nomacs

B
B tier on Photo Viewer SoftwareScore 7.0 · #4 of 35
Android app
Not listed
Free plan
Yes
Runs on
Linux, Mac, Windows
nomacs.org
The nomacs homepage

Summary

nomacs is a free, open-source image viewer for Windows, Linux and macOS. It handles common image formats, including RAW and PSD, with supported formats depending partly on image plugins and optional build features. Semi-transparent panels can show thumbnails, image metadata and histograms, and users can add notes. The viewer can browse images inside ZIP or MS Office files, preview folder thumbnails and filter filenames using text or regular expressions. Image adjustments include brightness, contrast, saturation, hue, gamma and exposure, as well as pseudo-color rendering. For comparison, separate nomacs instances can synchronize panning and zooming, and images can be overlaid at different opacity. The project is licensed under GNU General Public License v3 and is free for private and commercial use. Downloads are listed for Windows, Linux and macOS; the introduction also lists FreeBSD and OS/2 as supported systems. The FAQ notes that Windows XP and Vista are not supported for future development since version 3.0, though version 2.4.6 can be used on those systems.

Who it is for

nomacs suits people who want a free image viewer with metadata, basic adjustments and comparison tools. It may also fit image-processing users comparing work at different stages.

What is good

  • Free for private and commercial use
  • Displays metadata, thumbnails and histograms
  • Can compare images with synchronized zoom and overlays
  • Browses images inside ZIP and MS Office files

What to know first

  • Format support varies with plugins and build options
  • Windows XP and Vista are unsupported in future development

Verdict

nomacs pairs image viewing with browsing, adjustment and comparison functions at no cost. Check format support for the specific build, since it depends partly on plugins and optional features.

nomacs plans and pricing

All plans
nomacs Free Free for private and commercial use · GNU General Public License v3 nomacs.org · 2 Oct 2026

Compared on photo viewer software

Free plan
Yesnomacs.org

Facts

Product
nomacs is a free, open-source image viewer for viewing common image formats, including RAW and PSD images.nomacs.org · 2 Oct 2026
Image information
Semi-transparent widgets can display thumbnails, metadata, and histograms; users can add notes to images.nomacs.org · 2 Oct 2026
File browsing
nomacs can browse images in ZIP or MS Office files, show a folder thumbnail preview, and filter filenames by text or regular expression.nomacs.org · 2 Oct 2026
Editing
Image adjustments include brightness, contrast, saturation, hue, gamma, and exposure, as well as pseudo-color false-color images.nomacs.org · 2 Oct 2026
Image comparison
Multiple nomacs instances can synchronize panning and zooming, and images can be overlaid at different opacity for comparison.nomacs.org · 2 Oct 2026
Formats
The documented format support depends partly on Qt image plugins, KImageFormats, and optional build features such as ENABLE_RAW and ENABLE_TIFF.nomacs.org · 2 Oct 2026
Downloads
The installation page lists Windows 64-bit installer and portable packages, Linux packages and Flatpak/AppImage, and macOS arm64 and x86_64 builds.nomacs.org · 2 Oct 2026
Other supported systems
The introduction also lists FreeBSD and OS/2 as supported platforms.nomacs.org · 2 Oct 2026
License and use
nomacs is licensed under GNU General Public License v3 and is free for private and commercial use.nomacs.org · 2 Oct 2026
Integrations
The FAQ describes its original purpose as helping image-processing users compare images at different processing stages.nomacs.org · 2 Oct 2026
Support
The documentation directs users to the project tracker to report bugs or request features, and invites contributions such as translations, ports, and code.nomacs.org · 2 Oct 2026
Windows compatibility
The FAQ says Windows XP and Vista are not supported in future development since nomacs 3.0, though version 2.4.6 can be used on those systems.nomacs.org · 2 Oct 2026

Company

Founded
2011nomacs.org · 28 Sept 2026

Best nomacs alternatives

See all 20

Where it ranks on Everything Xiaomi

Is nomacs yours?

Claim it for free: prove the domain, then correct facts, plans and screenshots. An editor reviews every change.

Sources