Head-to-head · Immich Hosting
DigitalOcean Immich vs PixelUnion Immich Photo
DigitalOcean Immich leads on 1 check, PixelUnion Immich Photo on 4, and 1 is even. Who comes out ahead on the 6 yes/no, price and count checks where we have data for both products. The editor score weighs everything else too.
Our verdict
- Highest scorePixelUnion Immich Photo · 7.7/10
- Free planonly PixelUnion Immich Photo
- Most featuresPixelUnion Immich Photo · 2 of 3
PixelUnion Immich Photo scores higher on our rubric for immich hosting: 7.7 against 4.9 out of 10; our editors rank them #4 and #3.
PixelUnion Immich Photo offers free plan; DigitalOcean Immich doesn't. PixelUnion Immich Photo offers managed updates; DigitalOcean Immich doesn't. PixelUnion Immich Photo offers backups; DigitalOcean Immich doesn't. PixelUnion Immich Photo leads on included storage: 150 GB versus 80 GB. DigitalOcean Immich offers custom domain + ssl; PixelUnion Immich Photo doesn't publish it.
DigitalOcean Immich is the better fit for DIY users wanting a mainstream Immich droplet. PixelUnion Immich Photo is the better fit for budget users wanting managed Immich photo hosting.
- DigitalOcean Immich fits best
DIY users wanting a mainstream Immich droplet
- PixelUnion Immich Photo fits best
Budget users wanting managed Immich photo hosting
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Side by side
| Feature | DigitalOcean Immich 4.9/10 Visit ↗ | PixelUnion Immich Photo 7.7/10 Visit ↗ |
|---|---|---|
| At a glance | ||
| Editor score | 4.9 | 7.7 |
| Ranking | #3 in Immich Hosting | #4 in Immich Hosting |
| Best for | DIY users wanting a mainstream Immich droplet | Budget users wanting managed Immich photo hosting |
| Pricing model | Paid | Free plan + paid |
| Starting price | $24/mo | Not published |
| Free plan | — | ✓ (best) |
| Free trial | — | — |
| Deployment | Cloud | Cloud, Mobile |
| Platforms | Web, Linux | Web, iOS, Android |
| Built for | Solo, Small business | Solo, Small business |
| Features DigitalOcean Immich 1/3 · PixelUnion Immich Photo 2/3 | ||
| Managed updates | — | ✓ (best) |
| Backups | — | ✓ (best) |
| Custom domain + SSL | ✓ (best) | Not published |
| Specs | ||
| Included storage | 80 GB | 150 GB (best) |
| Deployment | One-click | Managed |
| Scaling | Manual | Manual |
| Our review | ||
| Pros |
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| Cons |
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| Our verdict | DigitalOcean Immich is a cloud Droplet image for people who want to host their own Immich photo and video library rather than use a managed Immich service. The one-click image includes Immich and Docker Compose, while DigitalOcean supplies… Read the review → |
PixelUnion Immich Photo is a managed Immich hosting service for people who want to back up and organize photos and videos without running their own server. Its web service and Immich apps for iOS and Android support automatic mobile… Read the review → |
Strengths and trade-offs
DigitalOcean Immich — where it wins
- Preconfigured one-click image includes Immich and Docker Compose
- Deploy through the control panel or API, with SSH server access
- Automatic TLS certificates when a domain points to the server
Where it doesn't
- Core Droplet service is unmanaged, so server administration is yours
- The $24/month base plan does not include backups
- Updates and scaling require your own administration
PixelUnion Immich Photo — where it wins
- Free plan includes 16 GB of storage.
- Automatic uploads work with Immich apps for iOS and Android.
- Facial and object recognition, deduplication, sharing and search are included.
Where it doesn't
- Storage scaling is manual.
- The listed integrations are limited to the Immich mobile app.
- Support is offered by email.
- DigitalOcean Immich4.9/10 · From $24/mo
A preconfigured Immich server for DIY users willing to manage the Droplet themselves.
Visit DigitalOceanFull verdict → - PixelUnion Immich Photo7.7/10 · Free plan · paid from €2.95/mo
Managed Immich hosting with mobile uploads and plans from €2.95 per month.
Visit PixelUnionFull verdict →
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Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Sep 2026