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The Best File Renaming Software in 2026

KRename is the top-ranked file renaming software of the 31 we ranked (9.0/10, free plan), best for linux users handling MP3 and folders. Bulk Rename Utility is the runner-up (8.9/10), and Advanced Renamer is the next highest-ranked option with a free plan (8.3/10). We researched file renaming software from official websites, including pricing pages, plan tables, and product documentation. Rankings reflect each product’s core renaming job, value for money, and verified features such as batch rules, metadata support, previews, and regular expressions within file renaming software.

Our top picks

  1. Top ranked

    KRename#1 of 31
    9.0/10

    A capable free Linux renamer for expressions, metadata, folders, and undo.

    Free plan

  2. Runner-up

    8.9/10

    A feature-rich Windows renamer for precise batch operations, scripting, and metadata rules.

    Free plan

  3. Top-ranked free plan

    8.3/10

    A flexible batch renamer with metadata, scripting, previews, and a free personal plan.

    Free plan

Advertiser disclosure: iTechGuides is reader-supported. Vendors can pay for top positions in our rankings and for a place on other products' pages, and we may earn a commission when you click some links. Bought places stand at the number bought; this page and our disclosure say so. Paying vendors may get a fuller, more detailed review from our editors, and that review can change their score. How we rank.

The full ranking 31 tools, best first

31 tools
  1. KRename

    Best forLinux users handling MP3 and folders

    A capable free Linux renamer for expressions, metadata, folders, and undo.

    • Folder renaming
    • Undo changes
    • Metadata-based renaming
    9.0/10★★★★☆
    Visit KDE
  2. Best forAdvanced Windows batch operations

    A feature-rich Windows renamer for precise batch operations, scripting, and metadata rules.

    8.9/10★★★★☆
    Visit site
  3. Best forMac users wanting cloud integrations

    A focused Mac renamer with advanced rules, previews, reversal, and Dropbox or Box support.

    • Folder renaming
    • Undo changes
    • Regex renaming
    8.4/10★★★★☆
    Visit Many Tricks
  4. Best forMature Windows-focused batch renaming

    A flexible batch renamer with metadata, scripting, previews, and a free personal plan.

    8.3/10★★★★☆
    Try Advanced Renamer
  5. PBRenamer

    Best forFree cross-platform power users

    A free, open-source renamer for power users who need regex, metadata, and automation.

    • Folder renaming
    • Undo changes
    • Regex renaming
    7.9/10★★★★☆
    Visit PBRenamer
  6. RenameKit

    Best forAffordable cross-platform workflows

    A focused, low-cost desktop renamer with broad rule support and persistent undo.

    • Undo changes
    • Regex renaming
    • Metadata-based renaming
    Free plan · 3-day trial Our RenameKit verdict → Visit RenameKit
    7.8/10★★★★☆
    Visit RenameKit
  7. Nomina

    Best forFree cross-platform folder renaming

    A free, cross-platform renamer with composable rules, validation, previews, and undo.

    • Folder renaming
    • Undo changes
    • Regex renaming
    7.7/10★★★★☆
    Visit Nomina
  8. Best forPower users on macOS

    A mature Mac renaming utility for complex batch workflows and large file collections.

    • Folder renaming
    • Undo changes
    • Regex renaming
    7.6/10★★★★☆
    Visit publicspace
  9. Best forFree Windows essentials

    A capable free renamer for Windows users who need batch rules and previews.

    • Folder renaming
    • Undo changes
    • Regex renaming
    7.5/10★★★★☆
    Visit Ant Renamer
  10. Best forFree macOS automation

    A free macOS renamer with regex, metadata tokens, previews, recipes, and automation.

    • Folder renaming
    • Undo changes
    • Regex renaming
    7.4/10★★★★☆
    Visit Transnomino
  11. Best forWindows users needing presets and scripting

    A capable Windows renamer for preset-driven batches, regex workflows, and metadata-based naming.

    7.3/10★★★★☆
    Visit Flash Renamer
  12. Best forWindows metadata-heavy operations

    A Windows batch renamer with deep metadata, regex, preview, and automation tools.

    • Folder renaming
    • Undo changes
    • Regex renaming
    7.2/10★★★★☆
    Visit Rename Expert
  13. ReNamer

    Best forWindows users needing reusable rule stacks

    A focused Windows renamer with reusable rule stacks, previews, and a free non-commercial tier.

    • Folder renaming
    • Undo changes
    • Regex renaming
    7.1/10★★★★☆
    Visit ReNamer
  14. Best forMedia libraries and NAS folders

    A focused Apple-platform renamer for metadata-driven media organization.

    • Undo changes
    • Metadata-based renaming
    • Rename preview
    7.0/10★★★★☆
    Visit site
  15. Batchio

    Best forMac users automating recurring rename jobs

    Batchio combines detailed rename rules and recurring folder automation in a Mac app.

    • Folder renaming
    • Undo changes
    • Regex renaming
    6.9/10★★★☆☆
    Visit Batchio
  16. Best forFree macOS image-focused renaming

    A free, image-friendly macOS renamer with regex, metadata rules, and preview.

    • Regex renaming
    • Metadata-based renaming
    • Rename preview
    6.8/10★★★☆☆
    Visit NameChanger
  17. Best forCloud-connected photo and media renaming

    A rule-driven renamer for media libraries, folders, and connected cloud files.

    • Folder renaming
    • Regex renaming
    • Metadata-based renaming
    6.7/10★★★☆☆
    Visit Easy Renamer
  18. Filera

    Best forFree visual cross-platform renaming

    A free, open-source visual renamer for batch filename work across three desktop platforms.

    • Metadata-based renaming
    • Rename preview
    6.6/10★★★☆☆
    Visit Filera
  19. Best forScheduled Windows renaming

    A capable Windows renamer with scheduling and automation in higher-priced tiers.

    • Folder renaming
    • Undo changes
    • Regex renaming
    6.4/10★★★☆☆
    Visit site
  20. Best forStraightforward Windows rule stacks

    A focused Windows renamer with metadata, regex, previews, presets, and undo.

    • Undo changes
    • Regex renaming
    • Metadata-based renaming
    6.3/10★★★☆☆
    Visit Simple Renamer
  21. Best forAI-assisted cloud and document naming

    AI-assisted naming with batch tools, automation, previews, and undo across major platforms.

    • Folder renaming
    • Undo changes
    • Rename preview
    6.1/10★★★☆☆
    Visit Renamer.ai
  22. Best forSimple free cross-platform batches

    A free, open-source batch renamer with preview, validation, and recent-batch undo.

    • Undo changes
    • Regex renaming
    • Rename preview
    6.0/10★★★☆☆
    Visit Bulk Renamer
  23. reNamerX

    Best forFree cross-platform rule-based renaming

    A free, open-source rule-based renamer with broad platform documentation and cautious support status.

    • Undo changes
    • Regex renaming
    • Metadata-based renaming
    5.9/10★★★☆☆
    Visit reNamerX
  24. Best forBrowser-based rename pipelines

    A local browser tool for building, validating, and exporting multi-step rename workflows.

    • Regex renaming
    • Metadata-based renaming
    • Rename preview
    5.8/10★★★☆☆
    Visit site
  25. Best forFree Windows regex renaming

    A focused, free Windows utility for batch renaming with regex control and previews.

    • Folder renaming
    • Regex renaming
    • Rename preview
    5.7/10★★★☆☆
    Visit RenameRegex
  26. Best forAutomatic date-based media imports

    A focused free utility for organizing media by embedded date and time.

    • Metadata-based renaming
    • Rename preview
    5.6/10★★★☆☆
    Visit ExifRenamer
  27. Best forMinimal portable batch renaming

    A portable, preview-first batch renamer for Linux and Windows.

    • Rename preview
    5.5/10★★★☆☆
    Visit File Renamer
  28. Best forWindows users needing exportable logs

    A safety-focused Windows renamer with regex, metadata rules, rollback, and exportable logs.

    • Folder renaming
    • Undo changes
    • Regex renaming
    5.4/10★★★☆☆
    Visit TurboSoft
  29. Bulker

    Best forCommand-line bulk text replacement

    A free open-source renamer for command-line bulk text replacement.

    • Regex renaming
    5.3/10★★★☆☆
    Visit Bulker
  30. Best forWindows command and file search workflows

    A capable free Windows command and search utility, but not a dedicated file-renaming tool.

    5.2/10★★★☆☆
    Visit Microsoft
  31. Avidemux

    Best forVideo editing, not file renaming

    A capable free video editor, but an unlikely choice for file renaming.

    5.1/10★★★☆☆
    Visit Avidemux

No tools match those filters.

Compare at a glance

#ToolFree planPaid fromPlatform coverageRegex renamingMetadata-based renamingRename previewScore
1KRenameYesFreeLinux_onlyYes9.0
2Bulk Rename UtilityYes$24.95/device one-time8.9
3Name ManglerNo$19 one-timeMacos_onlyYesYesYes8.4
4Advanced RenamerYes8.3
5PBRenamerYesFreeMulti_platformYesYesYes7.9
6RenameKitYes$9.99 one-timeMulti_platformYesYesYes7.8
7NominaYesFreeMulti_platformYesNoYes7.7
8A Better Finder RenameNoMacos_onlyYesYesYes7.6
9Ant RenamerYesFreeWindows_onlyYesYesYes7.5
10TransnominoYesFreeMacos_onlyYesYesYes7.4
11Flash RenamerNo$19.95 one-time7.3
12Rename ExpertNo€39.95/user one-timeWindows_onlyYesYesYes7.2
13ReNamerYesWindows_onlyYesYesYes7.1
14Media Renamer ProNo$4.99 one-timeMulti_platformNoYesYes7.0
15BatchioYes$9.99 one-timeMacos_onlyYesYesYes6.9
16NameChangerYesFreeMacos_onlyYesYesYes6.8
17Easy File RenamerNo$29.99/yrMulti_platformYesYesYes6.7
18FileraYesFreeMulti_platformNoYesYes6.6
19Quick File Rename$49.95 one-timeWindows_onlyYesYesYes6.4
20Simple RenamerNo$29.95 one-timeWindows_onlyYesYesYes6.3
21Renamer.aiYes$9.95/moMulti_platformNoNoYes6.1
22Bulk RenamerYesFreeMulti_platformYesYes6.0
23reNamerXYesFreeMulti_platformYesYesYes5.9
24Batch File RenamerFreeWindows_onlyYesYesYes5.8
25RenameRegexYesFreeWindows_onlyYesYes5.7
26ExifRenamerYesFreeMacos_onlyYesYes5.6
27File RenamerYesFreeMulti_platformYes5.5
28Turbo Bulk Renaming ToolNoWindows_onlyYesYesYes5.4
29BulkerYesFreeYesNoNo5.3
30PowerToys Command PaletteYesFree5.2
31AvidemuxYesFree5.1

Head-to-head All 28 comparisons →

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How we rank file renaming software

Every tool on this page was researched by iTechGuides Editors from its official website — pricing pages, plan tables and product documentation. We rank on how well each one does this category's core job, what the free or entry plan includes, and where it falls short. Where we have enough verified facts, the score out of 10 is a rubric — job fit, value and how much we could verify — shown with its breakdown on every tool's page; a tool we have not verified enough to score yet shows its rank without a number. Scores are re-checked when a product changes its plans. Read the full editorial policy, or submit a tool we missed.

Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026

Last updated · How we research and update