Quick picks
- Remove AI labels and C2PA before you post: PrivyClean (Clean Slate also says it removes some AI-related tags).
- Edit dates and places, photographer workflows: Metapho or Exif Metadata.
- See everything, including whether an image came from an AI tool: Photo Investigator.
- Strip GPS from one photo for free: LudyExif, or iPhone's own share sheet (Options › Location off).
- PDFs, Word, Excel and PowerPoint too: PrivyClean.
Side by side
| App | Best for | AI labels & C2PA | Videos | Edits metadata | Pricing model | US ratings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PrivyClean | AI labels, documents | Removes C2PA and AI tags | Yes | No, removes only | $9.99 one-time; 3 free cleans within 48 hours | 4.4 (13) |
| Metapho | Photographers; dates and places | Not mentioned | Yes | Yes | Subscription or one-time unlock, shared across iPhone, iPad and Mac | 4.6 (2,092) |
| Exif Metadata | Quick view, edit and remove; location | Not mentioned | Not mentioned | Yes | Free; Pro by yearly subscription or one-time | 4.6 (6,076) |
| Photo Investigator | Deepest viewer; AI signal check | Detects; removing the manifest itself isn't stated | Shows video metadata | Yes | Viewing free; editing and removing is a one-time purchase | 4.4 (1,450) |
| Clean Slate | Simple photo and video cleaning | Removes "some embedded AI-related labels" | Yes | No | 5 free cleans a month; Pro | New, none yet |
| LudyExif | Privacy risk score; free GPS strip | Not mentioned | No (photos, Live Photos) | Yes | Free GPS strip; one-time Pro | 3.5 (2) |
| EXIF+ Viewer | Viewing and editing photo fields | Not mentioned | No (photos only) | Yes | Free; Premium for batches and sharing | New, none yet |
The apps, one by one
PrivyClean
Built for what the others mostly skip: the C2PA content credentials and XMP AI tags that make Instagram, TikTok and LinkedIn label a post, alongside GPS, camera and author details. It shows what a file carries before cleaning, works offline, cleans batches, runs from the share sheet, and also cleans PDFs and Word, Excel and PowerPoint files. It does not edit metadata (no changing dates or pins): if that is what you need, pick Metapho or Exif Metadata. One-time purchase, no subscription. PrivyClean on the App Store.
Metapho
The photographer's choice: browse your library's metadata, see where and in which direction a photo was taken, edit dates and locations, and remove metadata in batches, including from files in the Files app and RAW formats. Its Safe Share extension strips location and personal data from the share sheet. One unlock covers iPhone, iPad and Mac.
Exif Metadata
The most-rated app in the category. View, edit or remove EXIF and location data, remove GPS on its own or everything at once, and bulk-edit with Pro. Its page says photos are processed on the device.
Photo Investigator
The deepest viewer on the list: every EXIF, IPTC and XMP field, plus a check for AI-generated images that reads C2PA content credentials and the XMP DigitalSourceType tag on the device. It can strip GPS, timestamps and device details; its page doesn't say whether that removes the C2PA manifest itself, so re-check a cleaned file if that is your goal.
Clean Slate
A newer, deliberately simple app: pick a photo or video, remove metadata, get a clean copy in Photos. It says it removes some AI-related labels left by editing tools. Five free cleans a month; Pro adds unlimited cleaning and batches of up to 10. It needs iOS 26.
LudyExif
Gives each photo a color-coded privacy risk score and lets you strip GPS from a single photo for free. A one-time Pro purchase adds batches, GPS editing, IPTC fields and timezone fixes. Photos and Live Photos; no video.
EXIF+ Viewer
A clear viewer and editor for photo fields (dates, GPS, camera, author) that saves a cleaned copy and keeps the original. Batches and sharing a stripped file need Premium. Photos only.
What no metadata app can do
- Remove invisible watermarks: they are in the pixels, not the metadata.
- Promise how a platform classifies an image: Instagram and others also run their own checks.
- Take a label off a post that is already live: delete it and upload the cleaned copy.
Removing metadata is for your privacy and for real photos that picked up an AI tag from an editing step. It doesn't change how an image was made; if it is AI-generated, platforms ask you to label it.
On a Mac
PrivyClean for Mac cleans photos, videos, PDFs and Office files in batches, and from a Finder right-click: PrivyClean on the Mac App Store. Metapho's unlock also covers its Mac app. For a free, open-source option on Windows, Linux or Mac, see PrivyClean vs ExifCleaner.
How we compared
The other apps are described from their own App Store pages, read on 1 November 2026; we haven't tested each one, and their prices and features change, so check the App Store before you buy. PrivyClean is described from the app as it ships. Related: remove location from photos, remove C2PA content credentials, check what a photo carries.
