Overall Winner
IrfanView
beats Microsoft Photos by 12 points
IrfanView 🏆 61/100
Microsoft Photos 49/100
IrfanView
Free
VS
Microsoft Photos
Free
The verdict
IrfanView scores 61/100 against Microsoft Photos's 49/100. Compare the full breakdown of scores, features, pricing, and user reviews below.
Score breakdown
Dimension
IrfanView
Microsoft Photos
Price & Value
★★★★★
★★★★★
Features
★★★★★ wins
★★☆☆☆
Ease of Use
★★☆☆☆
★★★★☆ wins
Reviews
★★★★☆ wins
★★★☆☆
Each dimension rated 1–5. Higher is better across all four.
What users say
IrfanView
"The most powerful free batch converter for Windows, though its dated interface and plugin setup will not suit everyone"
Pros
Powerful batch converter handles massive numbers of HEIC files reliably, praised by Reddit as the best freeware image tool available Supports 500+ image formats with decades of proven reliability, making it a versatile choice beyond just HEIC conversion Completely free for personal use with no file size limits or conversion restrictions
Microsoft Photos
"Simplest zero-install HEIC viewer for Windows, but lacks batch processing and output control"
Pros
Built into Windows 10 1809+ with zero installation required for viewing and converting HEIC photos No file size limits or daily conversion restrictions since it is a native system application Maintains EXIF metadata and orientation data when exporting HEIC to JPG
Pricing & value
| Metric | IrfanView | Microsoft Photos | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free tier | Yes | Yes | Tie |
| Starting price | Free | Free | IrfanView |
Our pick