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Head-to-head · Photo Backup Software

Immich vs Pho

  • Updated Oct 2026
  • Both researched from official sources
  • 5 checks side by side
Higher score Immich #3 in Photo Backup Software 9.0/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 0 of 4 features Visit Immich
Pho #5 in Photo Backup Software 8.5/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 4 of 4 features Visit Pho

Immich leads on 0 checks, Pho on 0, and 5 are even. Who comes out ahead on the 5 yes/no, price and count checks where we have data for both products. The editor score weighs everything else too.

Our verdict

  • Highest scoreImmich · 9.0/10
  • Free planboth
  • Most featuresPho · 4 of 4

Immich scores higher on our rubric for photo backup software: 9.0 against 8.5 out of 10; our editors rank them #3 and #5.

Immich is the better fit for self-hosted photo backup with rich organization. Pho is the better fit for low-cost open-source mobile-to-NAS backup.

  • Immich fits best

    Self-hosted photo backup with rich organization

  • Pho fits best

    Low-cost open-source mobile-to-NAS backup

Advertiser disclosure: iTechGuides is reader-supported. Vendors can pay for top positions in our rankings and for a place on other products' pages, and we may earn a commission when you click some links. Bought places stand at the number bought; this page and our disclosure say so. Paying vendors may get a fuller, more detailed review from our editors, and that review can change their score. How we rank.

Side by side

Feature Immich 9.0/10 Visit ↗ Pho 8.5/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score 9.0 8.5
Ranking #3 in Photo Backup Software #5 in Photo Backup Software
Best for Self-hosted photo backup with rich organization Low-cost open-source mobile-to-NAS backup
Pricing model Free Free plan + paid
Starting price Free plan $19.99/yr
Free plan ✓ ✓
Free trial — —
Deployment Self-hosted, Mobile Mobile
Platforms Web, iOS, Android iOS, macOS, Android
Support Community, Docs Email
Built for Solo, Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise Solo, Small business
Features Immich 0/4 · Pho 4/4
Mobile photo backup Not checked yet ✓ (best)
External drive backup Not checked yet ✓ (best)
NAS backup Not checked yet ✓ (best)
RAW photo support Not checked yet ✓ (best)
Specs
Version history Not checked yet Not checked yet
Storage model Not checked yet Bring_your_own
Included storage Not checked yet Not checked yet
Our review
Pros
  • Automatic mobile backup with original and RAW photo viewing
  • Facial recognition, advanced search, and duplicate detection
  • Open-source deployment with API and Prometheus integrations
  • Backs up originals, RAW files, HEIC, HEVC, Live Photos, and video
  • Supports SMB, WebDAV, NFS, Google Drive, and S3-compatible storage
  • Adds filters, parallel uploads, encryption, and local-space management
Cons
  • Requires running and maintaining the server yourself
  • Storage capacity depends on the operator’s infrastructure
  • Docker-based setup requires a supported self-hosted environment
  • The free plan is limited to a local gallery and basic cloud sync
  • Requires users to provide and manage compatible storage destinations
  • Some advanced features require a Pro subscription or lifetime purchase
Our verdict

Immich is an open-source, self-hosted application for backing up, browsing, organizing, searching, and sharing personal photos and videos. Official Android and iOS apps provide automatic mobile backup, while the web interface supports…

Read the review →

Pho is an open-source mobile photo backup and gallery app for iPhone and Android. It automatically syncs camera-roll originals to storage you provide, including NAS shares, WebDAV, NFS, Google Drive, Baidu Netdisk, and S3-compatible…

Read the review →
  1. ImmichPhoto Backup Software 9.0Free plan
  2. PhoPhoto Backup Software 8.5Free plan

Strengths and trade-offs

  • Immich — where it wins

    • Automatic mobile backup with original and RAW photo viewing
    • Facial recognition, advanced search, and duplicate detection
    • Open-source deployment with API and Prometheus integrations

    Where it doesn't

    • Requires running and maintaining the server yourself
    • Storage capacity depends on the operator’s infrastructure
    • Docker-based setup requires a supported self-hosted environment

  • Pho — where it wins

    • Backs up originals, RAW files, HEIC, HEVC, Live Photos, and video
    • Supports SMB, WebDAV, NFS, Google Drive, and S3-compatible storage
    • Adds filters, parallel uploads, encryption, and local-space management

    Where it doesn't

    • The free plan is limited to a local gallery and basic cloud sync
    • Requires users to provide and manage compatible storage destinations
    • Some advanced features require a Pro subscription or lifetime purchase
  • Immich9.0/10 · Free plan

    A feature-rich self-hosted library for backing up, organizing, and sharing personal media.

    Visit ImmichFull verdict →
  • Pho8.5/10 · Free plan

    An open-source mobile backup app for original-quality transfers to your storage.

    Visit PhoFull verdict →

More comparisons

All photo backup software comparisons → · Full ranking →

Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026

Last updated · How we research and update