Photonix
Photonix is an open-source photo manager for organizing collections to store, present, search, and rediscover photos through a web browser.
What Photonix is
Photonix is an open-source photo manager for organizing collections to store, present, search, and rediscover photos through a web browser. Its classifiers identify faces, objects, image styles, colors, and locations to help filter a collection. Face recognition groups detected faces across photos, and users can label people without training a model. Photonix says object detection runs within the software and does not share images externally. It can identify related versions by comparing metadata, including RAW files, camera JPEGs, and edits, and watches selected folders for changes made in tools such as Lightroom, Darktable, or Photoshop without plugins. The maker says Photonix reads major camera RAW formats including CR2, NEF, DNG, ARW, and RWL. The service is self-hosted, with installation through Docker Compose and examples for x86/amd64 and ARM32/ARM64 devices, including Raspberry Pi. Android and iPhone apps connect to a Photonix server and do not work usefully without one. Photo analysis runs on the installed server, while app and account data remain on installation machines and chosen backups. The software is free and open source.
Good
- Classifiers filter photos by faces, objects, styles, colors, and locations.
- Recognizes faces without requiring model training.
- Supports major camera RAW formats.
- Works with editing folders without plugins.
Watch out
- Requires a self-hosted server.
- Mobile apps need a Photonix server to be useful.
- Video support was not yet available.
- The maker recommends separate copies; same-drive photos are not backed up by Photonix alone.
Who it suits
Photonix suits photographers who want to organize and search a self-hosted photo collection, including RAW files. It is intended to fit into existing editing workflows, but mobile app users need a Photonix server.
Verdict
Photonix offers photo search and organization features while keeping analysis on the installed server. Its self-hosted setup and lack of available video support are important considerations.
Plans and prices
From Photonix's own pricing page, checked 9 Oct 2026.
| Plan | Price | What it gives you |
|---|---|---|
| Photonix | Free | Open-source photo manager; self-hosted server required |
The facts
Each one read from Photonix's own pages, with the date it was checked.
What it does
- Audience
- The maker describes Photonix as photo management software for professionals and says it is intended to fit into photographers’ existing editing workflows.checked 9 Oct 2026
- Editing integrations
- It watches user-selected folders for edits and says no plugins are needed to work with tools such as Lightroom, Darktable or Photoshop.checked 9 Oct 2026
- Face recognition
- Face recognition groups detected faces across photos, and users can label people without training a model.checked 9 Oct 2026
- Local processing and data
- The privacy policy says photo analysis runs on the installed server and account, metadata and app data stay on the installation machines and any chosen backups.checked 9 Oct 2026
- No backup guarantee
- The maker says Photonix alone cannot provide a backup when photos remain on the same hard drive, and recommends maintaining separate copies.checked 9 Oct 2026
- Object detection privacy
- The maker says object detection runs within Photonix and does not share images externally.checked 9 Oct 2026
- Photo versions
- Photonix compares photo metadata to identify related versions, including RAW files, camera JPEGs and edits.checked 9 Oct 2026
- Purpose
- Photonix organizes photo collections for storing, presenting, searching and rediscovering photos through a web browser.checked 9 Oct 2026
- RAW support
- The maker says Photonix reads major camera RAW formats including CR2, NEF, DNG, ARW and RWL.checked 9 Oct 2026
- Self-hosted deployment
- The installation guide uses Docker Compose and provides an example for x86/amd64 and ARM32/ARM64, including Raspberry Pi.checked 9 Oct 2026
- Smart tagging
- Its classifiers detect faces, objects, image styles, colors and locations for photo filtering.checked 9 Oct 2026
- Support and community
- The maker describes Photonix as an open-source community project and points users to GitHub issues, chat discussions and documentation.checked 9 Oct 2026
- Video limitation
- The FAQ says video support was not yet available and describes limited video support as planned.checked 9 Oct 2026
Where it runs
- Mobile apps
- Android and iPhone apps connect to a Photonix server and do not provide useful functionality without one.checked 9 Oct 2026
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