Immich
Immich is a free, open-source app for backing up photos and videos from Android and iOS devices to a server users run themselves.
What Immich is
Immich is a free, open-source app for backing up photos and videos from Android and iOS devices to a server users run themselves. Media can be uploaded through the mobile app, browser, or command-line interface, and external libraries can be added as read-only folders. The web app is accessed in a browser at the server address on port 2283. Albums, hierarchical tags, maps, memories, favorites, and a folder view help organize media. Smart Search accepts natural-language phrases, and facial recognition detects and groups faces. Users can share libraries with friends and family, create public links for collections, or share with partners. Deployment documentation covers Docker Compose and Kubernetes, while community NAS guides are also available. The documentation recommends a 64-bit Linux or Unix-like system, requires Docker Compose, and lists minimum server resources of 6 GB RAM and two CPU cores. The mobile client requires users to operate their own server. Automatic database backups cover metadata only, so uploaded photos and videos need separate backup.
Good
- Backs up photos and videos from Android and iOS.
- Searches with natural-language phrases and groups faces.
- Offers albums, maps, tags, and sharing options.
- Open source under the GNU AGPL v3 License.
Watch out
- Requires users to run and manage a server.
- Requires Docker Compose and at least 6 GB RAM.
- Media files need separate backups from database metadata.
Who it suits
Immich suits people who want to manage their own photo and video backup server and are prepared to maintain it. Its mobile app requires a self-managed Immich server.
Verdict
Immich offers photo and video backup with search, organization, and sharing features for users running their own server. Its self-hosted setup and separate media-backup requirement are important considerations.
Plans and prices
From Immich's own pricing page, checked 3 Oct 2026.
| Plan | Price | What it gives you |
|---|---|---|
| Immich | Free | Self-hosted server required · runs on your own server |
The facts
Each one read from Immich's own pages, with the date it was checked.
What it does
- Backup limitation
- Automatic database backups contain metadata only, so users must separately back up their uploaded photos and videos.checked 3 Oct 2026
- Deployment
- The official download page documents Docker Compose and Kubernetes deployment, along with community NAS guides.checked 3 Oct 2026
- Import options
- Users can upload photos and videos through the mobile app, browser, or CLI, and can use external libraries as read-only folders.checked 3 Oct 2026
- Integrations
- Immich supports OAuth identity providers, API keys for programmatic access, and Prometheus monitoring.checked 3 Oct 2026
- Intended user
- The mobile client requires users to run and manage their own Immich server.checked 3 Oct 2026
- License
- Immich is available as open source under the GNU AGPL v3 License.checked 3 Oct 2026
- Organization
- Features include albums, hierarchical tags, maps, memories, favorites, and a folder view.checked 3 Oct 2026
- Photo search
- Smart Search supports natural-language phrases, and facial recognition detects and groups faces automatically.checked 3 Oct 2026
- Privacy
- The App Store listing says the developer reports that the app does not collect data; Apple says this information has not been verified by Apple.checked 3 Oct 2026
- Purpose
- Immich is a self-hosted app for backing up photos and videos from Android and iOS devices.checked 3 Oct 2026
- Server requirements
- The documentation recommends a 64-bit Linux or Unix-like system and requires Docker Compose; minimum server resources are 6 GB RAM and 2 CPU cores.checked 3 Oct 2026
- Sharing
- Users can share libraries with friends and family, create public links for collections, and share with partners.checked 3 Oct 2026
- Support channels
- The documentation links to Immich’s Discord and Reddit communities.checked 3 Oct 2026
Where it runs
- Web app
- Users can access the web application in a browser at the server address on port 2283.checked 3 Oct 2026
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