PBRenamer review
A free, open-source renamer for power users who need regex, metadata, and automation.
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
PBRenamer is a free, open-source desktop application for batch-renaming files and directories across Windows, macOS, and Linux. It is aimed at power users who need more control than simple find-and-replace tools provide, including recursive folder handling, regular expressions, metadata-based naming, sidecar-file grouping, and command-line automation. Standalone builds are available for Linux, Windows, and Apple Silicon macOS, with installation also available from PyPI or source.
Its strongest fit is the depth of its renaming workflow. Pattern-based search and replacement can be combined with counters, dates, parent-folder names, and image, audio, or video metadata tokens. Users can preview proposed names with conflict detection before applying a batch, rename both files and directories, process nested folders recursively, and group sidecar files for coordinated renaming. Undo for the last rename batch adds a practical recovery step. Headless command-line mode extends the tool beyond a graphical desktop workflow for repeatable automation.
Pricing is straightforward: PBRenamer is free and open-source, with no paid plan structure to compare. That makes it a strong choice for users who want broad platform coverage and advanced controls without a license cost. The main qualification is maturity: the project is marked as alpha software in its package metadata. Users comfortable with technical configuration and evaluating open-source utilities may find its feature set compelling, while people who need production-mature software, managed support, or a more polished onboarding experience should choose an established alternative instead.
PBRenamer pros and cons
- Where it wins
- Free and open-source on Windows, macOS, and Linux
- Previews conflicts before batch renaming and supports undo
- Combines regex, metadata tokens, recursive handling, and CLI mode
- Where it doesn't
- Marked as alpha software in its package metadata
- Advanced pattern and metadata rules may require technical familiarity
- No paid tier or broader service ecosystem for managed support
PBRenamer fact sheet, pricing and score →
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