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Head-to-head · Photo Management Software

Apple Photos vs Immich

  • Updated Oct 2026
  • Both researched from official sources
  • 1 check side by side
Higher score Apple Photos #2 in Photo Management Software 9.3/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 0 of 5 features Visit Apple Photos
Immich #12 in Photo Management Software 8.3/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 0 of 5 features Visit Immich

Apple Photos leads on 0 checks, Immich on 0, and 1 is even. Who comes out ahead on the 1 yes/no, price and count check where we have data for both products. The editor score weighs everything else too.

Our verdict

  • Highest scoreApple Photos · 9.3/10
  • Free planboth

Apple Photos scores higher on our rubric for photo management software: 9.3 against 8.3 out of 10; our editors rank them #2 and #12.

Apple Photos is the better fit for apple households using multiple devices. Immich is the better fit for self-hosters wanting a modern Google Photos alternative.

  • Apple Photos fits best

    Apple households using multiple devices

  • Immich fits best

    Self-hosters wanting a modern Google Photos alternative

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Side by side

Feature Apple Photos 9.3/10 Visit ↗ Immich 8.3/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score 9.3 8.3
Ranking #2 in Photo Management Software #12 in Photo Management Software
Best for Apple households using multiple devices Self-hosters wanting a modern Google Photos alternative
Pricing model Free plan + paid Free
Starting price $0.99/mo Free plan
Free plan ✓ ✓
Free trial — —
Deployment Cloud, Desktop, Mobile Self-hosted, Mobile
Platforms Web, Windows, macOS, iOS Web, iOS, Android
Support Docs Community, Docs
Built for Solo, Small business Solo, Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise
Features Apple Photos 0/5 · Immich 0/5
RAW photo support Not checked yet Not checked yet
Face recognition Not checked yet Not checked yet
AI-powered search Not checked yet Not checked yet
Metadata tools Not checked yet Not checked yet
Cloud sync Not checked yet Not checked yet
Specs
Primary platform Not checked yet Not checked yet
Included storage Not checked yet Not checked yet
Our review
Pros
  • Full-resolution original-format storage with automatic device syncing
  • Face grouping, name-based search, Memories, and synchronized editing
  • Shared albums and Shared Photo Library for up to five people
  • Automatic mobile backup across official Android and iOS apps
  • Facial recognition, contextual search, RAW viewing, and duplicate detection
  • Sharing, partner libraries, APIs, transcoding, and database backups
Cons
  • The free plan includes only 5GB of iCloud storage
  • Its strongest experience is centered on Apple platforms and iCloud
  • Larger libraries require a recurring iCloud+ subscription
  • Requires users to provide and manage their own server infrastructure
  • Docker-based deployment demands technical setup and ongoing administration
  • Cloud-first users may prefer a hosted service with managed storage
Our verdict

Apple Photos is a photo and video library service built around iCloud Photos, with access across iOS, macOS, the web, and Windows through iCloud for Windows. It suits households using multiple Apple devices that want automatic syncing,…

Read the review →

Immich is an open-source, self-hosted application for managing personal photos and videos. It offers a web interface plus official Android and iOS apps for uploading, browsing, organizing, searching, and sharing media. The feature set…

Read the review →
  1. Apple PhotosPhoto Management Software 9.3Free plan
  2. ImmichPhoto Management Software 8.3Free plan

Strengths and trade-offs

  • Apple Photos — where it wins

    • Full-resolution original-format storage with automatic device syncing
    • Face grouping, name-based search, Memories, and synchronized editing
    • Shared albums and Shared Photo Library for up to five people

    Where it doesn't

    • The free plan includes only 5GB of iCloud storage
    • Its strongest experience is centered on Apple platforms and iCloud
    • Larger libraries require a recurring iCloud+ subscription

  • Immich — where it wins

    • Automatic mobile backup across official Android and iOS apps
    • Facial recognition, contextual search, RAW viewing, and duplicate detection
    • Sharing, partner libraries, APIs, transcoding, and database backups

    Where it doesn't

    • Requires users to provide and manage their own server infrastructure
    • Docker-based deployment demands technical setup and ongoing administration
    • Cloud-first users may prefer a hosted service with managed storage

More comparisons

All photo management software comparisons → · Full ranking →

Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026

Last updated · How we research and update