Immich
Google Photos, but on your server. Face recognition, smart search, mobile app. All self-hosted.
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.
Strengths
- Closest self-hosted alternative to Google Photos
- Face recognition, smart search, timeline view
- Active development with frequent updates
- Mobile app with auto-backup
Limitations
- 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
Compared to alternatives
Immich is the most complete self-hosted photo solution (face recognition, search). Ente Photos is an encrypted cloud alternative without a server. Stingle is more basic but fully encrypted.