Microsoft Photos vs IrfanView: Which Software Is Better?

This Microsoft Photos vs IrfanView review will come in handy for people looking for the most universal option for viewing graphic files on a computer. Besides, it may interest those, who want to find a program that works fast and guarantees excellent quality.

Microsoft Photos is a standard photo and video viewer for Windows platform. It is built into the system by default. You can view and resize photos, as well as automatically organize your files.

IrfanView is a unique bitmap viewing tool that allows you not only to open pictures but also to preview GIF and TIFF files very quickly. It also contains many built-in functions for graphics editing, converting, and management.

When deciding what to choose – Microsoft Photos or IrfanView, you should consider that the first program is designed to help you easily view, edit, compare, and create albums and movies. The software has a multi-view mode for working with multiple images or videos in one window.

You can activate this option by selecting multiple photos from the filmstrip interface. Due to this feature, this program can be used as a photo catalog software. Plus, you can see pictures in the filmstrip and move to the desired one easily. You'll find everything you need to edit, mark favorites, access other applications, and more in the toolbar.

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Intuitive interface. The UI is developed by Microsoft experts, so it is easy to navigate. The toolbar is conveniently located with free access to all elements. You don't need to make dozens of clicks to open the needed panel. If necessary, all settings can be hidden to see the picture from edge to edge.

Multi-platform program. This is one of the few free viewers that allow you to watch graphics from your computer, Windows-based smartphone, Xbox, and HoloLense. Files are displayed in good quality without delays. You can install it on an unlimited number of devices at home and office at no additional cost.

Multi-view mode. Microsoft Photos allows you to compare several pictures and videos in one window without using third-party tools. You can compare photos and work with several types of graphics at the same time. It is convenient if you need to see several files on the screen without wasting time to switch between tabs.

Adding 3D effects for video. With this viewer, you can add effects like a swarm of bees, lightning, or a fireball to your videos and photos. These are simple effects, but they are enough to implement creative promo video ideas in your advertisements and social media projects.

Creating collections. One of the unique features of this software is that it can be used as a photo album software. In addition to composing automatic editable collections, it allows you to create tags. A user can search collections for people, places, and things that are automatically tagged. As a result, you can save memorable moments and view them whenever needed.

Sometimes it freezes. I noticed some problems with the operation speed. Especially if you load a file of a large size or resolution, it takes longer to start previewing or viewing.

IrfanView is perfect for users who choose programs with key functions, intuitive design, and the top performance. This utility perfectly combines small size, diverse functionality, and a user-friendly interface.

IrfanView is known not only as a universal picture viewer, but it’s also free photo organizing software. This is a great Windows photo viewer alternative that supports Multiple (animated) GIFs and TIFFs.

In addition to all the features that were mentioned above, with IrfanView, you can take a screenshot, print pictures, get images from various files, such as ICL, DLL, EXE. Consider these features when comparing Microsoft Photos vs IrfanView.

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Fast and compact. The program stands out with low resource consumption and high speeds. You will surely appreciate this advantage, as most images take up several megapixels nowadays. The installation file takes little space, approximately 5 MB. The program is quick to install and is light on a processor. This means you can use it with other programs at the same time.

Built-in converter. Thanks to a batch processing option, you can resize and modify multiple files in one go. You can convert from/to a variety of image file formats with full control over the conversion settings.

120+ image, video, and audio file formats. This photo viewer supports most file formats. In addition to photos, you can view HDDR, B3D, CPT, Mac PICT, PBM, PSD, TXT, OGG, and WMA. This is a significant factor to consider in the Microsoft Photos vs IrfanView battle. IrfanView viewer can open DjVu e-books scanned from paper editions, allowing you to turn pages, zoom in on the desired fragments, and cut out diagrams and drawings quickly.

Supports different Windows versions. Unlike the first option, compatible only with Windows 10, this viewer is more universal. It is available for Windows XP, Vista, 7, 8, and 10. Besides, the website has 2 versions of the program for 32 and 64-bit OS.

Multilanguage support. By default, the program has an English interface. However, you can upload the required language using plugins. German may also be the default language in the standard version.

No transparency support. When opening an image, the program converts the alpha to the selected background color. When you re-save the photo, you can choose a color to convert to alpha again.

Microsoft Photos is available online for free download. You can access all the tools without paying for licenses and subscriptions.

If you need IrfanView for personal use, you can download it for free. Plus, educational institutions (universities, schools, libraries, and museums) and humanitarian organizations and charities can use the program at no cost.

Keep in mind that you need to register and pay for the program if you need it for commercial projects. You can purchase the Single license for 32 and 64-bit versions for $12.When buying more than 11 licenses, you get a discount.

Both programs are suitable only for Windows. The choice of software depends on your specific needs. You must determine what tools you currently need and select the option meeting your requirements.

Microsoft Photos is suitable only for those who have Windows 10 version and higher. It is the winner in the Microsoft Photos vs IrfanView stand-off if you want a simple yet reliable viewer for home use. This software is great for viewing and editing images on devices running Windows 11.

IrfanView is a more professional graphic viewer for designers and photographers. It allows you to view and convert photos, as well as perform basic operations with a large number of file formats in a matter of time.