Best Self-Hosted Photo Management in 2026
Quick Picks
| Need | Best Choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Best overall | Immich | Full Google Photos replacement with mobile app |
| Best for browsing | PhotoPrism | Mature, polished web interface |
| Most lightweight | Lychee | Simple, minimal resources |
| Best ML features | LibrePhotos | Strong facial recognition |
The Full Breakdown
1. Immich — Best Overall
Immich is the clear winner for most people. It’s the only self-hosted solution that truly replaces Google Photos end-to-end: mobile auto-backup, facial recognition, map view, sharing, and a polished web UI. Development is fast and the community is massive.
Best for: Anyone replacing Google Photos or iCloud Photos.
2. PhotoPrism — Best for Browsing
PhotoPrism is a mature, stable option that excels at browsing and organizing large existing libraries. Its AI-powered search and classification are excellent. However, it lacks native mobile auto-backup.
Best for: People who already have their photos on a NAS and want a good way to browse them.
3. LibrePhotos
LibrePhotos focuses heavily on machine learning features like facial recognition and scene detection. The UI is functional but less polished than Immich or PhotoPrism.
4. Lychee
Lychee is a lightweight, simple photo management tool. It’s fast and uses minimal resources, but lacks the advanced features of the top picks.
How We Evaluated
We prioritized: mobile experience, feature completeness, ease of setup, community activity, and resource efficiency. For most self-hosters, the mobile backup feature is the most important differentiator.
See also: Immich vs PhotoPrism | Replace Google Photos