Renamer vs XYplorer (2026): which should you pick?
As of Nov 13, 2026, XYplorer grades higher than Renamer: 2.4 against 2.2 out of 4.0.
Checked Nov 12, 2026 and Nov 13, 2026 · graded Nov 12, 2026 and Nov 13, 2026 by ToolGPA
Renamer grades higher on platforms. XYplorer grades higher on the free plan. 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.
Renamer
Batch file renamer for macOS and Windows with reusable workflows
XYplorer
Portable tabbed file manager for Windows with scripting
Which one is for you
Pick Renamer if
- Fits if you repeat the same renaming jobs and want to save them as workflows
- Works for photo and music libraries named from tags
Look elsewhere if
- Skip it if you want to try before buying, as the pages we read state no trial
- Not for you if your Mac is older than macOS 15, because Renamer 7 won't run
- Pricey if you're upgrading: it needs a valid licence for the previous version
- Watch out: the $26 price comes from the page's structured data, not its visible text
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
| 2.2GPARenamerFair | 2.4GPAXYplorerFair | |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | A$26 one-time for Renamer 7, 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 | FThe pages we read show no free plan and no trial. | CA 30-day trial, fully working with minor limits. No card is mentioned. After it you need a licence. |
| Features | BReusable workflows, chains, live preview, Smart Undo, photo and music tags and a local AI Assist. 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 | CWorkflows and chains have to be built before the power is there. No store rating is on record. | CNo rating on record. Scripting, custom columns and tab sets suggest a learning curve. |
| Platforms and integrations | CMac and Windows, computers only. Renamer 7 needs macOS 15 or later or Windows 10. | DWindows only, with a 64-bit build and a 32-bit one still offered. No Mac, Linux or phone version. |
| Best for | reusable rename workflows on Mac and 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: Renamer and XYplorer. How we grade
Where they differ
- Renamer also covers workflow automation.
At a glance
| Renamer | XYplorer | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Paid | Free trial |
| Starts at | $26 one-time, Renamer 7 license | $34.95 per user, one-time, with 1 year of free upgrades |
| Free plan | None | None |
| Free trial | None listed | 30-day free trial, fully functional with minor limitations |
| macOS | ||
| Windows | ||
| Made by | Mapache Softworks GmbH | Cologne Code Company |
| Price read from | renamer.com | xyplorer.com |
| Checked | Nov 13, 2026 | Nov 12, 2026 |
Worth knowing
Renamer
- Renamer 7 needs macOS 15 or later, or Windows 10 or later; Renamer 6 does not work on macOS Tahoe.
- Upgrading from older versions needs a valid license for the previous version.
- The $26 price comes from the vendor page's structured data, as the buy step does not show it in page text.
- The pages we read do not state whether the download works as a trial before buying.
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
Renamer
- Reusable workflows
- Save any setup as a Renamerlet and start from dozens of built-in workflows for common renaming jobs.
- Chains for complex jobs
- Assemble several rules into a chain to handle renames that a single find-and-replace cannot.
- Live preview and Smart Undo
- See how each file will be renamed before applying, and undo with a file backup if a result is wrong.
- Photo and music tags
- Add EXIF dates and GPS tags to photo names, and insert artist, album, title and track numbers from ID3 tags.
- AI Assist on your computer
- Suggests rename rules from a prompt using a local model of about 1.8 GB, downloaded once on opt-in; nothing is sent to a cloud service.
- Rule library
- Number files, find and replace, change case, use regular expressions, insert or remove text by position, and rename from a CSV file.
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
Renamer
Renamer 7$26
one-time, per license
License for Renamer 7 on macOS and Windows, AI Assist included. Upgrade discounts apply to owners of Renamer 6 or earlier.
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
Renamer
- Other savings
Upgrade discount for Renamer 6 owners
Owners of a Renamer 6 license can upgrade to Renamer 7 for a discount, per the support page.
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, Renamer or XYplorer?
As of Nov 13, 2026, Renamer starts at $26 one-time, Renamer 7 license, and XYplorer starts at $34.95 per user, one-time, with 1 year of free upgrades.
Which has a free plan, Renamer or XYplorer?
As of Nov 13, 2026, neither Renamer nor XYplorer has a free plan. XYplorer has a free trial.
Which platforms do Renamer and XYplorer run on?
As of Nov 13, 2026, only 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.