Best video metadata editors for Mac: quick picks

Before we begin

Why listen to us?

Softorino builds media-transfer software, so file compatibility and destination behavior are central to our work. MacRumors covered the original WALTR in 2014. Josh Brown discussed its development and metadata features in a 2024 interview with TheSweetBits.

That history informs the questions here; it does not prove competitor performance. Vendor disclosure: Softorino makes WALTR PRO. This comparison uses vendor documentation and storefronts reviewed on November 9, 2026, not hands-on app or device tests.

Full comparison table

Prices are USD where shown. Sources were reviewed November 9, 2026. Storefronts, tax and subscription terms can change. The named pricing sections below distinguish trial access, monthly billing and annual offers.

How we evaluated

We compared documented file support, movie versus TV fields, lookup and artwork, saved outputs, automation and licensing. The question was whether a tool fits a stated job, not which vendor owns it. We did not measure lookup accuracy, speed, video quality or compatibility on a test Mac.

Scope: This guide covers movie and TV library tags. It is not a guide to GPS removal, camera capture dates, photo EXIF or professional editing-project assets. For audio albums, use our separate comparison of music metadata editors.

Quick Takeaways

• Choose the file you need at the end: MP4/M4V, retained MKV or a video on an Apple device.

• Movie lookup and TV episode fields matter more here than audio album tagging.

• Metadata updates and conversion can have different effects on the original file.

• Test one backed-up video in your destination app before processing a library.

1. Subler: best first choice for MP4 tagging

Subler is the strongest starting point if you want movie or TV tags in MP4 files without paying for a conversion suite. Its official description is specific: a macOS app for muxing and tagging MP4 files. Muxing means packaging media tracks into a container; it is not a promise to convert every codec.

Subler key features

• iTunes-style metadata editing for MP4 files.
• Movie and TV lookup through TheMovieDB, TVDB and the iTunes Store.
• Video, audio, chapter and subtitle track handling.
• Supported MOV, MP4 and MKV tracks can be muxed into MP4.

Subler pros

• Free and open source, with a clear MP4 tagging focus.
• Movie and TV lookup belongs in the core workflow, rather than a separate transfer step.
• Track controls are useful when tags are only part of a file-cleanup job.

Subler cons

• MP4 output is not the same as editing a file that remains MKV.
• Track and container choices add decisions for beginners.
• Database lookup results still need review; the wrong release or episode can produce plausible but incorrect tags.

Subler pricing

Subler is free and open source. The official Subler site links its download and documents its main features. Check the current release requirements before installing on an older Mac.

Who Subler is best for

Choose Subler for an MP4 collection that needs correct titles, movie/TV categorization and richer metadata. For example, a TV episode saved with a generic filename needs the right show match, not just a new filename. Review the returned record before saving. Choose MKVToolNix instead if keeping the MKV container is nonnegotiable.

2. iFlicks: best for metadata plus repeatable processing

iFlicks fits a library where tagging and video processing belong in the same job. It can update metadata in compatible files or produce a processed output. Its Plus plan adds automation, making the settings more important than a simple promise to tag everything.

iFlicks key features

• Movie and TV metadata lookup with artwork.
• Metadata updates for compatible MP4/M4V files.
• Video processing and subtitle support.
• Plus adds watch folders, rules, custom presets and AppleScript automation.

iFlicks pros

• One workflow can cover metadata and files that need processing.
• Basic is available without paying for the Plus automation features.
• Rules can support recurring imports once the behavior is understood.

iFlicks cons

• A metadata-update job may change the existing file; it does not always create a second copy.
• Conversion and metadata presets have different output behavior.
• Optional source deletion can remove originals after processing. Do not enable it casually.

iFlicks pricing

The official subscription page lists Basic at $0.99 monthly or $9.49 yearly. Plus is $2.49 monthly or $18.49 yearly. It also lists a $34.99 versioned license covering 3.x updates. These are USD prices; VAT may apply. A free trial is available, and subscription purchases take place in the app.

Who iFlicks is best for

Choose iFlicks when you repeatedly prepare videos for an Apple-oriented library and need more than tag edits. Start with a copy, a named output folder and source deletion disabled. The vendor's original-file guidance warns that deletion can be direct when moving a source to Trash fails.

Keep your source safe: A successful conversion does not prove you can recover the original later. Inspect the preset, rules and cleanup settings before a batch. Our video converter comparison covers the broader conversion decision if that is your main task.

3. MetaMovie: best for a focused movie-poster workflow

MetaMovie is a narrower choice for adding movie information and cover art to MP4/M4V files. The developer describes a simple sequence: add movies, search, review the information and cover, then save. That focus can suit a movie collection better than a large automation tool.

MetaMovie key features

• Movie information such as actors, director, release date and overview.
• Movie-database search and cover selection.
• Editable information before saving tags to the files.
• MP4 and M4V support for movie libraries.

MetaMovie pros

• A focused movie-tagging job rather than a broad conversion suite.
• Poster choice and movie information are central to the workflow.
• The US Mac App Store displayed the app as Free during this review.

MetaMovie cons

• MKV is explicitly unsupported.
• The developer warns that saving tags can sometimes damage the original movie. Its FAQ recommends Save as for initial files so the app tags a copy instead.
• The developer website uses older iTunes terminology and mentions historical services. Those mentions do not establish that every integration works today.
• We did not test current lookup results or artwork display in the Apple TV app.

MetaMovie pricing

The US MetaMovie listing displayed Free on November 9, 2026. It listed version 2.6.0, a universal build, and macOS 11 or later. Confirm the listing in your region rather than relying on an old review's price.

Who MetaMovie is best for

Choose MetaMovie when your files are already MP4/M4V and movie posters plus descriptive tags are the missing pieces. Follow the developer's FAQ advice to use Save as for your first files. For a TV-heavy library, Subler or iFlicks documents a clearer movie-and-TV lookup scope. For MKV, skip MetaMovie rather than assuming that a file-extension change will make it compatible.

4. MKVToolNix: best when the video must stay MKV

MKVToolNix belongs here because MP4-focused editors do not solve every video-metadata job. Its mkvpropedit tool can change properties in an existing Matroska file without a complete remux. This is the technical choice for retained MKV files, not our first recommendation for automatic posters and movie lookup.

MKVToolNix key features

• Edit a Matroska file's title and track-header properties.
• Set track names, language codes and default-track flags.
• Add or replace XML tags and chapters.
• Add, replace or remove attachments.

MKVToolNix pros

• Keeps the job within the MKV container.
• The official documentation describes exactly which properties can change.
• Useful when a wrong title or track language is the real problem.

MKVToolNix cons

• XML tags and command-line options require more care than movie search.
• Attachment support does not guarantee a given player will show a poster as expected.
• Current Mac packages have their own version and installation requirements.

MKVToolNix pricing

MKVToolNix is available as a free download. Its download page lists current Mac DMGs and other installation options. Modern DMGs require macOS 13 or later. The Homebrew command-line formula and GUI cask are different options; choose the package that matches how you intend to work.

Who MKVToolNix is best for

Choose MKVToolNix when you need to fix an MKV title, track language or tags without turning the file into MP4. Read the mkvpropedit documentation before applying changes. Work on a copy first: the documented operation writes changes to the existing file.

Container matters: Adding a poster, changing a filename and changing embedded metadata are separate actions. A tool may do one without doing all three. For the terminology behind those differences, see our guide to metadata schemas and media management.

5. WALTR PRO: best for the separate device-transfer step

WALTR PRO is relevant when the video is leaving your Mac for an iPhone or iPad. It combines transfer with media recognition and manual metadata editing. It is not our recommendation for editing a collection of files that will remain on the Mac.

WALTR PRO key features

• Computer-to-Apple-device file transfer on Mac and Windows.
• Automatic content recognition for supported media.
• Manual metadata editing within the transfer workflow.
• Format handling as part of getting local media onto the device.

WALTR PRO pros

• Metadata and transfer belong to one workflow when the device is the destination.
• Useful for readers who would otherwise use a tag editor and then solve transfer separately.
• An official trial lets you check your own file and destination before subscribing.

WALTR PRO cons

• No claim here that it edits the original Mac video file in place.
• A subscription is hard to justify if you only need occasional local tag edits.
• Recognition is not proof that every title, poster or custom field will arrive exactly as intended.

WALTR PRO pricing

The Universal License page displayed a $0.99 first-day offer followed by $3.46 per week billed annually. That is an annual-billing subscription offer, not weekly billing or a one-time WALTR purchase. The subscription renews automatically. Check the full annual total and renewal terms before paying; trial access is separate from the paid introductory offer.

Who WALTR PRO is best for

Choose WALTR PRO when your goal is video on an iPhone or iPad and metadata is part of that transfer. Choose Subler or MetaMovie for local MP4 tagging, iFlicks for a processing workflow, or MKVToolNix for retained MKV files. Ownership does not change those recommendations.

How to choose

Choose by output: If the finished file should be MP4 with movie or TV details, start with Subler. If you want a focused movie-poster workflow, compare MetaMovie on a sample. If files need processing and recurring imports, evaluate iFlicks and its paid automation tier.

Keep MKV when required: If another player or archive needs the original Matroska container, use MKVToolNix rather than choosing an MP4 editor just because it accepts MKV input. Import support and output support are different claims.

Separate transfer from editing: If the result you need is a video on an iPhone or iPad, download WALTR PRO and test that path. Do not buy transfer software solely to rename a local movie. For a different destination, our guide to adding movies to an Apple TV library covers the library workflow.

A safe first-file check

1. Make a backup of a video you have permission to edit. Keep it outside any automated cleanup folder.
2. Choose the intended output: MP4/M4V, retained MKV or a file transferred to a device.
3. Review the matched movie or episode, year, title and artwork. Correct a wrong match before saving.
4. Confirm whether the tool will edit the existing file, create output or transfer it. Leave optional source deletion off. In MetaMovie, use Save as to tag a new copy for your first files.
5. Open the result in the actual player or library. Check picture, sound, subtitles, tags and poster display before processing more files.

Use only media you own or have permission to edit and transfer. This guide does not recommend bypassing DRM. Movie-database lookup can involve online services; consult the tool's privacy information if filenames or library details are sensitive.

FAQ

Bottom line

Start with Subler for MP4 movie and TV tags. Choose iFlicks for processing, MetaMovie for a focused movie-poster workflow, and MKVToolNix for files that must stay MKV. Use WALTR PRO when transferring the video to an Apple device is the job. A successful sample in your real destination is a better buying test than a long feature list.