Last updated: September 29, 2026
Looking for an Immich alternative usually means you like the idea of a private photo library, but self-hosting is getting heavy.
Maybe you are tired of updates, storage planning, and backups. Maybe you want end-to-end encryption by default on a managed service. Or maybe you want a polished photo app for family members who will never log into a NAS.
Why do people leave Immich?
- Server work: Immich is powerful, but you own installation, updates, storage, backups, security, and recovery.
- Family / ease of use: Not everyone in a household wants to depend on a home server staying online.
- Encryption model: Self-hosting keeps photos off Big Tech clouds, but your server can usually still read the library unless you add extra protection.
- Managed privacy: Some people want a dedicated photo app with end-to-end encryption and no hardware to babysit.
There are now several Immich alternatives worth considering, but they’re good at very different things.
The quick answer
Alternative | Best for | End-to-end encryption | Self-hosted | Photo specific features | Why choose it ? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Ente Photos | Privacy without givingup modern photo features | Yes (default) | Available | High | Open source, on- device ML, audited E2EE |
Apple Photos/ iCloud | People within the Apple ecosystem | Optional ( turn on Advanced Data protection) | No | High | Native sync + editing across Apple devices |
Proton Drive | Existing Proton users | Yes (default) | No | Low | Privacy ecosystem (Mail, VPN, Drive) |
Amazon Photos | Amazon Prime members | No | No | Medium | Unlimited full- resolution photos with Prime, in supported countries |
pCloud | General cloud storage+ photo backup | Optional (Crypto add-on) | No | Low | Lifetime plans; files + photos together |
Ente Photos: Best for privacy and everyday convenience
Choose Ente Photos if you want a modern photo app with end-to-end encryption by default without running Immich yourself.
Why choose Ente Photos?
Immich gives you control by putting the server in your hands. Ente gives you a dedicated photo app where photos are encrypted before they leave your device, plus automatic backup, on-device face recognition, photo search, sharing, and Memories.
It is open source and available on iPhone, Android, desktop, and web. You can export your library if you decide to move later.
If you still want self-hosting, you can also self-host Ente. Even then, Ente keeps end-to-end encryption, so your server stores encrypted data rather than an open photo library.
Trade-offs
Ente is a strong choice for private photo backup and a well-organized library. Ente also has storage-based plans after its free tier of 10GB; it doesn't offer unlimited storage. Immich may still be better if you want maximum control on your own hardware and are happy doing the server work.
Learn more
- Ente Features
- How Ente's on-device machine learning works
- Ente's security architecture
- Ente open-source code
Apple Photos: Best for Apple users
Choose Apple Photos if you mainly use an iPhone, iPad, and Mac and want the smoothest experience across those devices. It is deeply integrated into Apple hardware and iCloud.
Why choose Apple Photos?
Apple Photos offers automatic sync, search, face recognition, Memories, shared libraries, and strong built-in editing tools. For Apple-only households, it is often the lowest-effort option.
You can enable Advanced Data Protection to extend end-to-end encryption to iCloud Photos and other iCloud data categories.
Trade-offs
Advanced Data Protection is optional, not enabled by default. Apple Photos also makes the most sense inside Apple’s ecosystem. Shared Albums are not protected by Advanced Data Protection in the same way as your private iCloud Photos library.
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Proton Drive: Best for Proton users
Choose Proton Drive if you already use Proton and want encrypted photo backup inside the same privacy-focused ecosystem.
Why choose Proton Drive ?
Proton Drive offers end-to-end encrypted photo backup and sharing. It is a natural option if you already use Proton Mail, Proton VPN, Proton Pass, or Proton Drive for other files.
Trade-offs
Proton’s photo experience is more basic than dedicated photo apps such as Ente or Immich. It is strongest for encrypted backup, not advanced editing or deep photo discovery. Immich or Ente is a better fit if you want a full photo timeline and face search.
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Amazon Photos: Best for Amazon Prime members
Choose Amazon Photos if you already have Amazon Prime and want simple, high-value photo backup. Eligible Prime members get unlimited full-resolution photo storage.
Why choose Amazon Photos?
Amazon Photos includes automatic backup, albums, sharing, search, and Memories. The biggest reason to choose it is value: unlimited photo storage is included with eligible Prime memberships with no home server to maintain.
Trade-offs
Amazon Photos is not end-to-end encrypted. Video storage is limited separately, and its editing and AI organisation tools are not as advanced as Ente or Immich. If privacy is why you ran Immich, Ente is a closer replacement than Amazon Photos.
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pCloud: Best for general cloud storage and photos
Choose pCloud if you want one place for photos, documents, videos, and other files and you prefer lifetime storage pricing.
Why choose pCloud?
pCloud includes automatic camera uploads and a photo gallery, while also functioning as general cloud storage. Its lifetime plans are the main differentiator for people who do not want another recurring subscription or a DIY Immich stack.
Trade-offs
pCloud is not as photo-focused as Ente, Apple Photos, or Immich. Its zero-knowledge encryption option, pCloud Crypto, is a paid add-on rather than the default protection for every file.
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Frequently asked questions
What is the best Immich alternative?
Ente Photos is the best Immich alternative for most people who want a dedicated photo app with end-to-end encryption and no server to manage. It offers E2EE by default, automatic backup, search, face recognition, sharing, and Memories across iPhone, Android, desktop, and web.
Is Immich still a good option?
Yes, if you are comfortable running and maintaining a server. Immich is one of the closest open-source Google Photos-style apps. It becomes a weaker fit if you want managed hosting, easier family use, or end-to-end encryption by default.
Can I move photos from Immich to another service?
Yes. Export or copy your Immich library, then upload or import it into your new service. Large libraries can take hours to days to transfer.
Do not delete your Immich storage until you have checked that your photos, videos, dates, albums, and metadata transferred correctly.
Do I need end-to-end encryption for my photos?
You need end-to-end encryption if you do not want the company or anyone with access to the server to be able to read your photos.
Choose Ente if you want encrypted photo storage by default on a managed app. Apple Photos can also protect your library with end-to-end encryption when you enable Advanced Data Protection. Self-hosted Immich keeps data on your hardware, but that is not the same as E2EE by default.
Want a closer look? Compare each option with Ente Photos: https://ente.com/compare/