Metadata removal tool ratings
Tools that strip location and device data from files.
7 metadata removal are rated against 4 public criteria, and 7 have enough evidence for a letter grade.
Open-source metadata removal only · Criteria for this category · Suggest an addition · Markdown
| Name | Grade | Score | Data | Open source | No trackers or telemetry | No ads or data sales | Independent audit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Desktop app for Windows, macOS and Linux that removes metadata from images, media files and PDFs, with drag and drop and batch processing. It uses ExifTool. |
Grade B | 80 | 100% | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
Android app that removes Exif and other metadata from JPEG, PNG and WebP images. The developer considers it in maintenance mode, with bug fixes only. |
Grade B | 80 | 100% | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
Cross-platform Perl library and command-line tool by Phil Harvey for reading, writing and removing metadata in images, audio, video and documents. |
Grade B | 80 | 100% | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
macOS app that compresses images and removes metadata such as EXIF data, comments and color profiles, using drag and drop. |
Grade B | 80 | 100% | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
Python library and command-line tool that removes metadata from images, audio, video, office documents, PDFs and archives. Includes a service menu for the Dolphin and Nemo file managers. |
Grade B | 80 | 100% | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
GNOME desktop app for viewing and removing metadata in files, built on the mat2 library. Maintained by a community project after the original author stepped down. |
Grade B | 80 | 100% | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
Android app that removes Exif metadata from pictures before they are shared, by acting as an intermediate step in the share menu. |
Grade B | 80 | 100% | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
Questions
What is the most private option among metadata removal?
No pick has been made yet. The table above is sorted by score, based on public evidence.
How are metadata removal rated?
Each entry answers 4 questions: open source, no trackers or telemetry, no ads or data sales and independent audit. Answers need links to evidence. See the full criteria.