I'm using Debian 13 and have tried several photo viewers, but most have been disappointing. I'm looking for recommendations because I don't want to waste time debugging software that lacks the necessary features. Currently, I'm using a Windows VM to run Pictureflect for image viewing, but I'd prefer a Linux solution. Here's what I need at a minimum: it must support avif files, have a feature to shuffle images randomly, offer a slideshow option, allow directory input with recursive subfolder support, and be capable of playing videos. I've not been able to find software that checks off all these boxes, as many claim to have these features but don't deliver. Additionally, I'd love features for flagging images for bulk operations, grid view, and simple editing like cropping, although I'm starting to feel like I won't find something that comprehensive for Linux. Any help with ways to install Pictureflect on Linux would also be great since I'm already familiar with it.
4 Answers
XnViewMP is one of my favorites! It pretty much covers all the bases you need. It’s available as an AppImage, which makes installation straightforward. If you want something lighter, qView could be a good alternative. Plus, AppMan manages the installation and updates nicely, which takes away some of the hassle.
For your needs, I'd recommend checking out Shotwell. It supports most of the features you're looking for, but I'm not entirely sure about the random photo order you mentioned. It does have a pretty solid slideshow feature and can handle avif files.
I really miss using FastStone for my photo viewing needs. It's quite unfortunate that it doesn't work well with Wine on Linux because nothing seems to compare in terms of quality. The UX of older software like Picasa was much better than what’s currently available on Linux.
True, the philosophy in Linux usually focuses on software doing one thing well rather than piling on the features. Sometimes, simplicity is overlooked in favor of more complex functionalities.
I suggest not limiting yourself to just one app. I use multiple photo viewers based on what I need to do. XnViewMP is excellent for sorting images and offers some decent editing features. For more advanced edits, GIMP is great, and if you need bulk metadata editing, Digikam can help with that. Don't forget about simple viewers like GThumb or Pix for quick browsing. For videos, I usually rely on VLC or other file browsers for playback.
By random photo order, I mean something like a shuffle feature for displaying images. Shotwell ticks a lot of boxes for me, but I found its folder navigation a bit clunky.