Open-source image viewers for Mac (2026): which one to pick

Preview only moves between files you opened together, so after you double-click one photo you can't page through the rest of the folder. The viewers below fix that and are all open source. Everything here was checked on 1 November 2026 against each project's site, GitHub releases and licenses; check the project pages for current versions.

The short list

Viewer	License	Good for
Flipic	MIT	Mac-only users who want the Windows-viewer feel: arrow keys through the folder, 0 to zoom to 100% at the pointer, ratings, marks and culling
PicView	GPL-3.0	People on both Mac and Windows; a long format list including camera RAW; brew install picview
FlowVision	GPL-3.0	Browsing a folder as a waterfall grid, with video; a native Swift app
qView	GPL-3.0	The most minimal option: just the image and a title bar, arrow keys to page
nomacs	GPL-3.0	People who already use it on Windows or Linux; feature-rich, RAW through LibRaw
Oculante	MIT (parts GPL)	Speed plus light editing; written in Rust
ImageGlass	GPL-3.0	Longtime Windows users; the Mac version just left beta, needs macOS 14 and Apple silicon, and Pro features are paid

Two to skip

Phew only opens FLIF files and its author says it is no longer maintained. The maintained fork of Sequential hasn't shipped a release since September 2024.

If open source isn't a requirement

XnView MP is free for private and educational use and handles 500+ formats, with strong batch and metadata tools. FastRawViewer ($23.99 for two computers) renders RAW data itself with histograms and focus peaking, which makes it the specialist for culling RAW files. Lyn ($29.99) is a polished paid browser with HDR and RAW support.

How to choose

• You just want to double-click a photo and arrow through the folder: Flipic, qView or PicView. Flipic is the closest to IrfanView or Honeyview in feel.
• You mostly cull RAW and need focus and histograms: FastRawViewer.
• You want one big tool that also organizes and converts: XnView MP.
• You like grids: FlowVision.

Disclosure: Flipic is made by the people behind this site. Viewing, ratings, marks, filtering and export are free and MIT-licensed; an optional paid Pro adds batch tools that most people won't need.

{shot('filmstrip.webp', 'Flipic thumbnail strip and arrow-key paging')}