Immich
IntermediateImmich is a solid Google Photos alternative. Google Photos, but on your server. Face recognition, smart search, mobile app. All self-hosted.
Information verified on July 22, 2026
Description
Immich reached stable release (v2.0) in October 2025 after four years of development and 271 updates. It's the most polished self-hosted alternative to Google Photos. Face recognition, content search, album sharing, performant mobile app. Runs on Docker, compatible with most NAS devices. Semantic versioning now guarantees compatibility between mobile app and server versions.
My take
If I had to do it again, I would start with Immich right away. I lost months on a less capable solution before installing it: thirty minutes of Docker, one night of indexing. The full story is in chapter 8.
Key features
- Google Photos-like interface
- Local AI face recognition
- Automatic mobile upload
- Shared albums
- Docker-compatible
- Active development
Strengths
- + Modern interface
- + Full control over where your data is stored
- + Very well suited to a NAS setup
Weaknesses
- − Requires a server or NAS to run
- − Still in active development, some features may change
Recommended for
- Self-hosters wanting the Google Photos experience at home
- Users with a NAS or home server
Immich vs Google Photos: the comparison
| Criterion | Immich | Google Photos |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free open source software; requires a server or NAS for hosting. | 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 | Complex (4/5) | — |
Comparison
Immich is the most complete self-hosted photo solution: face recognition, content search. It needs a server and Docker. If those words mean nothing to you, Ente does the same job with no server to run.
This topic is chapter 8 of my book
It answers these questions, among others:
- in what order do you migrate twenty years of photos without losing a single one?
- what do you do about the dates and duplicates the export damages?
- and how long does it really take, once you get started?
Forthcoming 22/10/2026 from Éditions Eyrolles
Frequently asked questions
How much does Immich cost?
Free open source software; requires a server or NAS for hosting.
How do you switch from Google Photos to Immich?
Estimated difficulty: Complex (4/5). Docker installation required. Needs server or NAS. Network configuration for remote access. Reserved for technical users.
Who is Immich for?
Technical users wanting to self-host their photos. An alternative to Google Photos, with AI face recognition.
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