Immich (on NAS)

Intermediate Recommended

Immich (on NAS) is one of the best Google Photos alternatives. Google Photos on your NAS. Face recognition, search, auto-backup from your phone.

Information verified on July 7, 2026

Free and open source. Requires a NAS or server. Migration difficulty : Moderate (3/5)

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Description

Immich installed directly on a Synology or Asustor NAS. Since the stable v2.0 release (October 2025), installation is reliable and semantic versioning simplifies updates. Your photos stay at home, with face recognition, smart search and mobile apps for the whole family.

Key features

Face recognition
Auto mobile backup
Timeline & albums
Object search
Docker on NAS

Strengths

+ Modern interface close to Google Photos
+ Face recognition and object search
+ Mobile apps with automatic backup
+ Very active development

Weaknesses

− Resource-hungry (RAM, CPU) for AI

Recommended for

Quit Google Photos while keeping the comfort
Store photos locally on a NAS

Immich (on NAS) vs Google Photos: the comparison

Comparison between Immich (on NAS) and Google Photos
Criterion	Immich (on NAS)	Google Photos
Price	Free and open source. Requires a NAS or server.	Free up to 15 GB, then Google One subscription
Targeted ads on your data	No	Yes (Google ad profile)
Source code	Open (auditable)	Proprietary
Migration difficulty	Moderate (3/5)	—

Comparison

Immich replicates the Google Photos experience on your NAS. It's the most complete self-hosted photo solution. Ente Photos is an encrypted cloud alternative without self-hosting.