🏞 A fast, open-source, modern image viewer for 90+ formats – including WEBP, GIF, SVG, AVIF, JXL, HEIC and more – built for smooth browsing across Windows, macOS, and Linux.
13.7k
Stars
724
Forks
248
Open issues
30
Contributors
AI Analysis
ImageGlass is a fast, open-source image viewer for Windows, macOS, and Linux that supports 90+ formats including modern codecs like WEBP, JXL, HEIC, and AVIF. It serves end users and designers who need efficient, cross-platform image browsing with a focus on performance and broad format coverage. This is not a developer library or framework, but a complete application for everyday photo viewing and professional image inspection.
Inferred from signals mentioned in the README (tests, CI, type safety) — not a review of the actual code.
AI's overall editorial judgment — not an average of the bars above, can weigh other factors too.
ImageGlass: A mature, open-source image viewer for Windows targeting the gap left by declining built-in alternatives
ImageGlass is a long-running open-source image viewer for Windows (with macOS and Linux support in version 10) that supports 90+ formats including modern ones like AVIF, JXL, HEIC, and WEBP. It targets everyday Windows users who find the OS default viewer limited, as well as designers and photographers who need broad format support without paying for commercial tools. With over 13,000 GitHub stars, a Microsoft Store listing, active Discord community, Crowdin translation support, and a 2026 roadmap, it represents a well-sustained solo-developer project with genuine user adoption.
Started in late 2012 as a lightweight Windows image viewer alternative, ImageGlass has evolved over 13 years from a basic replacement for Windows Photo Viewer into a multi-platform tool now targeting version 10 with macOS and Linux support added.
Growth appears driven by frustration with Windows 10/11's default Photos app, combined with consistent format support for emerging standards like AVIF, JXL, and HEIC. The Microsoft Store presence likely broadened reach to less technical users. Steady ~77 stars/week as of mid-2026 suggests stable organic discovery rather than viral spikes.
GitHub download badges indicate total and per-release download counts (exact numbers not visible in excerpt but the badge is present). Microsoft Store listing provides a verified distribution channel. Crowdin localization activity and a Discord community suggest real, geographically distributed users. Exact download volume not publicly confirmed in this excerpt, but adoption appears substantial for a desktop utility tool.
Likely a native Windows-first application built with C# and .NET, with version 10 expanding to cross-platform via what appears to be a different UI framework (possibly Avalonia or similar, given VS Code is used for macOS/Linux builds). The separation of v9 and v10 source folders suggests a significant architectural rewrite is underway.
Not documented in README.
Last push was June 5, 2026 — 18 days before evaluation date — indicating active, ongoing development. A published 2026 roadmap, versioned development branches (develop vs prod), and a beta announcement for version 10 all signal healthy maintenance. The project appears to be in an active feature development phase, not just receiving bug fixes.
ADOPT IF: you are a Windows (or soon macOS/Linux) user who needs broad modern image format support (AVIF, JXL, HEIC, WEBP) in a free, actively maintained viewer with a clean UI. AVOID IF: you need built-in batch processing, image editing, or catalog/management features — ImageGlass is a viewer, not a DAM or editor. MONITOR IF: you are interested in the cross-platform version 10 — macOS and Linux support appears to be in beta and may not yet be production-ready.
Independent dimensions
Mainstream potential
4/10
Technical importance
5/10
Adoption evidence
6/10
- Solo-developer sustainability: the project appears primarily maintained by one person (d2phap); long-term continuity depends heavily on that individual's continued involvement and donation revenue.
- Version 10 cross-platform ambition may stretch development resources thin, potentially slowing Windows-side improvements or introducing platform parity gaps.
- The paid Microsoft Store model for what is otherwise free software could create user confusion or fragmentation between the Classic and Store versions.
- Competing against deeply integrated OS-native viewers means ImageGlass must continuously justify the install friction, especially as Windows Photos improves.
- License ambiguity ('NOASSERTION' on GitHub) may create uncertainty for enterprise or commercial users despite the README's informal guidance on registration.
ImageGlass will likely continue as a well-maintained niche tool for Windows power users and format-curious users, with version 10 gradually maturing cross-platform support over 2026-2027. Mainstream OS-level adoption is unlikely, but it will remain a recommended community tool in its category.
Newsletter
Get analyses like this every Monday
Free weekly digest of the most interesting open-source discoveries.
Languages
Information
- Website
- https://imageglass.org
- Language
- C#
- License
- NOASSERTION
- Last updated
- 1mo ago
- Created
- 165mo ago
- Analyzed with
- anthropic/claude-haiku-4-5
Stars over time
Contributors over time
Top 100 contributors only — repos with more will plateau at 100.
Open issues
Images pixelate when scrolling through a directory of images
HEIC file fails to open because ImageMagick HEIC security limit is exceeded
Maximum Imeddiate Scale-To-Fit Ratio
Cannot open very large files, related to the color format, but the system's built-in one works fine.
[Feature Request] Add arbitrary-angle rotation (fine-tune rotation) support
Open pull requests
Top contributors
Similar repos
| Repository | Stars | Week Δ | Language | Score | Updated |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
d2phap/ImageGlass
this
|
13.7k | +108 | C# | 8/10 | 1mo ago |
 jark006/JarkViewer
|
1.2k | — | C++ | 7/10 | 1w ago |
 Ruben2776/PicView
|
3.3k | — | C# | 7/10 | 3w ago |
 netdcy/FlowVision
|
1.3k | — | Swift | 7/10 | 3w ago |
 SixLabors/ImageSharp
|
8k | — | C# | 8/10 | 1d ago |
 Tom94/tev
|
1.4k | — | C++ | 8/10 | 3d ago |
ImageGlass targets users who find Windows Photos slow or limited in format support. It offers broader format coverage and more configuration options, at the cost of requiring a separate install.
IrfanView is a long-standing Windows freeware viewer with a large user base but a dated UI. ImageGlass offers a more modern interface and broader support for newer formats like JXL and AVIF.
XnView MP is a cross-platform viewer with strong format support and more built-in management features. ImageGlass competes on design aesthetics and simplicity but may lag on batch processing capabilities.
FastStone is freeware for non-commercial use with a feature-rich UI. ImageGlass is open-source (more transparent licensing) and more actively targeting modern format standards.
A smaller C++ alternative with 1,176 stars; likely more minimal and less mature. ImageGlass has significantly more history, format coverage, and community infrastructure.
