2Dex Plain comparisons of image and design tools

Microsoft PowerToys alternatives in 2026

Compare Microsoft PowerToys with SageThumbs 2K, Icaros, QuickLook, Seer and XnView MP for file thumbnails and previews in Windows.

By 2Dex ·

2Dex is published by the makers of SageThumbs 2K, RēDesign and VectorMagik, which are compared here alongside other tools.

PowerToys includes over 30 utilities for customizing and optimizing Windows. [1]

OptionWhat it doesPlatforms stated
Microsoft PowerToysOver 30 utilities for customizing Windows [1]not published
SageThumbs 2KExplorer thumbnails for 363 file types [2]Windows 11, x64 and ARM64 [3]
IcarosExplorer thumbnails for FFmpeg video formats [4]Windows Vista to Windows 11 [5]
QuickLookSpace-bar previews [6]not published
SeerBuilt-in previews for many file kinds [7]not published
XnView MPViewer with batch convert [8]Windows, macOS, Linux [9]

Why designers look past Microsoft PowerToys

Its page says PowerToys includes over 30 utilities to customize and optimize Windows. [1] A designer who only needs one job done, such as seeing a picture of a file before opening it, may want a tool built around that single job.

It can be installed from the Microsoft Store or with a downloaded installer file. [10] It is licensed under the MIT license. [11]

Its page also says the application logs basic diagnostic data, called telemetry. [12]

The facts here do not list which file types PowerToys previews. Check whether it shows thumbnails for the files you work with, such as camera RAW or design files.

SageThumbs 2K: thumbnails and previews for design and camera files

SageThumbs 2K is made by the team that publishes this site. It adds File Explorer thumbnails for 363 file types that Windows can't render natively, including camera RAW, Photoshop PSD, HEIC/AVIF, and video. [2] It pulls an embedded preview directly out of design and CAD files such as Photoshop, Affinity, AutoCAD DWG, and CorelDRAW with no rendering needed. [13] Thumbnails also work in OneDrive and Synology Drive folders, and it never downloads online-only files just to draw a thumbnail. [14]

From the right-click menu you can convert images, resize them, rotate or flip them losslessly, and combine images into a PDF or CBZ. [15] It is free for personal, noncommercial use under the PolyForm Noncommercial License 1.0.0. [16] Commercial use needs a per-installation licence: US$2.99 a month, or US$49 once for a perpetual licence with 12 months of updates. [17] It runs on Windows 11, with separate installers for x64 and ARM64. [3]

Icaros: video thumbnails and properties in Explorer

Icaros can provide Windows Explorer thumbnails for essentially any video media format supported by FFmpeg. [4] Icaros can register filetypes supported by FFmpeg along with a number of other filetypes it supports natively. [18]

Icaros also provides Windows Explorer properties for many popular media filetypes. [19] Its shell extensions have no dependencies. [20] Its page also says the settings window, IcarosConfig, requires .NET Framework 4. [21] You can choose where it stores its thumbnails. [22] Thumbnailing and properties can be switched on or off. [23]

QuickLook: press Space to preview a file

With QuickLook you get instant file previews by pressing Space. [6] Its page describes it as bringing the macOS Quick Look feature to Windows. [24] It uses hardware-accelerated rendering. [25]

It previews JPEG, PNG, GIF, WebP and RAW images. [26] It previews MP4, AVI, MKV and MOV videos. [27] Its page lists images, videos, documents, code, 3D models, archives and fonts. [28]

The page quoted here does not say it adds thumbnails to Explorer folders, so check that if thumbnails in folders are what you need.

Seer: a file previewer with built-in format support

Seer has built-in preview support for PDFs, images, code, video, archives, Markdown, and plugins. [7] Its page says you can copy text and content directly from the preview without opening the original app. [29]

Check whether it previews the design and camera formats you use, because its page lists file kinds rather than formats. Check price and Explorer thumbnails on its own page too.

XnView MP: image viewer, manager and batch converter

XnView is a free image viewer, photo management, and image resizer software. [30] XnView MP's page lists batch renaming [31] and IPTC and XMP metadata editing. [32] It can export to about 70 different file formats. [33]

It can compare up to 4 images side by side. [34] It includes a duplicate file finder. [35] It supports Windows, macOS, and Linux. [9]

Its page frames it as an application for viewing and organizing images, so check whether it also fills Explorer folders with thumbnails.

How to pick the right Microsoft PowerToys alternative

If you want a broad set of Windows tweaks, PowerToys bundles over 30 utilities. [1] It can be installed from the Microsoft Store or with a downloaded installer file. [10]

If Explorer shows blank icons for camera RAW, PSD, HEIC/AVIF or video, SageThumbs 2K adds thumbnails for 363 types Windows can't render natively. [2] It also pulls an embedded preview directly out of design and CAD files such as Photoshop, Affinity, AutoCAD DWG, and CorelDRAW with no rendering needed. [13]

If your folders are mostly video, Icaros gives Explorer thumbnails for video formats FFmpeg supports. [4]

If you want to tap Space and look, QuickLook does that. [6] Seer also previews PDFs, images, code, video, archives and Markdown. [7]

If you want a full viewer that also resizes pictures, XnView MP is described that way. [30]

If you use the tool for paid work, check the licence. SageThumbs 2K business installs get a 7-day evaluation with every feature, after which thumbnails and previews stop until a licence key is entered. [36] Check the file types you use against each list before you install.

Frequently asked questions

What is Microsoft PowerToys?

PowerToys includes over 30 utilities to help you customize and optimize your Windows experience. [1] It is licensed under the MIT license. [11] Check its utility list to see whether the one you need is included, and whether it covers thumbnails for your file types.

Is SageThumbs 2K free?

It is free for personal, noncommercial use under the PolyForm Noncommercial License 1.0.0. [16] Commercial use needs a per-installation licence: US$2.99 a month, or US$49 once for a perpetual licence with 12 months of updates. [17] Business installs get a 7-day evaluation first. [36]

Which tool shows thumbnails for Photoshop and camera RAW files?

SageThumbs 2K adds File Explorer thumbnails for 363 file types that Windows can't render natively, including camera RAW, Photoshop PSD, HEIC/AVIF, and video. [2] Check its list against the formats you use before you switch from any other tool.

Is there a Space-bar preview tool for Windows?

QuickLook gives instant file previews when you press Space. [6] Seer is another previewer, with built-in support for PDFs, images, code, video, archives, Markdown, and plugins. [7] Check each page for the exact file types you need before you install one.

Which Windows versions does Icaros support?

Icaros works on Vista, Windows 7, Windows 8/8.1, Windows 10 and Windows 11. [5] Its page also says the settings window, IcarosConfig, requires .NET Framework 4. [21] Check that the download lists your Windows version and any other needs before you install it.

It is free for personal, noncommercial use under the PolyForm Noncommercial License 1.0.0. [16]

Try SageThumbs 2K

Sources

  1. Microsoft PowerToys, github.com/microsoft/PowerToys, read 2026-10-07
  2. SageThumbs 2K's own description of itself (the product of this site's publisher)
  3. SageThumbs 2K's own description of itself (the product of this site's publisher)
  4. Icaros, github.com/Xanashi/Icaros, read 2026-10-07
  5. Icaros, github.com/Xanashi/Icaros, read 2026-10-07
  6. QuickLook, github.com/QL-Win/QuickLook, read 2026-10-07
  7. Seer, 1218.io, read 2026-10-07
  8. XnView MP, xnview.com/en/xnviewmp, read 2026-10-07
  9. XnView MP, xnview.com/en/xnviewmp, read 2026-10-07
  10. Microsoft PowerToys, github.com/microsoft/PowerToys, read 2026-10-07
  11. Microsoft PowerToys, github.com/microsoft/PowerToys, read 2026-10-07
  12. Microsoft PowerToys, github.com/microsoft/PowerToys, read 2026-10-07
  13. SageThumbs 2K's own description of itself (the product of this site's publisher)
  14. SageThumbs 2K's own description of itself (the product of this site's publisher)
  15. SageThumbs 2K's own description of itself (the product of this site's publisher)
  16. SageThumbs 2K's own description of itself (the product of this site's publisher)
  17. SageThumbs 2K's own description of itself (the product of this site's publisher)
  18. Icaros, github.com/Xanashi/Icaros, read 2026-10-07
  19. Icaros, github.com/Xanashi/Icaros, read 2026-10-07
  20. Icaros, github.com/Xanashi/Icaros, read 2026-10-07
  21. Icaros, github.com/Xanashi/Icaros, read 2026-10-07
  22. Icaros, github.com/Xanashi/Icaros, read 2026-10-07
  23. Icaros, github.com/Xanashi/Icaros, read 2026-10-07
  24. QuickLook, github.com/QL-Win/QuickLook, read 2026-10-07
  25. QuickLook, github.com/QL-Win/QuickLook, read 2026-10-07
  26. QuickLook, github.com/QL-Win/QuickLook, read 2026-10-07
  27. QuickLook, github.com/QL-Win/QuickLook, read 2026-10-07
  28. QuickLook, github.com/QL-Win/QuickLook, read 2026-10-07
  29. Seer, 1218.io, read 2026-10-07
  30. XnView MP, xnview.com/en/xnviewmp, read 2026-10-07
  31. XnView MP, xnview.com/en/xnviewmp, read 2026-10-07
  32. XnView MP, xnview.com/en/xnviewmp, read 2026-10-07
  33. XnView MP, xnview.com/en/xnviewmp, read 2026-10-07
  34. XnView MP, xnview.com/en/xnviewmp, read 2026-10-07
  35. XnView MP, xnview.com/en/xnviewmp, read 2026-10-07
  36. SageThumbs 2K's own description of itself (the product of this site's publisher)

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