PHOTO STORAGE

Private alternatives to Google Photos

The strongest self-hosted alternative in our current coverage is Immich. The real decision is not “which interface looks better?” but whether you want to operate the storage and backup infrastructure yourself.

Google Photos keeps operations simple

A standard Google Account currently includes up to 15 GB shared between Gmail, Drive and Photos, with larger storage available through Google One. Google operates the service, storage infrastructure and application updates.

Immich gives you storage control

Immich runs on infrastructure you choose. You control the disks, server, backup destinations and upgrade timing. That can be attractive for large libraries or households that specifically want local ownership of the photo system.

Self-hosting does not remove cloud use automatically

You may still choose an encrypted cloud backup for disaster recovery. Keeping an off-site copy can be a sensible complement to a self-hosted primary library.

The cost model changes

Google One is a subscription. Immich is open-source software, but the real cost includes disks, backup copies, electricity, replacement hardware and your maintenance time.