There are all sorts of ways that having GPS information embedded into your photos’ metadata can be useful — from visualizing and sharing your grand adventure on a map to sorting photos geographically or using the data as a reference for entering location keywords and captions. To make it happen, you generally need two pieces: your collection of photos and a tracklog of GPS coordinates.
While some modern cameras have GPS receivers built-in to embed this data automatically, the majority of cameras still lack this feature to save on battery life. In that case, you’ll likely use a standalone GPS receiver or a smartphone app to create a GPS tracklog.
Once you have that tracklog, you need a way to “marry” the coordinates to your images. These geotagging programs rely on timestamps as the reference point to sync the two. While not technically required, it makes life much easier to ensure your camera’s internal clock is set correctly before you start shooting.
Note on Formats: The most widely compatible file format for GPS tracklogs is .GPX. If you have the option, always use that. NMEA is a distant second in compatibility, though some of the software below supports it as well.
1. Adobe Lightroom Classic
I’ve put Lightroom first not because it’s the absolute most powerful tool for geotagging, but because there’s a high probability you’re already using it for your organization and editing workflow.
Lightroom Classic features a dedicated Map Module that is excellent for visualizing routes and sorting photos geographically. It offers useful reverse-geocoding (filling in city/state names based on coordinates) and allows for manual geocoding by simply dragging thumbnails onto the map.
How to use it: In the Map module, go to Map > Tracklog > Load Tracklog. Once loaded, you can specify a time offset to compensate if your camera’s clock was set to a different timezone than the local one. Finally, use Map > Tracklog > Auto-Tag Photos to correlate the data. If you want even more power (like altitude data or “fuzziness” between points), I highly recommend Jeffrey Friedl’s Geoencoding Support plugin.
2. Photo Mechanic
Photo Mechanic is the gold standard for speed and efficiency, especially for sports and news photographers. It also happens to have very capable geotagging features baked in.
To import a log, go to File > Import GPS Coordinates. You can import multiple GPX files individually into the log panel. The interface allows you to move through the track on a map and apply timezone offsets to ensure your EXIF timestamps align with the GPX data. For manual fine-tuning, you can select thumbnails and go to Image > Set GPS Coordinates to manually drop pins or input specific numbers.
3. HoudahGeo (Mac only)
If you’re on a Mac and serious about geotagging, HoudahGeo is the “pro” choice. It is incredibly powerful and, in my opinion, the most intuitive dedicated tool on the market. It supports an unusually large number of formats beyond GPX, including NMEA, LOG, CSV, and even Tesla tracklogs.
The workflow is a simple three-step process: Load, Process, and Output. It can write tags directly to EXIF/XMP, access Lightroom catalogs, and even publish geocoded photos directly to Flickr or Google Earth. It’s worth every penny for heavy users.
4. gpicsync (open source)
Gpicsync is a free, open-source option available for Windows, Mac, and Linux. It’s a utilitarian tool that relies on Google Earth and ExifTool to function. You simply specify your photo folder, your GPX file, and your time offset. It’s perfect for those who want a “no-frills” solution that just works. You can find the project hosted on GitHub here.
5. GeoSetter (Windows freeware)
For Windows users, GeoSetter has long been a favorite freeware program. It is extremely capable, though development has slowed in recent years. It remains a solid choice for Windows 10/11 users looking for a free, feature-rich interface. Check it out at geosetter.de.
6. Specialized Mac & mobile tools
- PhotoLinker: A Mac app with a clean interface and a “Pro” version available on the Mac App Store for heavy-duty mapping workflows.
- MAPic: A unique iOS app that lets you edit geotagging data for photos taken on your iPhone or photos imported from your DSLR. This is great for fixing location data before posting to Instagram.
Merging and editing GPX files
Sometimes your tracklog is messy or split across multiple files. For Mac users, I highly recommend Adze. It’s incredibly handy for merging GPX files from a trip that spanned multiple weeks into one clean track.
Other great utilities for managing and cleaning up your data include GPS Track Editor, GPX Editor, and EasyGPS (Windows only). Since GPX files are actually just plain text, you can even merge them manually using a text editor if you’re feeling adventurous!
