Immich is the project everyone in r/selfhosted points new arrivals to when they ask how to escape Google Photos. It is fast, the Android client is genuinely good, and the development pace is impressive. But it is not the only Google Photos replacement, and it is not always the right fit. Immich still labels itself in active development, the database schema changes between releases, and not everyone wants to run a Docker stack. These are the Immich alternatives worth knowing in 2026.
We focused on apps that ship a working Android backup client, handle EXIF and live photos, and either run on your own hardware or offer end-to-end encryption when they do not. The list spans full self-hosted stacks, NAS-bundled options, and a couple of commercial clouds that respect privacy more than Google does.
Quick comparison
| App | Best for | Storage | Encryption | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nextcloud | Generalist self-host | Your server | At rest, optional E2EE | Free |
| Synology Photos | Synology NAS owners | Your NAS | At rest | Bundled |
| Google Photos | Default convenience | Cloud | At rest | Free under 15 GB |
| Ente Photos | Hosted with E2EE | Cloud | End-to-end | Free 5 GB |
| Stingle Photos | E2EE without subscription | Cloud | End-to-end | Free 1 GB |
| OneDrive | Office bundle users | Cloud | At rest | Free 5 GB |
| Amazon Photos | Prime members | Cloud | At rest | Unlimited with Prime |
Why people leave Immich
The most common reason is that Immich is still pre-1.0. Schema migrations require care, the docs warn against complacency, and a botched update can require restoring from backup. Users who treat their photo archive as irreplaceable get nervous.
The second is hardware. Immich’s machine learning features (face detection, image classification) need a meaningful CPU or a GPU to run smoothly. A Raspberry Pi will run the basics but stalls on ML. Users on lighter hardware look for less demanding options.
The third is the no-encryption-at-rest trade-off. Immich stores files in their original format on disk, which is fine if your server is locked down but unappealing if you back up to a shared cloud volume or worry about a thief grabbing the drive.
The alternatives
Nextcloud — best generalist self-host
Nextcloud is the swiss-army knife of self-hosted storage, and its Photos app has matured into a serious Google Photos competitor. Auto-upload from the Android client, face recognition (via Recognize), and a clean timeline view all ship.
Where it falls short: Performance on a large photo library lags Immich considerably. The mobile client interface is busier because it handles files, calendar, contacts, and chat alongside photos.
Pricing: Free, open-source. Hosted plans available from Nextcloud GmbH and other providers.
Migrating from Immich: Export your library from Immich’s media folder, drop into Nextcloud’s photo directory, run a scan. Metadata stays intact.
Download: Aptoide · Google Play · F-Droid
Bottom line: Pick Nextcloud when you want one server doing photos plus files plus calendar, and you can live with slightly slower photo browsing.
Synology Photos — best for Synology NAS owners
Synology Photos runs on Synology DiskStation hardware and ships with face recognition, geolocation, and shared albums. The Android client is competent, and the integration with Synology Drive means photos sync alongside your documents without extra setup.
Where it falls short: Only useful if you own a Synology NAS. AI features require a model with enough CPU horsepower; older two-bay units feel cramped.
Pricing: Bundled with any compatible Synology NAS at no extra cost.
Migrating from Immich: Copy the library to a Synology shared folder and let Photos index. Tags and faces re-run from scratch.
Download: Aptoide · Google Play
Bottom line: Pick this when you already own a Synology box and want a no-extra-server option.
Google Photos — the default to leave (or stay on)
Google Photos still has the best search, the best automatic editing, and the strongest sharing flow. We include it because plenty of users move to Immich and then quietly fall back when they remember how good the search is.
Where it falls short: 15 GB free across all of Google. Paid storage gets expensive at multi-terabyte libraries. Your photos are training data unless you turn off relevant settings, and even then trust requires faith.
Pricing: Free up to 15 GB shared across Google. Google One plans scale from a few dollars a month.
Migrating from Immich: Use Google Takeout in reverse to upload. Tools like rclone push to Google Photos through the API.
Download: Aptoide · Google Play
Bottom line: Pick this only if convenience and feature parity matter more than privacy or storage cost.
Ente Photos — best hosted with end-to-end encryption
Ente Photos is what Immich would be if it were a paid hosted service with E2EE bolted on. Open-source clients, encrypted server-side, and a polished UI. The free tier is small but the paid plans are reasonable.
Where it falls short: Free 5 GB runs out quickly. Search is good but trails Google Photos. Some users miss the deeper editing tools other services offer.
Pricing: Free 5 GB. Paid plans start modestly per month for 50 GB and scale up.
Migrating from Immich: Upload via the Ente desktop app or CLI. EXIF metadata transfers cleanly.
Download: Google Play · F-Droid
Bottom line: Pick Ente when you do not want to host a server but you want true zero-knowledge encryption.
Stingle Photos — best E2EE without subscription pressure
Stingle Photos offers end-to-end encryption with no required subscription on the entry tier. The Android client handles backup, sharing through encrypted links, and album organization.
Where it falls short: Search is basic. The product is quieter than Ente and the roadmap is less public.
Pricing: Free 1 GB. Paid plans available for more storage.
Migrating from Immich: Manual upload via the Android or desktop client.
Download: Aptoide · Google Play
Bottom line: Pick Stingle when you want encryption-first storage and you do not need the ecosystem polish Ente brings.
Microsoft OneDrive — best for Office subscribers
OneDrive is the easiest option for users already paying for Microsoft 365. The Photos folder in OneDrive offers auto-upload from the Android camera roll, timeline browsing, and basic face grouping. Storage scales with your Microsoft 365 plan.
Where it falls short: No end-to-end encryption. Search is weaker than Google Photos. OneDrive prioritizes documents over photos and the photo features feel like an afterthought.
Pricing: Free 5 GB. Microsoft 365 Personal bundles 1 TB.
Migrating from Immich: Use rclone or the OneDrive desktop app to upload an exported library.
Download: Aptoide · Google Play
Bottom line: Pick OneDrive when you already pay Microsoft and want the storage you are entitled to working for photos too.
Amazon Photos — best free unlimited for Prime members
Amazon Photos gives Prime members unlimited full-resolution photo storage plus 5 GB of video. The Android client auto-uploads, the timeline view is acceptable, and the family vault lets up to five people share storage.
Where it falls short: Video storage caps at 5 GB. Editing tools are basic. The product feels neglected compared to competitors, and Amazon has hinted at policy changes more than once.
Pricing: Unlimited photo storage included with Prime. Standalone plans available.
Migrating from Immich: The Photos Uploader desktop tool handles bulk imports.
Download: Aptoide · Google Play
Bottom line: Pick this if you have Prime and you want a free backup that costs you nothing extra.
How to choose
Pick Nextcloud if you self-host but want one stack for files, photos, and calendar. Accept slower photo browsing in return for the generalist value.
Pick Synology Photos when you already own the hardware. Free, no extra container to babysit.
Pick Ente Photos when you do not want to run a server but you do want real end-to-end encryption.
Pick Stingle Photos if Ente’s pricing is too steep and you can live with a smaller feature set.
Pick Amazon Photos if you already pay for Prime. The unlimited photo storage is genuinely unmatched at that price.
Pick OneDrive if you pay for Microsoft 365 and want to consolidate.
Stay on Google Photos if its search is doing things for you that nothing else does, and if you have made peace with the privacy trade-off.
Stay on Immich if your server hardware is meaningful, you keep good backups, and the active development pace excites rather than worries you.
FAQ
Is Nextcloud as good as Immich for photos?
Nextcloud is more generalist. Photo browsing is slower at scale, face recognition needs the Recognize plugin, and the mobile UI handles many other features alongside photos. If photos are the whole job, Immich is faster. If you also want files and calendar in one stack, Nextcloud wins.
Does Immich have end-to-end encryption?
Not as of mid-2026. Immich encrypts in transit (HTTPS) but stores files in the original format on disk. If at-rest encryption matters, Ente or Stingle are better fits.
Can I use Immich and Google Photos at the same time?
Yes. Many users let Google Photos auto-back up the camera roll for search convenience, then run a parallel Immich backup as the long-term archive. The Android backup app supports filtering by folder so you can avoid double-uploading.
What is the cheapest Immich alternative with end-to-end encryption?
Stingle’s free 1 GB tier is the cheapest entry point. Ente starts paid at a modest monthly price for 50 GB. Both are E2EE; Ente has the deeper feature set.
Does Synology Photos work without a Synology NAS?
No. Synology Photos requires Photo Station or Synology Photos package running on a Synology DiskStation. The Android client will not connect to anything else.
How big does my server need to be for Immich?
Basics run on a Raspberry Pi 4 or 5. Machine learning features need at least an x86 CPU with AVX and ideally a discrete GPU. A used mini-PC with a recent Intel chip handles a large library smoothly.
