For any Adobe CC user, Adobe Bridge is undoubtedly the best free image management utility out there. You can use it to organize all your media easily, and it also comes with a ton of useful features like batch conversions to help you streamline your workflow. But if for some reason you’re not able to use Adobe Bridge on your Windows PC, be it due to hardware limitations or performance issues, then we’ve got some great alternatives for you. These free-to-use alternatives include pretty much everything that Adobe Bridge has to offer, while still being light on your system. So, without any further delay, let’s take a look at three amazing Adobe Bridge alternatives that you can try.
1. IrfanView
IrfanView is one of the most popular third-party image management software out there and for a good reason. It’s light and doesn’t take up much system resources, which makes it great for any Windows system, and it includes support for a wide variety of image formats. The software includes a bunch of handy features that will not only let you easily view the images on your system, but also help with basic editing functions like image rotation, resizing, color correction, and more. IrfanView also includes support for batch processing images. That will let you quickly edit a bunch of photos altogether, convert them to a different format, and even rename them. Trust me, the batch processing functionality is quite handy, and it’ll help you easily minimize your workload if you’re working with several images at the same time. But the best part about the software is the included support for third-party plugins that unlock even more features without any additional costs. IrfanView is my go-to image management software, and I can safely say that once you get the hang of it, there’ll be no looking back. Download IrfanView
2. XnView MP
Next up is XnView MP, another great Adobe Bridge alternative that includes read support for more than 500 formats and export for around 70 formats. Much like IrfanView, XnView MP is light on the system and works quite well, even on legacy systems. However, it offers users a simpler user-interface that’s a whole lot easier to work with, especially for those of you who aren’t as tech savvy. It also includes basic editing features like lighting, color, curves, and level adjustments, among others. You also get access to a handy batch process tool using which you can convert files to a different format or rename them all in one go. While XnView MP is free to use for individuals, if you’re planning on using it for your business you’ll have to shell out quite a bit of money to use the software. But the main differentiating factor between IrfanView and XnView MP is the fact that the latter supports multiple platforms. So if you’re a Mac or Linux user, you have no choice but to use XnView MP on your system. Download XnView MP
3. FastStone
And final one on this list is the FastStone image viewer, another decent option that you can go with in case none of the other two software work out for you. FastStone also comes with support for multiple file formats, but the number of supported formats is significantly lower than that of the other two options. It also has an easy-to-use interface like XnView MP that lets you browse through multiple images at once and edit them on the fly. There are a bunch of useful editing features like resizing, cropping, retouching, etc., but once again, it’s not as comprehensive as the other two options. It also includes support for batch processing for conversion and renaming files, slideshow creation with over 150 cool transition effects and music support, along with screen capture capabilities. And with third-party codecs, you’ll even be able to play videos with FastStone. The best part about using FastStone is the fact that it receives regular updates with support for more formats and a number of cool new features. For instance, in one of the latest updates, the software included support for HEIC and WEBP formats on Windows 10, which are crucial if you wish to edit photos clicked using one of the iPhones on your Windows PC. Download FastStone
Image Management Made Simple
Now that you know about these amazing image management tools, it’s time for you to download and give them a go. I personally use IrfanView on the daily for batch processes and I like it a lot. However, XNView MP offers a more user-friendly interface that you might find easier to get used to. Which is why it’s best if you try out all of these tools before settling with one. Next up: If you happen to go with IrfanView, we’ve got a handy guide for the tool that you should totally check out.
