MediaInfo review
A free, open-source metadata analyzer with broad format and interface support.
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
MediaInfo is open-source software for inspecting technical and tag metadata in audio and video files. It suits media professionals, developers, archivists, and other users who need file-level audiovisual information. The product reads many audio and video formats and reports container, codec, duration, bitrate, sampling rate, channels, language, subtitles, chapters, and related stream details. Its cross-platform availability spans web, Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android, and API access.
The open-source pricing model gives users access without a paid plan structure. MediaInfo also offers several ways to consume its results: graphical, command-line, and library interfaces. Information can be viewed as text, sheets, trees, or HTML, then exported as text, CSV, or HTML. Shell integration through drag-and-drop and context menus supports file inspection workflows, while the software development kit and static or dynamic library interface provide options for programmatic access. Customizable information views add flexibility for different metadata-review needs.
MediaInfo’s main strength is the depth and breadth of its file metadata coverage rather than live audio measurement. It can show technical details such as codec, sampling rate, channels, bit depth, language, and bitrate, making it a practical choice for cataloging, troubleshooting, archival review, and development tasks. Users who need real-time analysis, audio metering, or loudness analysis should choose a more specialized application instead. MediaInfo is the better fit when the priority is inspecting, exporting, or integrating technical metadata across media files and platforms.
MediaInfo pros and cons
- Where it wins
- Free, open-source access across desktop, mobile, web, and API platforms
- Detailed codec, sampling rate, channel, bit depth, language, and bitrate views
- Graphical, command-line, library, export, and customizable viewing options
- Where it doesn't
- Does not provide real-time audio analysis
- Not designed as a loudness-analysis application
- Its file-level focus does not cover broader audio processing
MediaInfo fact sheet, pricing and score →
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