4 ExifTool Alternatives (Free and Open-Source)

ExifTool is a free, open-source command-line tool that extracts hidden metadata from images, documents and other media — things like embedded GPS coordinates, device IDs and edit history that ride along inside a file. It runs locally on your own machine, which matters if the files you are inspecting are sensitive: nothing is uploaded to a third party.

The alternatives below cover a different part of the same job: some are online viewers you can use without installing anything, one focuses on detecting image tampering rather than just reading tags, and two are OSINT tools that go out and harvest documents from a domain before extracting their metadata. When picking one, weigh whether you need a local command-line tool or a quick browser check, whether uploading a file to a hosted service is acceptable for what you are inspecting, and whether you actually need to search for documents first or already have the file in hand.

All four listed here are free to use, and two of them (Metagoofil and FOCA) are open source like ExifTool itself.

Looking at the original? See ExifTool in the directory.

Alternatives

JimplFreeOnline EXIF viewer showing a photo's hidden camera, GPS and timestamp data.Jimpl is a free online EXIF viewer that shows a photo's hidden camera, GPS and timestamp data without needing to install anything, which is useful if you just want a quick browser-based check rather than ExifTool's command line.

FotoForensicsFreeOnline error-level analysis and metadata inspection to detect edited images.FotoForensics is a free online tool that goes further than reading tags — it runs error-level analysis alongside metadata inspection to help detect whether an image has been edited.

MetagoofilOpen sourceHarvests public documents from a domain and extracts their metadata.Metagoofil is open source like ExifTool, but instead of reading a metadata file you already have, it harvests public documents from a domain first and then extracts their metadata, which suits reconnaissance against an organisation rather than a single file.

FOCAOpen sourceExtracts hidden metadata and info from Office, PDF and image files.FOCA is another free, open-source tool for extracting hidden metadata and information from Office, PDF and image files.

Browse the full tools directory →

Common questions

Is ExifTool free?

Yes — ExifTool is free and open source, and it runs entirely on your own machine rather than uploading files to a server.

Should I upload sensitive files to an online metadata viewer?

Think about what is in the file first. A tool like Jimpl or FotoForensics runs in your browser and uploads the file to their server, whereas ExifTool, Metagoofil and FOCA can be run locally. For anything sensitive, a local tool avoids sending the file to a third party at all.

Is it legal to extract metadata from someone else's documents or photos?

Laws vary by jurisdiction and consent matters — reading metadata from files someone has published publicly is different from targeting an individual without their knowledge. See our guide on ethics and law before using any of these tools on data that isn't your own.

How do I stop my own photos from leaking metadata?

Run your own photos through ExifTool, Jimpl or FotoForensics before posting them publicly, and strip GPS and device metadata first — many phones and social platforms include this data by default.