Advanced Renamer vs XYplorer (2026): which should you pick?
As of Nov 13, 2026, Advanced Renamer grades higher than XYplorer: 2.8 against 2.4 out of 4.0.
Checked Nov 12, 2026 and Nov 13, 2026 · graded Nov 12, 2026 and Nov 13, 2026 by ToolGPA
Advanced Renamer grades higher on the free plan and platforms. They get the same grade on value for money, features and ease of use.
Price, platforms and features side by side. The table says where each price was read and when.
Advanced Renamer
Batch file and folder renamer for Windows and Mac
XYplorer
Portable tabbed file manager for Windows with scripting
Which one is for you
Pick Advanced Renamer if
- Fits if you sort photo or music libraries using embedded dates and tags
- Works for one-off personal batches that fit inside 10,000 files
Look elsewhere if
- Not for you if the renaming is for work or school, since that needs the Commercial licence at $50 per user
- Tight if you chain more than 5 methods or go past 10,000 files on the free version
- Watch out: a licence covers 3.xx and 4.xx, and a later major version's price isn't stated
- Skip it if you use Linux, as only Windows and Mac are offered
Pick XYplorer if
- Fits if you want a tabbed, scriptable replacement for File Explorer
- Works for people who carry a configured file manager on a USB drive
Look elsewhere if
- Skip it if you use Mac or Linux, as it is Windows only
- Watch out: the Standard licence includes upgrades for one year only, and Lifetime is $69.95
- Not for you if you want free, since the trial ends after 30 days
- Pricey if you buy for a team, as Mini Site is $995 for up to 50 users
How we grade them
| 2.8GPAAdvanced RenamerGood | 2.4GPAXYplorerFair | |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | AFree for light personal use, and the personal licence is $16 one-time, well under a year of this category's typical subscription. | A$34.95 once, under a year of what this category's middle subscription costs. Upgrades last a year, and Lifetime is $69.95. |
| Free plan and trial | BFree with 10,000 files and 5 methods a batch, which is plenty for one person. Personal use only: any work use, schools included, needs a licence. | CA 30-day trial, fully working with minor limits. No card is mentioned. After it you need a licence. |
| Features | B13 methods, regex, JavaScript, preview, undo, metadata names and a command line runner. Nothing in the listing is missing from the job. | BTabs, dual pane, scripting, search, preview and a portable build. Nothing in the listing is missing from the job. |
| Ease of use | CChaining methods and writing regex or scripts takes some learning. No store rating is on record. | CNo rating on record. Scripting, custom columns and tab sets suggest a learning curve. |
| Platforms and integrations | CWindows (64-bit) and Mac, computers only. No Linux, phone or web version. | DWindows only, with a 64-bit build and a 32-bit one still offered. No Mac, Linux or phone version. |
| Best for | batch renaming from photo and music tags | a tabbed, scriptable file manager on Windows |
The GPA is the average of the five grades: an A is 4 points, an F is none. The full reasons are on each tool's page: Advanced Renamer and XYplorer. How we grade
Where they differ
- Advanced Renamer also covers workflow automation.
At a glance
| Advanced Renamer | XYplorer | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free plan | Free trial |
| Starts at | $16 one-time, personal license (VAT included) | $34.95 per user, one-time, with 1 year of free upgrades |
| Free plan | Free for light personal use, limited to 10,000 files per batch and 5 renaming methods per batch. | None |
| Free trial | None listed | 30-day free trial, fully functional with minor limitations |
| macOS | ||
| Windows | ||
| Made by | Hulubulu Software | Cologne Code Company |
| Price read from | advancedrenamer.com | xyplorer.com |
| Checked | Nov 13, 2026 | Nov 12, 2026 |
Worth knowing
Advanced Renamer
- The free version caps each batch at 10,000 files and 5 renaming methods.
- Any work use, including schools and non-profits, needs the Commercial license.
- A license is valid for the 3.xx and 4.xx versions; the site does not say what a later major version would cost.
- The Mac version needs macOS 11 or later; the Windows version is 64-bit only.
XYplorer
- Windows only, and the current 64-bit release is 64-bit only; a 32-bit version is still offered.
- The Standard License includes upgrades for one year only; Lifetime is the one with upgrades forever.
- After the 30-day trial a license is required to keep using it.
- Prices are also shown in euros on the page; the dollar figures are the ones recorded here.
Key features
Advanced Renamer
- Chained renaming methods
- Combine 13 methods in one batch: add, remove, replace, change case, new name from tags, and set timestamps.
- Live preview and undo
- New names are previewed before anything is applied, and a completed batch can be undone as a whole.
- Metadata-based names
- Use EXIF and XMP photo data, MP3 and ID3 tags, video properties and GPS-derived city names in file names.
- Rename, copy or move
- Batches can rename in place or copy and move files into new locations based on information in the files.
- Regex, wildcards and JavaScript
- Pattern matching with regular expressions and wildcards, and names generated from JavaScript.
- Command line batch runner
- Saved renaming jobs can be run from the command line to automate recurring renames.
XYplorer
- Tabs and dual pane
- Tabs can be dragged, locked and named, remember their settings across sessions and come in saved tab sets, with an optional second pane.
- Portable
- Needs no installation, leaves the registry alone and can run from an external drive.
- Scripting
- Scripts run out of the box without plugins, and many are shared on the user forum.
- File search and preview
- Includes a file search, a live filter box and a preview with image hover.
- Customizable interface
- Offers a custom toolbar, custom columns, colored tree sections and a breadcrumb bar.
- Small footprint
- The vendor says it uses little RAM, with a 64-bit executable of about 37 MB.
Plans
Advanced Renamer
Free$0
For occasional personal use. Batches are capped at 10,000 files and 5 renaming methods.
Personal$16
one-time, VAT included
For private use at home. No file or method limits per batch; valid for all 3.xx and 4.xx versions.
Commercial$50
one-time per user, VAT not included
Required for any work use, including schools and non-profits. No batch limits, and priority support.
XYplorer
Standard License Professional$34.95
per user, one-time, with 1 year of free upgrades
Never expires and covers all of the user's computers. Volume discounts apply automatically.
Lifetime License Professional$69.95
per user, one-time, with free upgrades forever
Same as Standard, with upgrades included permanently.
Mini Site Professional$995.00
one-time for up to 50 users, with free upgrades forever
Lifetime site license for companies with up to 50 users; the page suggests a site license from 18 users.
Mini Site Enterprise$3,995.00
one-time for up to 50 users, with free upgrades forever
Adds Enterprise features; a Large Site License covers up to 150 users.
Ways to pay less
Advanced Renamer
No public discounts listed.
XYplorer
- Other savings
25% off upgrade licenses
Owners of a Standard License whose free upgrade year is over can buy a new Standard or Lifetime License at 25% off, $26.20 and $52.45.
Common questions
Which is cheaper, Advanced Renamer or XYplorer?
As of Nov 13, 2026, Advanced Renamer starts at $16 one-time, personal license (VAT included), and XYplorer starts at $34.95 per user, one-time, with 1 year of free upgrades.
Which has a free plan, Advanced Renamer or XYplorer?
As of Nov 13, 2026, only Advanced Renamer has a free plan. XYplorer does not, though it has a free trial.
Which platforms do Advanced Renamer and XYplorer run on?
As of Nov 13, 2026, only Advanced Renamer lists a macOS app. Both list a Windows app. A platform missing from a listing is one its maker's pages did not mention.
More comparisons
How this page was made
- The verdict at the top follows a fixed rule. When both tools are in the same category and either is in our top three for it, the verdict follows that ranking: the higher-placed tool is our pick. The top three weigh who each tool suits as well as its grades, so a pick can go against the GPA. Otherwise the page does not pick one and says which grades higher: the higher GPA first; on a tie, the one with a free plan, then the one that starts cheaper in dollars a month, counted the same way for both; if they are still level, what the choice depends on.
- The grades are our own, from each tool’s review or report card. The GPA is their average.
- Prices, plans and platforms come from each tool’s listing. The table above says where each price was read and when.
- The differences and the answers to the questions are worked out from those listings.