| Task | Time | |------|------| | Launch (first time) | ~2 sec | | Load folder with 1000 JPGs (thumbnails) | ~4 sec | | Batch resize 100 RAWs to JPEG | ~20 sec | | Zoom/pan a 24MP image | Instant, smooth |
Absolutely. I’ve replaced both Adobe Bridge and Windows Explorer’s thumbnails with XnView MP. It saves me hours every week. Review written 2018 based on XnView MP version 0.91. For latest version, check official website. xnview review 2018
Memory usage: ~150 MB for browsing, ~300–500 MB when working with large batches. Very efficient compared to competitors. ✅ Completely free (no ads, no nags, no crippled features) ✅ Portable version available (run from USB drive) ✅ Lightning fast even on old hardware ✅ No forced database – just browse your folders ✅ Scriptable batch processing (save/load presets) ✅ Active forum support (developer responds to bug reports) Cons (2018) ❌ UI still a bit cluttered – so many buttons, takes time to customize ❌ No built-in RAW development (just basic extraction – use darktable for real RAW editing) ❌ Help documentation is outdated (most answers found on forum, not manual) ❌ Video playback is basic (thumbnails fine, but don’t expect a media player) ❌ On macOS – doesn’t look fully native (Qt interface stands out) How It Compares to Rivals (2018) | Feature | XnView MP | IrfanView (64-bit) | FastStone Image Viewer | Adobe Bridge (free) | |---------|-----------|--------------------|------------------------|----------------------| | Price | Free | Free (non-commercial) | Free (home) | Free | | Cross-platform | Yes (Win/Mac/Linux) | Win only | Win only | Win/Mac | | Batch processing | Excellent | Very good | Good | Limited | | 500+ formats | Yes | Yes (~400) | ~100 | ~150 | | Duplicates finder | Yes | No | No | No | | Modern UI | Good (Qt) | Retro (Win 98 style) | OK | Polished | | Startup speed | Very fast | Instant | Fast | Slow | | Task | Time | |------|------| | Launch