Photo Mechanic
Photo Mechanic is a media browser for viewing, organizing, managing, and exporting digital photos on macOS and Windows.
What Photo Mechanic is
Photo Mechanic is a media browser for viewing, organizing, managing, and exporting digital photos on macOS and Windows. During ingest from memory cards, users can inspect thumbnails, cull, rate, and tag images while they are copied. Metadata tools cover captions, copyright, keywords, IPTC fields, variables, structured keyword lists, and code replacements. Batch editing can copy, delete, tag, watermark, rename, resize, or add IPTC metadata to many photos at once.
The app can apply saved GPS tracking logs and add city, state, and country names to image metadata. It uploads directly to listed online services, sends files through an existing SMTP server, and creates web galleries from templates. Photo Mechanic Plus adds an image database for cataloging photos across storage locations. The standard plan is $14.99 per month and Plus is $24.99 per month; both are paid subscriptions. Both products have a 30-day trial without payment information, limited to one trial per customer. macOS requires version 13 or higher, and Windows requires 64-bit Windows 10 or higher.
Good
- Cull, rate, and tag images during card ingest
- Batch tools include renaming, resizing, and watermarking
- Adds location names from saved GPS tracking logs
- 30-day trial requires no payment information
- License can be used on up to two computers
Watch out
- No free plan
- Requires macOS 13 or newer
- Windows support requires 64-bit Windows 10 or newer
Who it suits
It suits photographers who want to review, tag, and organize images during card ingest, especially professional photographers such as photojournalists. Photo Mechanic Plus is for those who also want an image catalog spanning storage locations.
Verdict
Photo Mechanic focuses on fast image review and metadata work, with batch tools and direct upload options. Its 30-day trial gives prospective users a way to assess it before a paid subscription.
Plans and prices
From Photo Mechanic's own pricing page, checked 2 Oct 2026.
| Plan | Price | What it gives you |
|---|---|---|
| Photo Mechanic | $14.99 a month | single user · up to 2 computers · updates and support while subscribed · then every month |
| Photo Mechanic Plus | $24.99 a month | single user · up to 2 computers · updates and support while subscribed · then every month |
| Photo Mechanic | $149 a year | single user · up to 2 computers · updates and support while subscribed · then every year |
| Photo Mechanic Plus | $249 a year | single user · up to 2 computers · updates and support while subscribed · then every year |
| Photo Mechanic | $299, paid once | single user · up to 2 computers · perpetual use on compatible operating systems · one-time purchase with updates for 1 year |
| Photo Mechanic Plus | $399, paid once | single user · up to 2 computers · perpetual use on compatible operating systems · one-time purchase with updates for 1 year |
The facts
Each one read from Photo Mechanic's own pages, with the date it was checked.
What it does
- Audience
- Camera Bits says Photo Mechanic helps professional photographers work faster and more efficiently, including photojournalists and other professional photographers.checked 2 Oct 2026
- Batch tools
- Batch editing can copy, delete, tag, watermark, rename, resize, and add IPTC metadata to many photos at once.checked 2 Oct 2026
- Email and galleries
- It can send files through an existing SMTP email server and create web galleries from pre-made templates.checked 2 Oct 2026
- GPS
- Photo Mechanic can apply saved GPS tracking logs and automatically add city, state, and country names to metadata.checked 2 Oct 2026
- Ingest
- It copies images from memory cards while letting users view thumbnails, cull, rate, and tag images during copying.checked 2 Oct 2026
- Integrations
- It can upload directly to PhotoShelter, Zenfolio, Amazon S3, Flickr, SmugMug, and other online services.checked 2 Oct 2026
- License activation
- A subscription or perpetual license can be used on up to two computers and on either operating system.checked 2 Oct 2026
- Metadata
- It supports captions, copyright, keywords, IPTC metadata, variables, structured keyword lists, and code replacements.checked 2 Oct 2026
- Plus catalog
- Photo Mechanic Plus adds an image database for cataloging images across multiple storage locations.checked 2 Oct 2026
- Security
- Camera Bits says it uses generally accepted industry standards to protect personal information during transmission and after receipt, while noting that no internet or storage method is completely secure.checked 2 Oct 2026
- Support
- Camera Bits provides a knowledge base, contact support, and user forums where users can ask Photo Mechanic developers and support staff questions.checked 2 Oct 2026
- Supported systems
- Photo Mechanic is available for macOS and Windows; macOS requires version 13 or higher and Windows requires 64-bit Windows 10 or higher.checked 2 Oct 2026
- What it does
- Photo Mechanic is a fast media browser for viewing, organizing, managing, and exporting digital photos.checked 2 Oct 2026
The company
- Founded
- 1996checked 28 Sep 2026
- Headquarters
- Portland metro areachecked 28 Sep 2026
Money
- Trial
- Photo Mechanic and Photo Mechanic Plus are free for 30 days with no payment information required, limited to one trial per customer.checked 2 Oct 2026
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