Bulk Rename Utility vs XYplorer (2026): which should you pick?
As of Nov 12, 2026, Bulk Rename Utility and XYplorer share a 2.4 GPA, and only Bulk Rename Utility has a free plan.
Checked Nov 12, 2026 · graded Nov 12, 2026 by ToolGPA
Bulk Rename Utility grades higher on the free plan. XYplorer grades higher on value for money. They get the same grade on features, ease of use and platforms.
Price, platforms and features side by side. The table says where each price was read and when.
Bulk Rename Utility
Windows file renamer with many criteria, free for home use
XYplorer
Portable tabbed file manager for Windows with scripting
Which one is for you
Pick Bulk Rename Utility if
- Fits if you rename photos or files in bulk on a Windows PC at home
- Works for people who want to preview every change before it happens
Look elsewhere if
- Not for you if you use a Mac or Linux, as it is Windows only
- Pricey if you use it at work, at $92.95 per computer, one for each machine
- Watch out: yearly maintenance with updates and priority support is an add-on from $29.95
- Watch out: any business, company or government use needs a commercial licence on every computer
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
| 2.4GPABulk Rename UtilityFair | 2.4GPAXYplorerFair | |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | BFree for home use, $24.95 once for a Home or Academic licence, but $92.95 per computer for business, against a utilities one-time middle of $21.99. | 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 of charge for personal, private use at home; business use needs a licence. | CA 30-day trial, fully working with minor limits. No card is mentioned. After it you need a licence. |
| Features | BRule-based renaming, previews, photo and media metadata, folders and timestamps; the listing names no gap in the core job. | BTabs, dual pane, scripting, search, preview and a portable build. Nothing in the listing is missing from the job. |
| Ease of use | CNo store rating on record. Many rename rules have to be learned before the preview looks right. | CNo rating on record. Scripting, custom columns and tab sets suggest a learning curve. |
| Platforms and integrations | DWindows only, with no Mac or Linux version. | DWindows only, with a 64-bit build and a 32-bit one still offered. No Mac, Linux or phone version. |
| Best for | renaming many files at once on Windows | 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: Bulk Rename Utility and XYplorer. How we grade
Where they differ
- XYplorer can be bought with a one-time purchase.
At a glance
| Bulk Rename Utility | XYplorer | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free plan | Free trial |
| Starts at | $24.95 per user for a Home / Academic license, $92.95 for a commercial license | $34.95 per user, one-time, with 1 year of free upgrades |
| Free plan | Free of charge for personal, private use at home. | None |
| Free trial | None listed | 30-day free trial, fully functional with minor limitations |
| Windows | ||
| Made by | TGRMN Software | Cologne Code Company |
| Price read from | bulkrenameutility.co.uk | xyplorer.com |
| Checked | Nov 12, 2026 | Nov 12, 2026 |
Worth knowing
Bulk Rename Utility
- Runs on Windows only, with no Mac or Linux version.
- Business and commercial use needs a paid license for each computer where it is installed.
- Yearly maintenance with updates and priority support is an add-on, starting at $29.95 for one item.
- The vendor's prices can be shown in other currencies at checkout; the figures here are the US dollar ones.
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
Bulk Rename Utility
- Flexible renaming rules
- Adds, replaces and inserts text, converts case, adds auto-numbers and removes or changes extensions.
- Preview before renaming
- Shows a detailed preview of the new names before any file is changed.
- Photo and media metadata
- Renames photos from EXIF data, MP3s from ID3 tags and other files from Windows file properties.
- Folders and sub-folders
- Processes whole folders and their sub-folders, not just a single list of files.
- Timestamp changes
- Changes files' creation and modification times.
- JavaScript renaming
- Scripted renaming is unlocked by a home/academic or commercial license.
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
Bulk Rename Utility
Home use$0
Free for personal, private use at home; a business, company or commercial use needs a commercial license.
Home / Academic license$24.95
per user, one-time
Unlocks all features, including JavaScript renaming, for home or school and university use. $22.95 each for 2 to 5 users and $19.95 each for 6 or more.
Commercial license$92.95
per computer, one-time
Required for each computer in a business, company, government or commercial use. $63.95 each for 2 to 5 computers and $49.95 each for 6 or more.
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
Bulk Rename Utility
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, Bulk Rename Utility or XYplorer?
As of Nov 12, 2026, Bulk Rename Utility starts at $24.95 per user for a Home / Academic license, $92.95 for a commercial license, and XYplorer starts at $34.95 per user, one-time, with 1 year of free upgrades.
Which has a free plan, Bulk Rename Utility or XYplorer?
As of Nov 12, 2026, only Bulk Rename Utility has a free plan. XYplorer does not, though it has a free trial.
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.