feh
feh: A free, open-source viewer for slideshows, thumbnails, image catalogs, and shell-driven workflows. Ranked #23 of 33 in Photo Viewer Software by our editors (6.3/10); pricing: Free plan; best for linux users wanting a lightweight open-source viewer.
At a glance
- Editor score6.3 / 10
- PricingFree plan
- Best forLinux users wanting a lightweight open-source viewer
- Free planYes
- Paid fromFree
- Facts checked20 Sep 2026
Where it wins
- Free and open source with a lightweight, configurable design
- Supports slideshows, thumbnails, montages, sorting, and image information
- Offers EXIF display and configurable custom shell-command actions
Where it doesn't
- RAW support is limited to embedded camera thumbnails through dcraw
- Primarily aimed at command-line users rather than visual-first workflows
- Wallpaper setting is specific to X11 desktops
Our verdict on feh
feh is a lightweight, configurable image viewer and cataloguer for Unix-like desktop environments, with a particular focus on command-line users. It suits Linux users who want fast access to slideshows, clickable thumbnails, index and montage generation, multiwindow viewing, filelists, configurable sorting, and image information. It also integrates with graphical file managers and supports keyboard and mouse navigation, making it useful for browsing collections without requiring a full photo-management suite.
Its strongest area is breadth within a focused viewer. feh combines slideshow viewing, thumbnail browsing, contact-sheet-style montage generation, captions, list output, built-in EXIF display, wallpaper setting, and custom shell-command actions. Filelists and configurable image sorting add useful control for users who organize images through scripts or structured workflows. The open-source model also makes it available without a paid tier, while the published feature set centers on local image viewing and cataloguing rather than account-based services.
The main trade-off is that feh favors configurable, command-line-oriented workflows over a more visual desktop experience. RAW handling is limited to displaying embedded camera thumbnails when dcraw is available, rather than providing full RAW decoding. Wallpaper setting is designed for X11 desktops, which narrows that feature's environment fit. Choose feh if you value a lightweight open-source viewer with shell actions, image lists, thumbnails, and EXIF information. Choose another tool if full RAW processing or a more visually guided photo workflow is central to your needs.
Your product? Our editors can test feh in depth and publish a review, labelled as paid · from $149/mo →
feh pricing
feh fact sheet
| Free plan | Yes |
|---|---|
| Paid from | Free |
| Supported platforms | Linux, FreeBSD, OpenBSD |
| RAW image support | Yes |
| Side-by-side compare | Not verified |
| Contact sheets | Yes |
| Color management | Not verified |
| Metadata viewer | Yes |
| Deployment | Desktop |
| Platforms | Linux |
| Support | Email, Docs, Community |
| Built for | Solo, Small business (editorial estimate) |
| Pricing | Free plan |
| Website | feh.finalrewind.org |
| Facts checked | 20 Sep 2026 |
Alternatives to feh
- XnView MPA format-rich desktop viewer with serious cataloging, metadata, and batch tools.9.3
- FastStone Image ViewerA free Windows viewer with RAW support, comparison, batch tools, editing, and scanning.9.1
- IrfanViewA practical Windows viewer for batch conversion, resizing, renaming, and RAW support.9.0
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Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
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