A free Photo Mechanic alternative that lives in your browser

Photo Mechanic earned its reputation with one idea: never decode RAW sensor data while browsing; show the JPEG preview the camera already rendered. That idea is why it feels instant, and it is also why it costs real money as a desktop install.

OnlineCull applies the same idea in the browser. It parses CR2, CR3, NEF, ARW, RAF, DNG, ORF and RW2 containers locally, extracts the embedded previews on background threads, and gives you a keyboard-first culling workflow: arrows, stars, P and X, 1:1 zoom, EXIF, histogram, filters, XMP export. Free, unlimited, nothing installed, nothing uploaded.

Honest scope note: Photo Mechanic remains deeper for wire-service work: IPTC captioning, code replacements, tethering, FTP delivery. If you need those, buy it. If you need the part most photographers use it for, fast culling into Lightroom, OnlineCull covers that for free.

or drop files here|

Free. No upload: files are read on your device and never sent anywhere.

How it works

  1. 01

    Open a folder instead of installing an app

    No download, no license. Chrome or Edge recommended for the full experience, including writing XMP sidecars in place.

  2. 02

    Cull with the keys you already know

    Arrow keys to move, 1 to 5 for stars, P and X for picks and rejects, Z for 1:1. The grid keeps up with thousands of frames.

  3. 03

    Hand off like Photo Mechanic does

    XMP sidecars next to the RAWs mean your stars and color labels appear in Lightroom, Bridge and Capture One on import.

FAQ

Is OnlineCull as fast as Photo Mechanic?
For browsing and rating, it plays the same trick: embedded JPEG previews, never sensor decoding. Extraction runs at milliseconds per file on background threads. Photo Mechanic still wins on tasks beyond culling, like captioning and delivery.
Does it do IPTC captions, tethering or FTP?
No. OnlineCull is deliberately a culling and viewing tool. That focus is what keeps it free and simple.
Photo Mechanic costs $139 to $229. What is the catch here?
No catch today: culling is free and uncapped. If OnlineCull ever adds paid features they will be extras (batch tools, AI assists), not a cap on what is free now.
Can it replace FastRawViewer or Adobe Bridge?
For keyboard culling into Lightroom, yes, with less setup. FastRawViewer uniquely shows RAW-based histograms rather than preview-based ones; if you expose strictly by RAW histogram, keep it in your kit.