Immich: Open Source Alternative to Google Photos
Self-hosted photo and video backup — face recognition, AI search.
Immich is a self-hosted photo and video management solution with 102k+ GitHub stars — a Google Photos alternative with automatic backup and AI features.
Compare Immich with Apple Photos and Amazon Photos before you choose your stack.
Key features
Backup & sync
- Automatic background upload from iOS and Android
- Original quality with EXIF preservation
- Selective album and folder sync
- Wi-Fi only and battery-saving modes
AI-powered search
- Face recognition and clustering
- Object and scene detection
- Natural language search
- Smart albums by person or place
Sharing & viewing
- Shared albums with partner accounts
- Map view with GPS clustering
- Timeline with memory notifications
- Public share links with expiration
Immich vs Google Photos
| Immich | Google Photos | |
|---|---|---|
| License | AGPL-3.0 (open source) | Proprietary |
| Deployment | Self-hosted available | Cloud SaaS |
| Data control | Your infrastructure | Vendor infrastructure |
| Customization | Full source access | Limited to vendor features |
| Cost | Free open-source software | Subscription or usage fees |
Choose Immich if you want open-source code, self-hosting options, and full control over your data and deployment.
Choose Google Photos if you prefer a managed proprietary product with vendor support and minimal setup.
Browse more open-source alternatives to Google Photos, or explore other tools in Digital Asset Management.
At a glance
| License | AGPL-3.0 |
| Stack | TypeScript, Dart, Rust |
| Self-hosted | Yes |
| Cloud | N/A (self-host only) |
| Platforms | iOS, Android, Web |
Self-hosting
git clone https://github.com/immich-app/immich.git
cd immich/docker
cp .env.example .env
docker compose up -d
Includes ML workers for face recognition and object detection.
FAQ
Is Immich a free alternative to Google Photos?
Yes. Immich is open source under AGPL-3.0. You can self-host it at no software cost — you only pay for infrastructure or optional managed services.
How does Immich compare to Google Photos?
Immich gives you source code access, self-hosting, and data ownership. Google Photos is a proprietary product focused on managed convenience. See the comparison table above for a side-by-side breakdown.
Can I self-host Immich?
Yes. Immich supports self-hosted deployment, which is a core reason teams choose it over Google Photos. Check the Getting started or Self-hosting section for install commands.
Is Immich suitable for production?
Immich is actively maintained with a strong open-source community. Many teams run it in production as a Digital Asset Management alternative to Google Photos. Review the At a glance table for license and stack details.
What are alternatives to Immich and Google Photos?
Browse alternatives to Google Photos for more open-source options, including tools compared to Apple Photos. Explore the full Digital Asset Management category for related projects.
Screenshots
