ExiFox vs ExifTool
ExiFox
skulkworks.dev
ExifTool
exiftool.orgSide by side
| Figure | ExiFox | ExifTool |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | Free | Free |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Free trial | — | — |
| Open source | — | — |
| Windows | — | Yes |
| macOS | Yes | Yes |
| Linux | — | Yes |
| API | — | Yes |
| Self-hosted | — | Yes |
| Plans published | 1 | 1 |
| Spec score · Photo Metadata Editors | 7.9 (#7) | 8.5 (#1) |
| Distribution | The maker offers a direct DMG download and Homebrew installation; it says the direct version is the one being updated. | The maker offers a full Perl distribution, Windows executables and a macOS package; the Windows and macOS packages omit some files included in the full distribution. |
| File handling | Files can be added by dragging, pasting, or browsing, with thumbnails shown in a sidebar. | The application accepts file names, directory names, or standard input as sources. |
| Headquarters | Colorado, USA | Canada |
| Purpose | ExiFox reads, edits, strips, and reapplies photo and video metadata, including EXIF, IPTC, XMP, and GPS tags. | ExifTool is a Perl library and command-line application for reading, writing and editing metadata in many kinds of files. |
| Support | The maker says it usually replies to email questions, bug reports, and feature ideas within two business days. | The author recommends posting questions, comments or suggestions to the ExifTool Forum and says forum responses are quicker than email. |
Plans
In their own words
ExiFox
ExiFox is a free native Mac app for reading, editing, removing and restoring photo and video metadata. It handles EXIF, IPTC, XMP and GPS tags through a bundled ExifTool binary. Files can be dragged, pasted or browsed into the app, with thumbnails shown in a sidebar. Metadata is grouped and filterable, with inline change indicators and one-click revert or save. EXIF and GPS details can be stripped from one file or a batch. Reusable presets add, change or remove fields and can be exported as JSON, YAML or TOML. Favorite tags help narrow long metadata lists. Processing happens locally; the maker says files are not uploaded and the app works offline without an account or server. ExiFox supports Apple silicon and Intel Macs running macOS 14 Sonoma or newer. Distribution is through a direct DMG or Homebrew, with the direct version receiving updates. The app checks for signed HTTPS updates, and the download is Apple Developer ID-signed and notarized. It is free with all features included and no in-app purchases.
ExifTool
ExifTool is a free Perl library and command-line application for reading, writing and editing metadata in many file types. It can read tags, change or delete their values, and copy or move metadata between files. Supported formats include EXIF, GPS, IPTC, XMP, JFIF, GeoTIFF, ICC Profile, Photoshop IRB, FlashPix, AFCP and ID3, as well as maker notes from numerous camera manufacturers. Sources can be file names, directory names or standard input. ExifTool is available for Linux, macOS and Windows; its Perl distribution can be run by extracting it on Mac or Linux, and the Windows EXE version can also be extracted. A C++ interface lets applications communicate with an external ExifTool process. When writing metadata, ExifTool preserves the original file by adding “_original” to its name by default, and it will not write a metadata type unsupported by the target format. The maker says it is not designed as an image validator, though its extra validation checks focus mainly on JPEG and TIFF. The full Perl distribution includes documentation and API libraries. ExifTool costs nothing.