s a comprehensive tool for managing your photo collection.
With DigiKam, you can view, edit, manage, enhance, tag, sort, and organize your images into various albums. It also allows you to create slideshows and edit metadata, and it includes a red-eye correction tool.
However, DigiKam can be challenging to navigate and may take some time to load. It is not ideal for casual users and is better suited for advanced users.
As an open-source program, DigiKam is available for free. It supports Linux, Windows 11, 10, 8, 7, and macOS, but it only works on 64-bit devices and is not compatible with 32-bit systems.
Picasa
Picasa, a digital photo organizer and editor, was available across multiple platforms. Although Google discontinued Picasa on February 12, 2016, it remains popular and can still be downloaded from reputable download websites.
Picasa was one of Google’s most popular products and was especially well-regarded among Windows 7 users.
We have tested Picasa on Windows 11, and it performs well without crashing or hanging.
As a photo viewer, Picasa is lightweight and loads images quickly. It’s a great alternative if you’re not satisfied with the native photo viewer on Windows 11 or Windows 10.
Picasa also offers features for creating collages and turning sets of photos into video files with text, transitions, and background music or voice-overs.
Additionally, it provides tools for color customization, color correction, effects, filters, and other useful photo enhancements.
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Final Words
We hope you found today’s list of photo viewers both helpful and informative! We’ve tested all of these options, so you can be sure they are free of ads, viruses, and malware.
There are plenty of great third-party photo viewers out there, so if you know of any others worth mentioning, please share them in the comments below!
You may leave your questions, suggestions, and feedback in the comment box.
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