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Cloud file storage and sync for teams and individuals
Immich
High-performance self-hosted photo and video management solution
Self-hosted alternative to Google Photos with mobile and web apps, featuring AI-powered search, facial recognition, automatic backup, and multi-user support.
Overview
Overview
Immich is a self-hosted photo and video management platform designed for users who want full control over their media library without relying on cloud services. Built with TypeScript, Svelte, and Flutter, it delivers a modern experience across mobile (iOS/Android) and web interfaces.
Core Capabilities
Immich provides automatic backup from mobile devices, intelligent search powered by metadata, objects, faces, and CLIP, and comprehensive album management including shared albums. The platform supports RAW formats, LivePhoto/MotionPhoto playback, and displays EXIF metadata with map integration. Users benefit from features like facial recognition clustering, memories that surface photos from years past, and a global map view of geotagged content.
Deployment & Audience
Targeted at privacy-conscious individuals, families, and small teams seeking a Google Photos alternative, Immich requires self-hosting infrastructure. The platform supports multi-user environments with administrative controls, OAuth integration, and API keys for automation. Mobile apps offer background backup and offline access, while the web interface provides full administrative capabilities and advanced features like 360-degree image display and user-defined storage structures.
Highlights
AI-powered search using metadata, objects, faces, and CLIP embeddings
Automatic mobile backup with duplicate prevention and selective album sync
Facial recognition with clustering and partner sharing capabilities
Multi-user support with OAuth, shared albums, and administrative controls
Pros
- Comprehensive feature parity with commercial photo services
- Native mobile apps for iOS and Android with offline support
- Advanced AI capabilities including facial recognition and semantic search
- Active development with strong community support (79K+ GitHub stars)
Considerations
- Requires self-hosting infrastructure and technical setup knowledge
- AGPL-3.0 license may restrict commercial derivative works
- Resource-intensive due to machine learning features
- Some features limited to specific platforms (tags web-only, 360° images web-only)
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Fit guide
Great for
- Privacy-focused users wanting complete control over photo storage
- Families needing multi-user photo sharing without subscription fees
- Photographers managing large RAW format libraries
- Technical users comfortable with self-hosted infrastructure
Not ideal when
- Users seeking zero-configuration cloud-hosted solutions
- Organizations requiring enterprise support contracts
- Non-technical users without server administration experience
- Teams needing advanced collaborative editing workflows
How teams use it
Family Photo Archive
Centralized photo library with automatic mobile backup, shared albums for family members, and memories feature to rediscover past moments
Photography Portfolio Management
Organize RAW and processed images with metadata search, public sharing galleries, and user-defined storage structures
Privacy-First Personal Backup
Replace Google Photos with self-hosted solution offering facial recognition, AI search, and complete data ownership
Multi-User Home Server
Deploy single instance supporting multiple family accounts with partner sharing, OAuth authentication, and administrative controls
Tech snapshot
TypeScript45%
Dart35%
Svelte13%
Kotlin2%
Swift2%
Python2%
Frequently asked questions
Does Immich require internet access to function?
The mobile app supports offline viewing of previously synced photos. However, initial setup, backup, and web access require network connectivity to your self-hosted server.
What hardware is needed to run Immich?
Immich requires a server capable of running Docker containers. Machine learning features (facial recognition, CLIP search) benefit from GPU acceleration but can run on CPU with reduced performance.
Can Immich replace Google Photos completely?
Immich offers comparable features including automatic backup, search, sharing, and memories. However, it requires self-hosting and technical maintenance, unlike Google Photos' managed service.
How does duplicate prevention work?
Immich uses content hashing to detect and prevent duplicate uploads across both mobile and web platforms, ensuring efficient storage utilization.
Is there a migration path from Google Photos?
While not detailed in the README, self-hosted solutions typically support bulk imports. Check the official documentation at immich.app for migration guides and tools.
Project at a glance
Active- Stars
- 89,596
- Watchers
- 89,596
- Forks
- 4,763
LicenseAGPL-3.0
Repo age3 years old
Last commit4 hours ago
Self-hostingSupported
Primary languageTypeScript
Last synced 4 hours ago