Exif Eraser Alternatives: Photo Metadata Removers for Android
Exif Eraser by Tommy-Geenexus has earned its place on many privacy-focused phones. It is open source, asks for no special permissions and does one thing: save a copy of your image without the ICC profile, EXIF and XMP blocks (plus Photoshop Image Resources for JPEG). There are no ads and no in-app purchases.
That narrow focus is also why people look for an Exif Eraser alternative. The most common reasons:
- Format coverage. Exif Eraser handles JPEG, PNG and WebP. Phones increasingly save HEIC, and videos carry location data too.
- Batch work. Cleaning a whole folder before uploading an album is tedious one image at a time.
- Selective removal. Sometimes you want to keep camera settings or copyright and drop only GPS.
- Seeing the data. A viewer lets you check what was in the file and confirm it is gone.
- Maintenance pace. The developer describes the project as being in maintenance mode, so new features are unlikely.
If you previously compared share-menu cleaners, our Scrambled Exif alternatives guide covers that workflow. This post focuses on apps that can take over from Exif Eraser.
What to look for in a metadata remover
- Supported files. JPEG is the baseline. Check HEIC, PNG, WebP and video if you shoot or share them.
- Full wipe vs. selective cleaning. A one-tap wipe is safest for strangers; per-tag or per-category control is better when you share with clients or editors.
- Batch and folder support. Useful before marketplace listings or album uploads.
- Copy or overwrite. Most people prefer a cleaned copy and an untouched original.
- Verification. A built-in viewer or report confirms the result.
- Privacy model. On-device processing, permissions requested, ads and analytics.
New to the topic? Start with what EXIF data is and how to remove it on Android.
Comparison at a glance
| App | Developer | Photos | Video | Selective removal | Batch | Model |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Exif Eraser | Tommy-Geenexus | JPEG, PNG, WebP | No | No | Not listed | Free, open source, no ads |
| ExifTool for Android | CellHubs | JPG, HEIC, WEBP, RAW, PSD | MP4, AVI, MKV, MOV | Yes (per tag) | Yes | Free, ad-supported |
| Photo Metadata Remover | Syrupy | Photos (Exif, optional IPTC) | Not listed | IPTC optional | Yes (folder) | Free, ads and in-app purchases |
| EXIF Remove | jakobkreft | JPEG, PNG, WebP; HEIC/AVIF to JPEG | MP4, MOV, 3GP | Yes (templates) | Not listed | Free, open source, no ads |
| MetaClean | RoMobileApps | JPEG, PNG, WebP, HEIC | MP4, MOV | Not listed | Yes | Check listing |
“Not listed” means the feature is not mentioned in the app’s official listing at the time of writing, not that it is impossible.
The options in detail
Exif Eraser (the app you are replacing)
Exif Eraser is permissionless and minimal. Pick an image, and it saves a version without ICC profile, EXIF and XMP data. Its source is published under the MIT license.
Pros: no ads, no special permissions, very simple. Cons: images only (JPEG, PNG, WebP), no selective removal, and new features are unlikely while the project is in maintenance mode.
ExifTool for Android
ExifTool for Android is our app, built on Phil Harvey’s ExifTool. Where Exif Eraser hides the details, ExifTool shows you every tag first, then lets you decide what to remove.
- Wipe EXIF, XMP and GPS data in one tap, or delete only the fields you choose
- Batch-edit or batch-delete metadata across many photos or videos
- Read EXIF, GPS, IPTC, XMP, JFIF, MakerNotes, ICC Profile, ID3 and more
- Images (JPG, HEIC, WEBP, RAW, PSD), videos (MP4, AVI, MKV, MOV) and audio (MP3, FLAC, OGG)
- Fix capture dates or change a geotag instead of deleting it
- Export metadata to CSV
Files are processed on your device and the app works offline.
Pros: the widest file coverage here, selective removal and editing in one app. Cons: ad-supported; reviewing tags takes longer than a blind wipe.
Photo Metadata Remover (Syrupy)
Photo Metadata Remover is a close match for people who liked Exif Eraser’s simplicity but want batch work. Its listing describes removing Exif data and optionally IPTC data, batch-processing photos inside a folder, and choosing between creating metadata-free copies or cleaning the originals. The developer stresses no bloat and no unnecessary permissions.
Pros: simple, folder batch processing, copy or overwrite choice. Cons: photos only according to its listing; contains ads and in-app purchases.
EXIF Remove (jakobkreft)
EXIF Remove is the most detailed open-source option. Templates decide what happens to location and date (keep, remove or randomize) and to camera, software and author information (keep or remove). JPEG, PNG and WebP are cleaned without re-encoding, HEIC and AVIF are converted to clean JPEGs, and MP4, MOV and 3GP videos are cleaned in place. After each clean it shows a report, and its listing states that the app does not request internet access.
Pros: selective and randomized cleaning, video support, per-file report, no ads. Cons: no general tag editor; HEIC files become JPEGs.
MetaClean (RoMobileApps)
MetaClean goes beyond images. Its listing covers JPEG, PNG, WebP and HEIC photos, MP4 and MOV videos, and document properties in PDF and Office files. It shows what is inside first, including the GPS point on a map, then gives you a clean copy, with batch cleaning and on-device processing.
Pros: handles documents as well as media, clear before-and-after view. Cons: pricing details are not spelled out in the parts of the listing we reviewed, so check the Play listing.
Which one should you choose?
- You want Exif Eraser’s simplicity plus folder batches: Photo Metadata Remover.
- You want open source with fine control and video support: EXIF Remove.
- You also share PDFs or Office files: MetaClean.
- You want to see every tag, keep some, edit dates or locations, and clean photos, videos and audio in one app: ExifTool for Android.
If your next question is how to inspect metadata without removing it, see our roundup of the best EXIF viewer apps for Android. And if you want to correct a location rather than delete it, read GPS geotag editor apps for Android.
Summary
Exif Eraser remains a clean, honest tool for JPEG, PNG and WebP. When you need HEIC, video, batches or selective removal, Photo Metadata Remover, EXIF Remove and MetaClean each fill a gap, and ExifTool for Android combines viewing, editing and wiping across photos, videos and audio for free. Whatever you pick, open one cleaned file in a viewer to confirm the location is really gone.
Exif Eraser, Photo Metadata Remover, EXIF Remove, MetaClean and other product names are trademarks of their respective owners; CellHubs is not affiliated with or endorsed by them.
FAQ
Why would I replace Exif Eraser?
Exif Eraser is a solid, minimal cleaner for JPEG, PNG and WebP. People usually switch when they need HEIC or video support, batch cleaning of a folder, or the option to keep some tags while removing only the location.
Which Exif Eraser alternative also cleans videos?
ExifTool for Android can edit or wipe metadata in MP4, MKV, MOV and AVI files. EXIF Remove cleans MP4, MOV and 3GP, and MetaClean lists MP4 and MOV support.
Does removing EXIF data reduce photo quality?
Not when the tool only rewrites the metadata. Several cleaners, such as EXIF Remove, state that JPEG, PNG and WebP are cleaned without re-encoding the pixels. Converting formats, for example HEIC to JPEG, is a separate step that can change quality.
Quickly view, modify or remove EXIF, GPS, IPTC and XMP data from photos, video and audio on Android. Free and offline-capable.