Photos alternatives for macbook (don't get angry yet, I know this is endlessly discussed online)

I have specific needs and have found Photos very frustrating and non intuitive to work with. As an example, I just wanted to compare two different photos, and was unable to open them both. Another example, it took me forever to figure out how to get my sidebar back when not in full screen.

Anyway, I am looking for (preferably) free alternatives to Apple Photos, but when I do searches, I must not be wording them well, because I can't refine my search to get what I want:

I do NOT use icloud. I store everything on my laptop or on hard drives.

I don't do any editing other than basic cropping or resizing for emails.

I don't store photos on my phone, I transfer them to my laptop and delete them from my phone.

I would love to be able to find and delete duplicates that have accumulated over the many years.

I want to be able to look through my photos and enjoy them, email them occasionally, put them into albums, change the names of photos.

Does this exist? I feel like Photos just kind of sucks and there must be better options. Or maybe I just need to learn how to use Photos better? I would appreciate advice on any of this. Thanks.