Immich – A Self-Hosted Alternative to Google Photos

Digital Photo Software
January 30, 2025
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5 minutes read

Immich is a free and open-source application that allows users to host their own server for managing photos and videos. It is available for Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, and Android.

Features of Immich

Immich is based on the idea that users should have complete control over their data, in this case, their photos and videos. Media files are not stored on corporate servers but on the user’s own hardware, such as a desktop computer, NAS device, or server.

Immich offers an intuitive user interface that is easy to navigate. Its functionalities are similar to those of Google Photos. The Android and iOS apps act as clients and are optimized for the specifics of mobile platforms.

Immich automatically creates backups. Data is synchronized from mobile devices to a personal server. Data compression is supported, ensuring that media files take up less storage space without compromising quality.

Photos and videos are automatically organized into albums and sorted by creation date. Advanced algorithms enable facial recognition, object detection, and location tagging, allowing users to search by keywords like “skiing”, “school”, “car”, or “fishing”. The facial recognition feature can group photos of the same person.

Photos and albums can be shared with others via links. Access permissions for specific files can be individually defined. Multiple user accounts can be created on a single server, allowing each user to have their own media files.

User data is not shared with third parties, and there are no ads. While it is primarily an online tool, content can be downloaded for offline access. The amount of media storage is limited only by hardware resources, not by business policies or the cost of monthly cloud service subscriptions.

Use Cases for Immich

Immich is an application with great potential, especially considering the growing trend toward self-hosted solutions. As an open-source application, it benefits from an active user community contributing to its development. Immich can be installed on all major platforms, making it accessible from almost any device.

The main advantage of Immich compared to Google Photos and similar services is that users themselves decide where their files are stored and who can access them. There are no monthly subscriptions because users host their own servers instead of relying on cloud services. As an open-source application, it can be customized to meet individual needs. Immich is supported by an active community and receives regular updates.

Unlike well-known cloud platforms, installing and maintaining a server requires time and specific technical knowledge. For users without experience in setting up and maintaining servers, this could be a challenge. The application is under active development, and the developers recommend making a backup of all user files. The number of features is currently smaller than those of Google Photos, but it is steadily growing with each update.

The Immich server and desktop client are most easily installed via the Docker platform using a Docker Compose file. This brief review does not cover the installation process in detail, but it is well-documented on the official documentation page. The Download button links to the Android installation file, while the link for iOS is available HERE.

Immich is an application for those with some technical knowledge. It is used by individuals who prefer not to pay for hosting their media files. It is an ideal application for families and groups who store their photos and videos on the same server and for those who prioritize the privacy of their personal data. If you see yourself among the previously mentioned users, give Immich a try.

Platforms:
Windows, Linux, macOS, Android, and iOS