Fresh View is a free program designed to help you organize and view multimedia files (images, audio, and video). It gives you the ability to watch movies, listen to music, and view graphics in a slide show.

Image files in a folder can be displayed using a number of views, such as thumbnails view that lets you quickly see what your images are without having to open them. You can convert graphics from one type to another, print, and even create a HTML album. This easy-to-use software supports 86 different formats.

Download Fresh View 7.54 in Softonic

Browsing your digital photos on your PC can be a cumbersome affair using the Windows Photo Viewer. If you're looking for a replacement, you could give Alternate Pic View Lite a go.

Alternate Pic View Lite lets you browse your photo collection in several ways: as small-sized thumbnails, inside the program's window, in full screen or even as a slideshow. What's more, Alternate Pic View Lite includes a pretty varied array of filters and effects you can apply to your images, including rotation, color and brightness adjustment, greyscale and red eye fix, among others.

So far, so good. The problem comes when you have to deal with the interface in Alternate Pic View Lite: it just doesn't work like the other photo viewers. To begin with, it shows the selected folder content in a window that's too small to be comfortable. Then, each photo has to be double-clicked in order to be displayed (instead of just selecting it with the mouse). Also, viewing options in Alternate Pic View Lite are not saved between photos, so you have to be constantly resizing images in order to view them.

Alternate Pic View Lite could be a good photo viewer with some nice editing tools and special effects. Too bad the interface is lacking in usability.

Download Alternate Pic View Lite 1.415 in Softonic

XnView Portable is, put simply, a file explorer that has been especially adapted for image files and is developed to be run from a USB key.

XnView Portable features the same design and the same tools as its older brother XnView, which makes it a really convenient photo editor that you can carry anywhere with you. It has support for a few hundred different graphic formats as well as other media files such as AVI and MP3.

The interface in XnView Portable is divided into two sections: the left pane shows the folder structure, while the right one is where the contents of the selected folder are displayer. A double click on any image is enough to open it in full screen and work on it with the program's set of tools. XnView Portable is obviously no Photoshop, but you'll be able to do some cropping and resizing, adjust brightness, correct red eyes and other basic editing and retouching tasks.

If XnView is your favorite resident image viewer, now you can take it anywhere with you thanks to XnView Portable.

Download XnView Portable 1.94.2 in Softonic

XnView, simply put, is a file explorer. What makes it a bit special is that instead of treating every file as equal, it tries to make sense of each and every one and let you see, in the most relevant form possible, what exactly is contained in the file.

When checking this program out, we were immediately reminded of another quality file previewer, ACDSee. While that has gone on to become a fully featured photo manager, available for $50, XnView will take care of most users’ basic needs while boasting a price tag of $0 (for personal use). With its built-in preview engine, the program can display 400 different image file formats as well as play various media formats such as AVI or MP3.

Using the program will already be second nature to most users as it works like Windows Explorer. On the left side of the screen you see all your directories, with the contents of the directories being displayed in the upper half of the right window. Selecting any of these files will then bring up a preview in the lower half of the window. If you’re browsing through some photos you can run them as a slideshow and view in full screen. If you’re browsing through simple TXT or INI files, the opening few lines of text will show up as an icon and you can view the entire contents of the file without needing to open other programs.

There is a good level of support for various formats and the interface zips along without delays, even when displaying large video files. On encountering a file that it doesn’t recognize, XnView displays its hash values, which may or may not be of use. If you run into any difficulty, there is a help file that is sufficient but not overwhelming.

One aspect that wasn’t quite as we would have liked was that it didn’t recognize the native format of files. For example, a simple text file with a LOG extension wasn’t treated as the same file with a TXT extension. It’s a small inconvenience but does stand out because of the general high quality of the software. For anyone with a large number of files that they want to organize, convert or just browse, XnView is certainly worth a look.

Download XnView 1.94.2 in Softonic

If you're looking for a plainly simple image viewer, you've come to the right place: here's VJPEG, a photo viewer that displays images right on your desktop.

After installing it, VJPEG takes over the native Windows image viewer and opens all JPG, BMP and GIF files on the desktop. Images are opened as is, in other words, without any additional frames, windows or interface: just the image itself.

So without any interface, how do you manage images in VJPEG? Easy: with mouse and keyboard combinations. VJPEG lets you drag and move images around the desktop with the mouse and close them with a right click. If you want to resize them (just for viewing purposes, no actual size changes are applied) stick the image to the left screen edge and drag it. Other tools available in VJPEG are rotating, zooming in and out, adjusting levels and even sending by email.

VJPEG is a good solution for those who want just a simple photo viewer without all the bells and whistles of other programs. I miss having some kind of documentation though, as well as having a nicer icon for my graphic files, which lose their standard icon as soon as they're associated with VJPEG. Other extra options, like being able to minimize or tile images, would be nice too.

VJPEG replaces Windows default image viewer with a dead simple app that displays pictures right on the desktop and lets you drag and resize them with the mouse.

Download VJPEG 2 in Softonic

In these days where most things have been commercialised to the hilt, it’s always refreshing to come across a free piece of software that performs as well as its pricey rivals. Irfanview has long been a shining example of such a program, and I’ve been using the app for some time for perusing and managing my ever-growing photo collection.

Amazingly, since Bosnian developer Irfan Skiljan released the image viewer back in 1996, he’s generously kept it free of charge in spite of its massive popularity. Perhaps even more incredibly, the app still stands at just over 1Mb, bucking the trend of programs that swell immensely as the feature updates go by. In fact, it’s Irfanview’s slimline qualities that are its greatest asset, helping to make it the fastest image viewer in the West. Images load almost instantaneously when you click on them and you get rapid-fire results when cycling through a directory of photos using the Back and Forward buttons. It’s only when you’re flicking through vast amounts of images using the thumbnail viewer that things get a bit slow, which could easily be remedied do with an improved caching function.

Another of Irfanview’s crowd-pleasing talents is its ability to handle an enormous range of different file formats, including g, somewhat rarely, icon (.ico) files. Unlike many of its rival tools, Irfanview doesn’t try to impose itself as the default viewer for all image types, giving you the option to specify the formats you wish to associate with it for yourself.

The program’s functionality can be expanded by installing plug-ins that allow Irfanview to open other file types, such as movies and audio – again a unique feature among photo viewers. You also get a smattering of basic editing features such as crop, rotate, flip and resize, along with some bread-and-butter effects like blur and sharpen, plus a smart crop function.

Upon first try, many users might be put off by the somewhat basic interface and the fact that it loads new images externally, rather than within the GUI itself. Nevertheless this is a small sacrifice to pay for a program that proves to be probably the quickest way to view images on your PC.

Download IrfanView 4.20 in Softonic

Flickr is a great site to share pictures online, there's no doubt about it. But that doesn't mean it can't be improved with tools like DestroyFlickr.

Now don't be fooled by the misleading name this program features; it's by no means intended to wipe all your photos and delete your Flickr account. It simply provides a new interface from which to browse Flickr, check what your contacts have recently uploaded and look for pictures about a certain topic; just like what you can do on the Flickr website, but from your own desktop.

The program is based on Adobe AIR, which gives it an attractive look and also adds nice animation effects to photos when you're browsing them. The downside is that it's not as intuitive as expected and may take a while until you learn how to use it. Just as an example: if you want to search for photos about a given topic, first you have to click on the "Photos" tab and then open the "Canvas" menu to reach the search function. Wouldn't it have been much easier to add a "Search" button right on the bottom pane?

With DestroyFlickr you don't erase photos – as you could infer from the name – but rather browse Flickr photos from a sleek, dark desktop interface based on Adobe AIR.

Download DestroyFlickr 1.0.5 Beta in Softonic

Most graphical editors are either for photos or video but FreeVimager allows you to do both, albeit to a limited extent.

It's particularly useful for anyone who normally uses their camera for both photos and videos (which most of us do). First of all, it's extremely lightweight for both an image and video editor weighing in at just over 10MB. The program allows you to view & edit graphics file in jpeg, bmp, gif, tiff (multi-page), png and pcx format which is a decent amount and sufficient for most home users. It's also remarkably flexible supporting every version of Windows from 95 onwards. One aspect which is particularly useful is that of multi-monitor support which basically means that you can work on multiple projects at once - for example one photos project and one video project. It's also suitable for those in the know or who need technical data when it comes to photos because it maintains EXIF data when resaving and editing photos so you can see at a glance the aperture, exposure and file size instantly. You can process an unlimited number of images at once as the program also comes equipped with a very basic slideshow creator. You can also preview print jobs, create collages and it optimises images for sending by e-mail (by basically reducing their size without losing the quality).

For anyone that uses their camera for both photos and videos regularly, then FreeVimager will give you enough power to do both at once without complicating life.

Download FreeVimager 1.7.0 in Softonic

If you're tired of the Windows native image viewer and want to use another tool to browse through your photos, look no further. We found it for you.

FastPictureViewer is a fast, straightforward photo viewer that lets you scan the contents of a whole photo folder in a very easy way. You can move along pictures with many different key combinations (arrow keys, + and – keys, page up and page down keys) and also the mouse wheel. Plus the mouse buttons can be customized to quickly zoom in a photo. The program works only with JPG and HD photo formats, and also supports XMP ratings which are compatible with popular photo tools like Adobe Lightroom.

That said, don't expect to find many other features in this program. FastPictureViewer doesn't include all the bells and whistles you could expect from an image viewer. I would say it's especially addressed to users who just need a tool to quickly review photos and pick those which need further editing.

The program features a sleek, dark interface with a minimalistic design that contributes to put all the attention on the photo itself.

FastPictureViewer is an attractive, easy photo viewer that's mainly focused on browsing large picture collections and doesn't include any extra tools like the ones you find in similar apps.

Download FastPictureViewer 1.0.31.0 in Softonic

Pictomio is a photo viewer that enables you to search your hard drive for photos and create presentations with them.

The main outstanding feature is that Pictomio turns all your photos into 3D images giving your collection a really cool and unique look. It's great for impressing friends or just breathing life into old images. Previously, from the visualizer in Pictomio you, could only see the photos, their EXIF information and histograms. Up until early 2008 you could only score them and rotate them but now the program has reached Beta stage and it has to be said, it's an impressive package. The program is now a much more serious photo manager contender with completed features such as 3D models for albums and categories, improved models for drives, album/category sidebar to quickly drop your images, automatic upgrade checker and a filter drop down menu amongst many others. This is only a tiny selection of the program's new functionality as other completed features include the saving of user settings (positions and sizes of UI elements, view mode, filter settings, etc.), direct renaming of thumbnails and a new option to show and hide hidden files. Of course, the program is still in beta stage which means that it may be vulnerable to some bugs and errors although none were noted. Of course, Pictomio still also allows you to categorize photos by topics, sort and view your photos by date, rating, or category and view every pixel of your photos using smooth liquid zooming. You can of course still also view your photos in a slideshow presentation.

This is a very easy to use but powerful program and deserves to do well in the 3D imaging market.

Download Pictomio 1.0.10 in Softonic

I have to admit, it would be nice to reply just on one photo editing and viewing program to manage my photos.

The problem at the moment is that I use Picasa for uploading but not for editing or management. Visions is designed to try and unite all the most important photos editing and managements tasks in one program, mainly viewing, editing and sharing. Editing photos is very simple in visions and the feel is really professional and solid. In particular, the program outs a heavy focus on the right tagging of photos via it's advanced Meta (EXIF) editor. The problem or advantage, depending on whether you use it regularly, is that the only way you can share photos with Visions is via Flickr so like it or not, you'll need a Flickr account. But what really shines out with Twins Visions is the 3D viewer which allows you to view and manage your photos in 3D. Via the 3D showroom, you can navigate through your folders, run slide-shows of your photos, manage your albums, perform quick photo collection tasks and execute advanced search queries on your collections.

This is an immensely attractive and powerful photo management/viewing application. However, it does require a Flickr account.

Download Twins Visions 0.3.0.1104 Beta in Softonic

Anyone who works with images on a regular basis will be familiar with the default image viewer of Windows, and also with its very limited scope for doing anything meaningful. There is a healthy selection of alternatives but FastStone Image Viewer has come to our attention as one that deserves to be singled out not only because it is free but also because it brings to the table a strong combination of speed, usability and versatility.

While the viewing functionality is a no-brainer, FastStone comes with a range of methods with which to browse pics. First off, there is the standard file browser that displays thumbnails of your images with a preview window for the file that is currently selected. There is also an option to check out individual pictures at their original size in the “Windowed View”, which is along the same lines as the default image viewer in Windows. Finally you can see images in full-screen, switching between files using the keyboard, the middle mouse button or the slide-in toolbar at the bottom of the screen.

However, FastStone Image Viewer goes beyond simply displaying images. You can perform some quick edits to really bring out the best in your pics such as adding a stylish frame mark that acts as a mask to reduce the sharp edges or if you happen to be working with 3D there is also a very effective bump map option that will serve you well for texturing. There are of course the standard tools of brightness/darkness adjustment, sharpness/blur, grayscale, red-eye removal and more. For results better than those you get with FastStone, you would need to use a professional package like Photoshop.

Further great features come in the form of batch rename and batch convert options. These could prove invaluable to many web developers looking for a quick way to prepare their PSD files for the web. With the inclusion of these batch functions, it would have been good to push the boat out even further and have an option to apply batch effects, for example to brighten up a group of photos that were taken in a dark space but alas, it’s not there!

Looking for faults with FastStone Image Viewer is like looking for the corner of a circle although if you insist on nitpicking, you can say that in the thumbnail browser view dragging and dropping should be possible for moving files. However when you realize that it is possible to drag and drop with the left nav bar that argument looses its legs. As I mentioned, there is healthy competition in the image viewer arena, but thanks to the innovative features of FastStone Image Viewer the bar has been raised to new heights.

Download FastStone Image Viewer 3.5 in Softonic

There are many image viewers out there but ImageSorter is probably one of the most original ones you can find.

This image browser lets you sort your photos according to common criteria like size or name, but also to more original elements such as color. You can arrange photos on the program's interface by color groups, which undoubtedly helps to find photos in a much faster way.

What's more, while having color selected as the arranging criterion you can use the program's sphere visualization, a really attractive 3D interface that you can move around with your mouse to browse pictures.

ImageSorter doesn't include any other features besides photo viewing. I missed having at least some basic editing tools. Also, I found it quite weird that the program selects files with just a single click, instead of the standard double click used in almost any other software application.

Despite being an original approach to image viewers, ImageSorter is probably too basic when compared to other similar tools.

Download ImageSorter 2.02 in Softonic

Windows features an embedded image viewer to take a quick look at your pictures.

However, this viewing tool soon falls too short when trying to view certain graphic formats, especially other than the most popular ones like JPG, BMP, PNG or GIF. This is where ImageXtender comes in handy, as it improves Windows standard image viewer so that it's able to open more than 200 graphics formats. At least this is the theory, because I must admit I did have problems to open some files (such as a PSD file from Photoshop) after installing ImageXtender and also rebooting the PC – just in case.

The good thing about ImageXtender is that you don't need to learn how to use it. It patches the standard Windows image viewer, adding new functionality without changing its interface at all. This means you wouldn't even notice that ImageXtender has been installed, if it weren't for the new program group in the Start menu, from which you can change the program's preferences.

ImageXtender looks promising but still fails to display some graphic formats.

Download ImageXtender 1.0 in Softonic

ACDSee Pro is one of the most comprehensive image viewers you'll find. Elegant and full of features, it's an essential for anyone working regularly with images.

To discuss and review all the features of this program would require an essay but from the quick viewing of images to support for a vast amount of image formats, audio and video, the possibility of examining within compressed files, retouching images, batch processing of images and mass conversion formats it's an impressive piece of software. This Pro version, as its name suggests, is particularly focused on the professional end of photography. It offers excellent support for RAW format images, new tools for editing and retouching images, more possibilities for processing huge images (now you can also apply sepia effects for example) and the interface has changed slightly to make the work flow even better.

Probably one of the best image programs out there outside of Adobe software.

Download ACDSee Pro 2.0.219 in Softonic

OpenSeeIt is a very basic image viewer that can handle a wide variety of formats. In a way, it's intended to work as a replacement for the Windows standard image viewer, although you may use it as a complementary tool as well.

I liked this viewer because it's small, it doesn’t require installation, it works with the most popular graphic formats and features a full-screen viewing mode that lets the user enjoy their pictures in all their beauty, without nagging borders or menus. Also, there's a Browser view that enables you to easily move around photo folders.

On the downside, I missed slideshows. The Slideshow menu does show up in the program's toolbar, but I didn't manage to get it to work.

A basic photo viewer that you can use instead of Windows standard tool.

Download OpenSeeIt 0.47.16.4 in Softonic

cPicture is a modern software to support your digital picture workflow. The application is very easy to use and comes without a database or installation. No additional Picture or Raw libraries that interfere with your other installed programs.

cPicture is the leading software for the lossless crop of JPEG pictures. It supports universal index prints for review, fast search, adding comments or simply browsing through your pictures, and watching your movies in 16:9.

Download cPicture 1.6.12 in Softonic

FuturixImager (formerly Futuris Imager) is a compact and customizable image viewer. It is capable of opening more then 45 graphical formats, including all the popular ones (GIF, JPEG, PNG, TIFF, JPEG2000 and so on). Imager can also print, scan, perform basic edits, capture screens, show camera metadata (EXIF), import raw digital camera photos, generate histograms, and much more!

Download FuturixImager 5.8.7 in Softonic

CDH Image Explorer supports an amazing 70 different image formats meaning in terms of versatility and flexibility, it's hard to beat. If only the visualisation options were somewhat more advanced and the interface more attractive, this would be a killer image browsing app but the program is let down a little on both counts.

On the plus side, CDH Image Explorer allows you to easily visualize all your image formats, including animations GIF, specific Photoshop formats and more. You can easily erase, convert, rename and manage your photos through the main interface as well as send images by email, open presentations, view technical information about images and much more. Of particular note are the image effects with over 100 options to manipulate images, from changing the brightness to adding special filters.

If your image viewer has been unable to open an image for any particular reason, then CDH Image Explorer may be powerful enough to provide a solution.

Download CDH Image Explorer Pro 7.2 in Softonic

Plumeria Image Sorter is a simple and flexible program that allows you to view your photographs and reorganise them in a simple and efficient way. It's key feature is that it allows you to configure a multitude of keys that can be used to organise your photos.

This practical utility allows you to see your photos quickly, move them to other folder, rename and erase therm in just a few key strokes. Plumeria Image Sorter is free, open source, and it does not require installation - you can simply decompress it and run ii from the EXE file. This means that it can also be used on a USB stick making it very portable too.

This application probably counts portability as its most useful feature added to the fact that you can throw away your mouse and use your keyboard to organise your photos instead.

Download Plumeria Image Sorter 1.0.6 in Softonic