6 Best Photo Management Software for Mac in 2024

Are you struggling with a congested photo library? Use one of these best photo management software for Mac to boost your macOS photo library for productivity.
6 Best Photo Management Software for Mac in 2024

Every Mac comes pre-installed with a wonderful photo management tool — Photos from Apple. This app is an excellent choice for most people to organise and view photos from the many macOS and iOS devices you may have. Nevertheless, there are times when you find Photos to be quite underperforming and not up to the professional mark.

In other words, Photos may not be the best photo management software for everyone. Depending on your profession and how often you click photos, you may need a variety of sub-modules and features. We faced the same issue before, and we set out to find some of the best options in the market. So, here they are, the best photo management software for Mac in 2024.

If you are using a Windows computer, you can use the best photo management software for Windows.

Quick Summary

  • Movavi Photo Manager is our top recommendation for most macOS users out there. The tool has several filtering utilities, backup options, and automatic content creation. For those who want to organize their memories in a better way, Movavi has the best suite.
  • CyberLink PhotoDirector is a more professional take towards photo management on Mac. This is a complete solution for those who want to arrange their photography files, edit and make compelling content. This can be a resource-consuming app, though.
  • ACDSee Photo Studio for Mac is another powerful yet easy-to-use photo organizer software for Mac. This one brings a bundle of impressive features and an intuitive User Interface. When it comes to resource consumption, it takes the middle ground.

What is Photo Management Software for Mac?

Photo management for Mac is a dedicated app that lets you access and organizes your photo gallery. This method is more effective than using Finder to sort all your photographs. Depending on the photo management tool you pick up, you may have advanced options for sorting and management.

For instance, facial recognition technology can sort someone’s photos from a vast collection. In the same way, Geolocation filters allow you to sort photography collections based on location data. The crux of the idea is that photo management software makes life easier. You don’t have to do this manually.

These tools can help professional photographers and regular users alike. As a photographer, you can use photo management tools to make sorting easier. For regular users, however, these tools give the option to arrange and access memories in a better way.

We should also mention that many photo management tools come in bundles. For instance, you can use the same tool to organize photographs and create videos, slideshows, and other content. You may have to pay extra for these, but many such bundles are quite popular.

Who Should Get A Photo Management Software for Mac?

You may want to get a photo management software for Mac if,

  • You take a lot of photographs, but you also hate sorting all of them manually. In this case, a dedicated photo management app is the best for you.
  • You have thousands of photos in your library and want to organize them effectively. This includes removing duplicates as well.
  • You want to create slideshows and videos using photos as the source. But you don’t want the hassle of professional video editors.
  • Last but not least, you need better control over your photo library.

Also, you may want to check for an alternative if you find Photos insufficient. Please keep in mind that we are talking about photo organizing software and not photo editors. That is why we have not included options like Photoshop, Lightroom, or Luminar in the list.

How We Tested and Picked the Best Photo Management Software for Mac in 2024

We prioritised a few factors while choosing the best photo management software for Mac. As we said, we have included tools that are primarily organizing tools while leaving photo editors for another dedicated article.

  • Ease of Use — We always prioritize this aspect while reviewing software products for macOS. In the case of photo management software, an easy-to-use UI is the most critical factor.
  • Filtering Options — Filtering options can make your lives easier while using a photo organizer tool for Mac. The program should have multiple filtering options based on name, size, location, etc.
  • Advanced Filtering — Advanced filtering options come in handy as well. We are talking about some extra features for finding duplicates and removing similar photos.
  • Performance — A photo management software for Mac should be able to compete with the level of performance that is native to the macOS system.
  • Pricing — Not everyone wants to spend money on photo management software. So, in addition to providing you with options from each budget bracket, we have also included open-source alternatives.

Our Picks: Best Photo Management Software for Mac in 2024

1. Movavi Photo Manager

As we said earlier, Movavi Photo Manager is your best shot at organizing photos on your Mac with ease. It’s one of the most popular tools and packs many features. From tag-based filtering to finding pictures based on location and similarity, there are a lot of features we love.

Movavi Photo Manager Main Interface

Getting started with the Movavi Photo Manager is an easy task. Once you have finished the installation and opened the program, you can see the main UI and the sidebar. You can simply drag and drop the photos you want to manage to begin the process.

As you can see, just after you upload the photos, the tool automatically arranges them by date. On the sidebar of the UI, you can see a variety of options. For instance, you can sort photos based on the location and persons in the picture and create custom albums.

Movavi Photo Manager Date-based View

There are so many customization options within the main User Interface. For instance, you can change the size of thumbnails and how photos are sorted. There are also options to search for and find photos by providing a date range. These are quite helpful when you have a vast library.

Movavi Photo Manager Editing Options

Coming to advanced features, Movavi Photo Manager offers so many. One of the most impressive features is the Similar Photos finder. Once you have uploaded photos to the tool, it will automatically find similar and duplicate photos to help you save time and space.

Movavi Photo Manager Similar Photos

Album-based management is also easy with this photo organizer tool. You can create and manage multiple photo albums on the device by clicking on Albums. Besides, you can add individual/group photos to specific collections using the simple toolbar above.

Movavi Photo Manager Individual Photo View

Movavi Photo Manager also packs standard editing features such as auto enhancement, resizing and renaming. These come in handy when exploring the photographs on another platform. We also loved the minimal yet functional photo editing features for individual clicks.

Movavi Photo Manager is available for $39.95, but you can check out the three-day free trial.

CyberLink PhotoDirector is considered one of the most professional photo management software. However, the package is more than just organizing your photographs. You can use this single tool to create content, such as videos and slideshows.

First things first, this isn’t a simple tool. It takes up more than 1GB of space from your Mac and will consume a considerable amount of resources. You should keep this in mind if you plan to use the tool regularly. You also have to register an account and sign in before using this program.

CyberLink PhotoDirector Import Interface

There are multiple modes in CyberLink PhotoDirector that you can use. The Full Mode launches a complete User Interface, while the Express Mode is an easier way to create content. You may have to spend some time with the program to master the UI.

As you can see, the program has multiple panes and modules. You can use each of the modules to arrange and render content quickly. You may also have noted the different tabs such as “Adjustment,” “Edit,” “Guided,” “Create,” and “Print.” So, with CyberLink PhotoDirector, you can do it all.

CyberLink PhotoDirector Library View

Instead of becoming another regular photo management program for Mac, CyberLink PhotoDirector is a complete suite for photo editing. One thing we noted is that you can create an entire workflow with this program. In this single interface, you can manage all aspects of the photo collection.

CyberLink PhotoDirector Edit Interface

As we go further, we can see the advanced sections like “Edit” and “Create.” In “Edit,” you can make several changes to the photograph, including layer-based edits. In the “Create” section, you can make stunning videos using photos.

CyberLink PhotoDirector Create Interface

You should also keep in mind that CyberLink PhotoDirector works in sync with other CyberLink products. For instance, if you use PowerDirector for making movies, you can have a smooth experience with this tool for photo management.

CyberLink PhotoDirector Ultra 11 is available for $69.99, but you can check out the free trial before.

3. ACDSee Photo Studio 6

As we mentioned, ACDSee Photo Studio 6 brings the best of both worlds in a simple package. Compared to the other top picks, this photo manager for Mac has a simple UI but a reasonable number of features. Not just professional photographers but also Pro users love this package.

The first thing we loved in ACDSee Photo Studio 6 is the wonderful UI. Although it requires you to create an account and sign in, the process is relatively more straightforward. As soon as you launch the program, it will showcase all the photographs in the default folder.

ACDSee Photo Studio 6 Main Interface

Using the explorer pane on the left side, you can explore other folders and check out what is inside each of your directories. This interface is easier than importing folders individually, primarily if your library is spread across different device areas.

On the right side of the window, you have the organization options. As you can see, you can filter photos based on several aspects, such as the date taken, ratings given, albums they belong to, and labels. Such a multi-stage filtration process provides so much control for most people.

ACDSee Photo Studio 6 Explorer View

Compared to other programs, ACDSee Photo Studio 6 is not bulky. This, in turn, helps us to have a better viewing experience. It feels comparatively easy to navigate between directories and photos inside. The tool also comes with gesture support, making things way more comfortable.

Unlike the other tools, the editing features in the ACDSee Photo Studio 6 package are not comprehensive per se. You cannot find layer-based editing or filters. However, in the Develop tab of the program, you can make advanced changes to the image.

ACDSee Photo Studio 6 Individual Photo Editing

We would call ACDSee Photo Studio 6 a Photos app on steroids. The tool’s speed throughout the process is impressive, and you don’t have to worry about snappiness issues. The UI does not require expertise, either.

ACDSee Photo Studio 6 costs $49.95, but it offers a fully-functional free trial.

4. Adobe Bridge CC

Bridge CC is the official asset management solution from Adobe. As you can guess, this is a professional tool you can use alongside other Adobe products like Photoshop and Lightroom. However, you won’t be disappointed even if you decide to use it in standalone mode.

Adobe Bridge CC Main UI

Compared to other tools in the list, the User Interface in Adobe Bridge CC is pretty simple. Arranged in three different sections, you can explore the file system, individual files, and some basic options. However, when it comes to organizing content, you have many options.

For instance, you can filter all your photographs based on keywords, labels, and other metrics. It also packs an enhanced metadata search option onboard. Of course, you can perform all these actions in a bulk form.

Adobe Bridge CC Metadata View

Some other impressive features in Adobe Bridge CC include a native PDF module and advanced import and export options. As we said earlier, you can also share the libraries with other Adobe applications for a better workflow. It won’t help if you’re not in the Adobe ecosystem.

Adobe Bridge CC comes with a Creative Cloud subscription from Adobe.

5. digiKam Photo Manager

digiKam Photo Manager is probably the best free photo organizing software for Mac. As it happens, it’s also one of those advanced development environments. So that you know, this product is entirely open-source and is frequently updated.

digiKam Main User Interface

First, it takes considerable time to download and install digiKam on your device. You will have to download a huge package and select the preferences before opening the tool. While this provides a comprehensive experience from the beginning, it can scare inexperienced users.

Once we get into the main User Interface, things are easy. The program does not look so rich when it comes to toolbars. However, you can click on the tabs to enter each section and deal with the photographs. As expected, there are also multiple options for classification.

digiKam Individual Photo View

As you can see, digiKam Photo Manager is optimized for professional users. If you happen to deal with multiple images and want to do that with care, you can count on this program. It also helps that you don’t have to pay for anything.

digiKam Photo Manager is completely free to use.

6. Gemini

Gemini is a different take on photo management. While it’s not a dedicated photo management software for Mac, you can use it to remove duplicate photos and finding similar images. Gemini, by the way, is a duplicate file finder for Mac.

Gemini Main UI

Using Gemini is an easy task, thanks to the beautiful UI. You can either scan your entire home folder or pick a folder you want to scan. In either case, Gemini would find all the potential duplicate files. And once you have chosen the Photos-only mode, you are good to go.

In the upcoming window, you can not only see but also compare the duplicates of a file. While this section helps you remove unwanted photos and free up space, the Similar files section is where all the magic takes place.

Gemini Similar Files Finder Interface

Gemini can intelligently find similar photos and present you with the details. Then, depending on your needs and preferences, you can keep or delete these files. Of course, you cannot expect album-based organization features from the package because it’s a duplicate finder.

Gemini is available for free download, but the full version costs $19.95.

The Bottom Line

We believe these six best photo management software for Mac will help you to have a better photo library in a few minutes. Regardless of the tool you choose, you have to spend some time with each software to accustom yourself to it.

If you are a professional, you need something like CyberLink PowerDirector or Adobe Bridge. However, for most people, we would be recommending the Movavi Photo Editor, which packs almost every feature we need while organizing a photo library.

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