EXIF Tools: The Complete Guide to EXIF Tools in 2026

Quick answer: EXIF tools are software that read, edit or remove hidden metadata from your photos. They help with image SEO, privacy and copyright management.

Every day, over 5.3 billion photos are taken worldwide (Source: Photutorial, 2025). Each image contains invisible EXIF data. This hidden data stores the location, date and camera settings.

EXIF tools help you manage this data. They are useful for photographers, online sellers and SEO experts. This guide shows you how to pick the right EXIF tool in 2026.

At Exif Injector, we process over 200,000 images per month. Our team, based between London and Agadir, tests these tools every day.

Table of contents:

1. What is an EXIF tool and what does it do?
2. Types of EXIF data that tools can read
3. Best EXIF tools compared in 2026
4. How EXIF tools improve your image SEO
5. EXIF tools and privacy: protect your photos
6. How to use an EXIF tool in practice
7. EXIF tools for e-commerce and stock photography
8. FAQ — Common questions about EXIF tools

What is an EXIF tool and what does it do?

In short: An EXIF tool is software that reads, edits or erases the EXIF metadata of your digital images.

The term EXIF stands for Exchangeable Image File Format. This standard was created in 1985 by JCIA, the predecessor of CIPA (Source: CIPA, 2026). The latest version, EXIF 3.1, was released by CIPA in 2026.

An EXIF tool lets you:

1. Read hidden photo data (date, location, camera).
2. Edit this data (title, keywords, copyright).
3. Remove sensitive info (GPS, device name).
4. Inject new metadata for SEO or copyright.

You already use EXIF tools without knowing it. Your phone creates EXIF data with every photo. Social media platforms strip some of it when you share.

Good to know: In 2025, 94% of all photos were taken with a smartphone (Source: Photutorial, 2025). Each shot contains between 20 and 100 EXIF metadata fields.

To learn more about the format, read our guide on What is EXIF data.

Types of EXIF data that tools can read

In short: EXIF tools read three types of metadata: EXIF (technical), IPTC (editorial) and XMP (extensible).

Not all metadata is the same. Here are the three major formats that EXIF tools handle.

(Source: IPTC.org, 2025)

Types of EXIF data that tools can read

Technical EXIF data

This is the info created by your camera. It includes the camera model, shutter speed and date.

The EXIF standard is limited to 64 KB in a JPEG file (Source: Wikipedia — Exif, 2026). This limit has existed since the original JPEG specification.

Editorial IPTC data

The IPTC standard is used by news agencies and photographers. It stores the creator name, copyright and keywords.

In 2025, IPTC added four new AI-related fields (Source: IPTC, 2025):

1. AI Prompt Information (the AI prompt text)
2. AI System Used (name of the AI system)
3. AI System Version Used (system version)
4. AI Prompt Writer Name (prompt author)

Extensible XMP data

The XMP format was created by Adobe. It allows custom fields. It is ideal for complex workflows.

To learn more, visit our page on the IPTC keyword generator.

Good to know: Google recommends keeping at least the IPTC fields creator, credit line and copyright notice in your images (Source: Google Search Central, 2025).

Best EXIF tools compared in 2026

In short: There are online EXIF tools, desktop software and command-line tools. Each one serves a different need.

Here is a comparison of the most popular EXIF tools in 2026.

(Source: official websites of each tool, 2026)

Exif Injector — The all-in-one SaaS tool

Exif Injector is an AI-powered online tool. It handles all three formats (EXIF, IPTC, XMP). It supports bulk processing on over 140 platforms.

Our tool is built for e-commerce sellers, photographers and marketers. No install is needed.

ExifTool — The open-source standard

ExifTool, created by Phil Harvey, is the industry standard. It supports over 400 file formats (Source: exiftool.org, 2026). It runs on the command line.

Its weakness: it requires technical skills. The learning curve is steep for beginners.

Free online tools

Tools like EXIF.tools or Jimpl let you read EXIF data. They are simple and fast. But they do not support writing or bulk processing.

If you want an alternative, check our page on ExifTool alternative.

Good to know: ExifTool was cited as a reference tool by IPTC in its Photo Metadata 2025.1 standard (Source: IPTC, 2025).

How EXIF tools improve your image SEO

In short: EXIF tools help image SEO by adding IPTC metadata that Google uses to display rich results.

In 2025, images appeared in 35% of Google search results pages in the US (Source: Resourcera, 2025). Optimizing your images is therefore essential.

What Google reads in your images

Google uses IPTC metadata to show rich results. The most useful fields are:

1. Creator (creator name)
2. Copyright Notice (copyright statement)
3. Web Statement of Rights (image license)

These fields activate the "Licensable" badge in Google Images (Source: Google Search Central, 2025).

Alt text and file names

EXIF tools alone are not enough. You also need to optimize the alt text and file name for every image. Google uses these elements to understand visual content (Source: Google Developers, 2026).

A name like red-dress-summer-2026.webp works much better than IMG_4532.jpg.

Our alt text generator creates these descriptions in one click using AI.

The impact on organic traffic

According to BrightEdge, 68% of online sessions start with a search engine (Source: BrightEdge, 2025). SEO remains the top traffic driver.

Optimizing your images with an EXIF tool adds a quality signal. Google favors images with complete metadata and clear licensing.

For a full guide, read our article on image metadata optimization for SEO.

Good to know: Content with optimized images gets 650% more engagement than content without images (Source: Resourcera, 2025).

EXIF tools and privacy: protect your photos

In short: EXIF data can reveal your exact GPS location. An EXIF removal tool protects your privacy.

Every photo taken with a smartphone contains GPS coordinates by default. Without removal, this data stays in the file.

The risks of EXIF data

The Wikipedia article on the EXIF standard cites a famous case. In 2012, John McAfee was located through EXIF data in a photo posted online (Source: Wikipedia — Exif, 2026).

The real risks include:

1. Geolocation of your home or workplace.
2. Identification of your device model.
3. Timestamps that track your movements.

How to remove EXIF data

Use an EXIF remover to erase this data before sharing your photos.

Every day, 14 billion images are shared on social media (Source: Photutorial, 2025). Most still contain sensitive metadata.

Some platforms (Facebook, Instagram) strip EXIF data automatically. But others, like WhatsApp or forums, do not always do so.

For iPhone users, check our guide on how to remove location from iPhone photos.

Good to know: The GDPR classifies GPS coordinates as personal data. Sharing them without consent can lead to penalties (Source: GDPR — Article 4, 2018).

How to use an EXIF tool in practice

In short: Using an EXIF tool takes a few seconds online. You upload your image, read or edit the data, then export.

Here are the simple steps to use Exif Injector:

1. Upload your image (JPEG, PNG, WebP, TIFF).
2. Read the current metadata with the EXIF viewer.
3. Edit the fields you want (title, IPTC keywords, copyright).
4. Export the image with the new metadata.

Bulk processing

For large volumes, a bulk EXIF editor is essential. Exif Injector processes hundreds of images in a single upload.

After testing over 140 image selling platforms, we designed this tool for every use case.

Command line with ExifTool

For technical users, ExifTool offers maximum power. ExifTool supports EXIF, GPS, IPTC, XMP, JFIF, GeoTIFF and many more formats (Source: exiftool.org, 2026).

Example command to read data:

Example to add a copyright:

If you prefer a visual interface, our online EXIF editor does the same thing without a terminal.

Good to know: ExifTool already supports the new IPTC fields for AI since version 13.40, released in October 2025 (Source: IPTC, 2025).

EXIF tools for e-commerce and stock photography

In short: EXIF tools help online sellers optimize their images on Etsy, Shopify, Amazon and stock sites like Shutterstock.

E-commerce depends on product images. Well-filled metadata improves your product ranking.

E-commerce platforms

On Etsy, images with relevant IPTC keywords rank better in internal search. The same applies to Shopify and Amazon.

The benefits for e-commerce:

1. Better ranking in platform search results.
2. Copyright protection built into every image.
3. Time savings through bulk processing.

Stock photography sites

Stock agencies like Shutterstock, Adobe Stock and Getty Images require complete metadata.

Shutterstock hosts over 350 million images (Source: Photodoto, 2022). Without IPTC metadata, buyers will not find your photos.

To optimize your stock photos, read our guide on stock photo metadata.

The role of Pinterest

Pinterest also uses metadata to index images. A clear IPTC title increases the reach of your pins.

Good to know: The global SEO software market is valued at $74.6 billion in 2025. It is projected to reach $154.6 billion by 2030 (Source: SearchAtlas, 2026). Image optimization is a fast-growing segment.

FAQ — Common questions about EXIF tools

What is an EXIF tool?

An EXIF tool is software that reads, edits or removes EXIF metadata from an image. This data includes the date, location and camera settings.

Are EXIF tools free?

Yes, many are free. ExifTool is 100% free and open source. Exif Injector offers a free plan with paid options for bulk processing.

Why should I remove EXIF data from my photos?

To protect your privacy. Photos often contain GPS coordinates and device details. An EXIF remover erases this sensitive information.

Does EXIF data affect image SEO?

Yes, indirectly. Google recommends keeping IPTC metadata (credit, copyright, creator). These fields activate the "Licensable" badge in Google Images (Source: Google Search Central, 2025).

What is the best online EXIF tool in 2026?

Exif Injector is one of the best online tools. It handles EXIF, IPTC and XMP in bulk with built-in AI features. It is ideal for photographers and online sellers.

About Exif Injector Exif Injector is an AI-powered SaaS tool that lets you inject, view and remove EXIF, IPTC and XMP metadata from your images in bulk. Developed by NOVA IMPACT LTD (London, UK — Company Number: 16164947), it helps photographers, e-commerce sellers and marketers optimize image visibility across 140+ platforms. Team spread across 3 cities: London, Paris, Agadir. Over 200 clients served and 15 years of combined experience. Try it free →