FastStone Image Viewer
FastStone Image Viewer: A free Windows viewer with RAW support, comparison, batch tools, editing, and scanning. Ranked #2 of 33 in Photo Viewer Software by our editors (9.1/10); pricing: Free plan; best for windows users wanting a free all-round viewer.
At a glance
- Editor score9.1 / 10
- PricingFree plan
- Best forWindows users wanting a free all-round viewer
- Free planYes
- Side-by-side compareYes
- Facts checked20 Sep 2026
Where it wins
- Supports camera RAW formats and EXIF metadata viewing
- Compares up to four images and creates configurable contact sheets
- Adds batch conversion, renaming, scanning, editing, slideshows, and portability
Where it doesn't
- Commercial use requires a paid lifetime license
- Available for Windows rather than multiple desktop platforms
- Its broad toolset may be more than casual viewers need
Our verdict on FastStone Image Viewer
FastStone Image Viewer is a Windows desktop application for browsing, viewing, organizing, comparing, editing, converting, and presenting digital images. It suits Windows users who want more than a basic viewer, particularly photographers and image-heavy workflows that need RAW support, metadata, comparison, batch processing, or scanning. A portable version also supports use without a conventional installation.
Pricing is straightforward by use case. The Personal and educational plan is free for personal and educational use. Commercial users need the Commercial lifetime license, priced at $34.95 one-time, which includes a lifetime license; volume discounts are available. This makes the product a practical fit for individual and educational use, while businesses should account for the license requirement when choosing it for workstations or team workflows.
Its breadth is the main reason to choose it over a narrowly focused viewer. Alongside image browsing, FastStone Image Viewer handles camera RAW formats, EXIF metadata, side-by-side comparison of up to four images, configurable contact sheets, batch image conversion and renaming, cropping, resizing, color adjustment, annotation, printing, slideshows with transition effects and music, scanner acquisition, and batch scanning. Windows users seeking a broad desktop image toolkit should find the feature mix compelling. Those needing software beyond Windows, or only a very simple viewer without editing and batch features, should consider a more focused alternative.
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FastStone Image Viewer pricing
All 2 FastStone Image Viewer plans and prices →
FastStone Image Viewer fact sheet
| Free plan | Yes |
|---|---|
| Paid from | Not verified |
| Supported platforms | Windows |
| RAW image support | Yes |
| Side-by-side compare | Yes |
| Contact sheets | Yes |
| Color management | Yes |
| Metadata viewer | Yes |
| Deployment | Desktop |
| Platforms | Windows |
| Support | Email, Docs |
| Built for | Solo, Small business, Enterprise (editorial estimate) |
| Pricing | Free plan (source) |
| Website | faststone.org |
| Facts checked | 20 Sep 2026 |
Alternatives to FastStone Image Viewer
- XnView MPA format-rich desktop viewer with serious cataloging, metadata, and batch tools.9.3
- IrfanViewA practical Windows viewer for batch conversion, resizing, renaming, and RAW support.9.0
- GeeqieA capable free viewer for RAW files, comparisons, metadata, collections, and bulk file work.8.8
See all FastStone Image Viewer alternatives →
FastStone Image Viewer vs the competition
- FastStone Image Viewer vs XnView MP
- FastStone Image Viewer vs IrfanView
- FastStone Image Viewer vs Geeqie
- FastStone Image Viewer vs Photo Mechanic
- FastStone Image Viewer vs gThumb
- FastStone Image Viewer vs Gwenview
Compare FastStone Image Viewer with any tool side by side →
Also Ranked In
FastStone Image Viewer is ranked in 5 of our directories.
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Featured on iTechGuides
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Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
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