Nomina

Overview

Nomina is a free desktop utility for renaming files and folders in batches. It is best suited to people who want configurable, local renaming across Windows, Linux and macOS; its preview and validation make complex batches more controlled, but it is not a web or API-based workflow.

Key features

Its rule engine handles prefixes, suffixes, text replacement with optional regex, removal, slicing, case conversion, numbering and extension changes. That range suits both routine cleanup and pattern-driven edits without charging for advanced rules. Recursive scanning, filters, drag and drop, and clipboard path loading help gather items from nested folders or existing paths.

Proposed names appear in a preview, and files are not changed until the rename is committed. Nomina also detects invalid characters, name conflicts and reserved names, then lets users undo the last batch. These safeguards are valuable when a small rule error could affect many files, though undo covers only the most recent batch.

Rule presets can be saved, imported and exported as JSON, making repeat jobs easier to reproduce or share. Optional metadata cleanup can accompany renaming. English and Persian interfaces, including right-to-left layout, and dark and light themes add flexibility without changing the core workflow. The README describes Nomina as having no telemetry.

Pricing

Nomina costs nothing. The free plan has no stated usage limits, and there are no paid plans or free trial. That makes it a straightforward fit for occasional personal batches as well as repeat work, with no paid tier to unlock a larger quota. It is MIT licensed.

Platforms

Nomina runs on Windows 10/11, Linux with GTK 3 and WebKit2GTK 4.1, and macOS 11 or later. Prebuilt downloads cover Windows x64, Linux x64 and ARM64, and Apple Silicon Macs; the macOS build can also run on Intel through Rosetta 2. Running from source requires Python 3.10 or later. Releases include a SHA256SUMS.txt file for download verification.

The interface supports English and Persian. Nomina has no listed third-party service integrations; presets move through JSON files instead.

Who it's for

Choose Nomina if you need a desktop batch renamer with regex-capable rules, folder support, reusable presets and a preview before committing changes. Its cross-platform builds are useful for mixed-device households or teams, while the absence of telemetry may appeal to people who prefer a local tool. Look elsewhere if the workflow depends on a web or API service, metadata-based renaming, or undoing more than the latest batch.

Pros and cons

• Pros: Broad rename rules, including optional regex replacement, are available in the free plan.
• Pros: Preview, conflict checks and last-batch undo provide concrete safeguards for bulk changes.
• Pros: JSON presets and recursive scanning support repeatable work across folders.
• Cons: Undo is limited to the most recent rename batch.
• Cons: Metadata-based renaming is not supported, despite optional metadata cleanup.
• Cons: Linux requires GTK 3 and WebKit2GTK 4.1, so platform coverage still carries setup requirements.

Alternatives

Compare file renaming software if you want to weigh more tools in the category. For another free, MIT-licensed desktop batch renamer across Linux, macOS and Windows, consider reNamerX. PBRenamer is another free cross-platform option with no paid tiers or stated usage limits. Bulk Renamer is also free and cross-platform, and specifies no account, trial or watermark.

Windows-only users can consider Ant Renamer, a free Windows program with source code available. ReNamer may suit non-commercial Windows use when a five-rule and five-preset cap is enough; its Pro plan is $29.95, paid once. Mac users on macOS 14 or later can choose Transnomino, a free batch rename utility. Advanced Renamer offers a free tier capped at 10,000 files and five methods per batch, while its Personal plan has custom pricing and removes those caps.

Renamer.ai is the better fit for someone seeking desktop apps plus web and API availability: its free Starter plan allows 25 renames per month and includes Batch rename and Magic Folders, while Pro costs $9.95 a month.

Verdict

Nomina is an easy recommendation for people who want a capable, free desktop batch renamer with reusable rules and practical safeguards across major operating systems. Its strongest reason to choose it is that flexibility comes without a stated quota or subscription. Choose another tool if you need metadata-based naming, web or API access, or broader recovery than undoing the latest batch.