PhotoTaken review
A paid desktop viewer for photographers who need structured ingest and catalog tools.
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
PhotoTaken is a native desktop photo workflow application for photographers who need to browse, cull, rate, tag, compare, and organize large folders of images. It supports 26 RAW formats alongside JPEG, TIFF, PNG, HEIC/HEIF, video clips, and other formats. Its workflow centers on contact sheets, full-size viewing, side-by-side comparison for two to four images, XMP-based ratings and color tags, metadata inspection, folder search, and memory-card ingest. It runs locally on Windows and Apple Silicon Macs without cloud storage or a subscription.
The pricing structure separates core viewing and culling from broader catalog and batch capabilities. PhotoTaken Light is a $69 one-time license with contact sheets, color tags and star ratings, focus and exposure checks, compare view, and a full-size viewer. PhotoTaken Full costs $189 as a one-time license and adds whole-library search, IPTC and EXIF editing, batch rename, export and conversion, and DNG conversion. According to the vendor's pricing information, a 14-day trial is available, while there is no free plan. Paid users who need ingest and catalog workflows will find the Full license more relevant than the entry tier.
Its strongest fit is a local, desktop-centered workflow that connects viewing and organization with established photo tools. PhotoTaken integrates with Adobe Lightroom, Adobe Bridge, and Photo Mechanic, and its memory-card ingest can include an optional backup destination. Contact-sheet sorting, filtering, captions, thumbnail sizing, comparison, metadata search, and XMP writing give it useful depth for culling and organization rather than simple image display. Choose it if you want paid Windows or Apple Silicon Mac software for structured photo review and catalog work. It is less suitable for users seeking a free plan, cloud storage, or a broader platform footprint.
PhotoTaken pros and cons
- Where it wins
- Supports browsing across 26 RAW formats plus common image and video types
- Combines contact sheets, comparison, ratings, tags, and metadata tools
- Adds card ingest, batch workflows, and Lightroom, Bridge, and Photo Mechanic integrations
- Where it doesn't
- No free plan; paid licenses start at $69
- Available only on Windows and Apple Silicon Macs
- The vendor's company page describes the product as being in beta
PhotoTaken fact sheet, pricing and score →
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