Immich vs PhotoPrism
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Versions/date: Immich v3.3.5 (GitHub release). PhotoPrism 261007-65faaae5d (GitHub release, published 2026-10-07 18:20 JST). Last checked: 2026-10-28.
Pick Immich if you want a Google Photos replacement with an official mobile app that backs up your phone automatically. Pick PhotoPrism if you mainly want to browse, search and organise an existing photo archive in a browser, and you're happy with its web app (PWA) or a third-party app for phone uploads. Both are self-hosted, run in Docker and recognise faces. They differ in how photos get in, in hardware needs, and in licensing.
Side-by-side (from each project's docs)
| Immich | PhotoPrism | |
|---|---|---|
| Phone backup | Official mobile app with auto backup, background backup and album selection (README) | Progressive Web App; native apps such as PhotoSync and Gallery for PhotoPrism are made by third parties (docs) |
| Search | By metadata, objects, faces and CLIP (Smart Search) | Search plus face recognition in People (docs) |
| Existing folders | External libraries, mountable read-only | Designed to index your library; see its setup docs |
| Multi-user | Yes, with shared albums | Extra user roles and user management are features of the paid Essentials/Plus editions (editions) |
| Minimum hardware | 6 GB RAM (8 GB recommended), 2 cores (4 recommended) (requirements) | 2 cores, 3 GB RAM, 64-bit OS, 4 GB swap; RAM should match the number of CPU cores (setup) |
| Database | PostgreSQL (in the official compose file) | MariaDB 10.5.12+ or SQLite 3 |
| Licence | AGPL-3.0 (repo) | Community edition under AGPL; paid editions under the PhotoPrism Plus licence |
| Paying | Free to run; an optional one-time product key funds development | Free Community edition; paid memberships listed on the editions page |
Check the official pages linked above for current prices.
Getting photos in
Immich is built around phone backup. Its official app uploads new photos when you open it and can keep backing up in the background. For older photos, use the Google Photos to Immich migration, or point Immich at a folder as an external library.
PhotoPrism indexes a library folder that you fill yourself. Its docs list PhotoSync (iOS and Android, proprietary) as one way to send phone photos to it automatically. PhotoPrism doesn't make that app.
Hardware
On paper, PhotoPrism's minimum is lower: 3 GB RAM against Immich's 6 GB. PhotoPrism also asks for at least 4 GB of swap and warns against a hard memory limit, since indexing large files can temporarily need more memory. Immich's docs say a 4 GB machine can run it with machine learning switched off. For sizing, see Immich hardware requirements.
Licensing in plain terms
Both projects publish their code under the AGPL. Immich has one edition. You can buy a product key to support it, and the docs describe it as a one-time purchase. PhotoPrism has a free Community edition and paid Essentials and Plus memberships that add features such as extra user roles, a user management UI and enhanced maps. If several family members need their own accounts, check the editions comparison before you choose.
Who each one suits
- Replacing Google Photos or iCloud for a family: Immich, for the official app and multi-user albums.
- Organising a large archive you already keep on a NAS: PhotoPrism is a strong fit. So is Immich with a read-only external library.
- Low-RAM hardware (4 GB or less): PhotoPrism's documented minimum is lower. Immich needs machine learning switched off at 4 GB.
- Already running Nextcloud: read Nextcloud vs Immich first.
Related: Nextcloud vs Immich · Immich hardware requirements · Google Photos to Immich
Sources
- Immich README (features, licence): https://github.com/immich-app/immich (checked 2026-10-28)
- Immich docs, Requirements: https://docs.immich.app/install/requirements (checked 2026-10-28)
- Immich docs, FAQ (product key): https://docs.immich.app/FAQ (checked 2026-10-28)
- PhotoPrism docs, Setup / system requirements: https://docs.photoprism.app/getting-started/ (checked 2026-10-28)
- PhotoPrism docs, iOS and Android apps: https://docs.photoprism.app/user-guide/native-apps/ (checked 2026-10-28)
- PhotoPrism docs, People: https://docs.photoprism.app/user-guide/organize/people/ (checked 2026-10-28)
- PhotoPrism, Pricing & Editions: https://www.photoprism.app/editions (checked 2026-10-28)
- PhotoPrism docs, Public License: https://docs.photoprism.app/license/agpl/ (checked 2026-10-28)
- Releases: Immich v3.3.5 and PhotoPrism 261007-65faaae5d on GitHub (checked 2026-10-28)