Best Synology Photos Alternatives in 2026
The top Synology Photos alternatives are Google Photos, Apple Photos and Amazon Photos: 15 photo storage services our editors would look at instead of Synology Photos, in our ranking order.
Synology Photos: A capable private photo library for Synology NAS owners who want control and depth. Where it falls short: requires a synology NAS and installed drives.
Switching from Synology Photos? For most photo storage services buyers the best Synology Photos alternative is Google Photos, built for most people wanting effortless photo backup. On a budget, Apple Photos starts at $0.99/mo.
Why People Look for a Synology Photos Alternative
- Requires a Synology NAS and installed drives
- Face and object recognition depend on compatible NAS models
- Synology Image Assistant is a separate desktop utility
Quick Picks by What You Need
- Best overallGoogle Photos9.4
Most people wanting effortless photo backup
Visit Google Photos - Lowest priceApple Photos9.2
Paid plans from $0.99/mo
Visit Apple Photos - Best free optionGoogle Photos9.4
Has a free plan
Visit Google Photos - Most free storageGoogle Photos9.4
15 GB
Visit Google Photos
All 15 Synology Photos Alternatives, Ranked
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.
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Best forMost people wanting effortless photo backup
- Better than Synology Photos:
- Editor score 9.4 vs 8.9
An easy photo backup service with broad search, editing, sharing, and device coverage.
- Face search
- Family sharing
- Original-quality storage
9.4/10★★★★★Visit Google Photos -
Best forApple households using multiple devices
- Better than Synology Photos:
- Editor score 9.2 vs 8.9
A capable photo library for Apple households, with affordable entry pricing and limited free storage.
- Desktop app
- Face search
- Family sharing
9.2/10★★★★★Visit Apple Photos -
Best forPrime members needing full-resolution storage
- Better than Synology Photos:
- Editor score 9.0 vs 8.9
A capable photo backup and sharing service, especially for Prime members.
- Desktop app
- Face search
- Family sharing
9.0/10★★★★☆Visit Amazon Photos -
Best forPhotographers wanting established sharing tools
A mature photo-sharing service with broad upload, organization, and backup options.
- Desktop app
- Original-quality storage
- Shared albums
8.7/10★★★★☆Visit Flickr -
Best forPhotographers selling prints and downloads
A full-resolution photo hub with strong galleries and built-in sales tools.
- Desktop app
- Original-quality storage
- Shared albums
8.6/10★★★★☆Visit SmugMug -
Best forOrganizations needing gallery governance
A flexible photo library for organizations that need permissions, metadata, and deployment choice.
- Original-quality storage
- Shared albums
- Video backup
8.5/10★★★★☆Visit Piwigo -
Best forOpen-source self-hosters wanting modern features
A feature-rich open-source photo library for people comfortable running their own server.
- Face search
- Original-quality storage
- Shared albums
8.4/10★★★★☆Visit Immich -
Best forSelf-hosters wanting rich photo organization
A capable self-hosted library for organizing, searching, and sharing personal media.
- Face search
- Original-quality storage
- Shared albums
8.3/10★★★★☆Visit PhotoPrism -
Best forOpen-source users wanting AI search
A feature-rich self-hosted library for open-source users who want AI photo search.
- Face search
- Original-quality storage
- Shared albums
8.2/10★★★★☆Visit LibrePhotos -
Best forPrivacy-focused families and individuals
A privacy-focused photo backup service with strong search, sharing, and family features.
- Desktop app
- Face search
- Family sharing
8.1/10★★★★☆Visit Ente Photos -
Best forQNAP owners wanting AI photo management
A capable AI photo manager for QNAP owners who want self-hosted storage.
- Face search
- Shared albums
- Video backup
8.1/10★★★★☆Explore QuMagie -
Best forBroad backup coverage beyond photo libraries
A broad backup service for photos, devices, servers, and business data.
8.0/10★★★★☆Visit IDrive -
Best forBasic storage with image hosting and embeds
A practical choice for basic storage, sharing, and image hosting with embeds.
- Family sharing
- Original-quality storage
- Shared albums
7.9/10★★★★☆Visit Photobucket -
Best forSelf-hosted families using object storage
A broad, open-source photo library for families willing to manage their own storage.
- Face search
- Family sharing
- Original-quality storage
7.8/10★★★★☆Visit Noodle Gallery -
Best forDesktop-first personal photo libraries
A metadata-rich, desktop-first library for organizing photos and videos on your hardware.
- Desktop app
- Face search
- Original-quality storage
7.7/10★★★★☆Visit PhotoStructure
Synology Photos Alternatives: Common Questions
What is the best alternative to Synology Photos?
Google Photos: #1 in our Photo Storage Services ranking, with an editor score of 9.4 out of 10. An easy photo backup service with broad search, editing, sharing, and device coverage.
Is there a free alternative to Synology Photos?
Yes. Google Photos, Apple Photos, Amazon Photos, Flickr and Piwigo have a free plan or a free tier (14 of the 15 alternatives on this page).
What is the cheapest paid alternative to Synology Photos?
Of the alternatives here that publish a price, Apple Photos starts lowest, at $0.99/mo.
Why do people look for Synology Photos alternatives?
Requires a Synology NAS and installed drives; Face and object recognition depend on compatible NAS models; Synology Image Assistant is a separate desktop utility.
Which Synology Photos alternative has the most free storage?
Google Photos, with 15 GB.
How do I switch from Synology Photos?
Export your data from Synology Photos (most tools have an export in their settings). Sign up for the alternative; start on its free plan or trial if it has one. Import your export and set up the integrations your team relies on. Run both side by side for a short while, then cancel Synology Photos.
How to Switch from Synology Photos
- Export your data from Synology Photos (most tools have an export in their settings).
- Sign up for the alternative; start on its free plan or trial if it has one.
- Import your export and set up the integrations your team relies on.
- Run both side by side for a short while, then cancel Synology Photos.
Synology Photos vs Each Alternative
| # | Tool | Free plan | Paid from | Original-quality storage | Face search | Shared albums | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | Synology Photos | Yes | Free | Yes | Yes | Yes | 8.9 |
| 1 | Google Photos | Yes | $1.99/mo | Yes | Yes | Yes | 9.4 |
| 2 | Apple Photos | Yes | $0.99/mo | Yes | Yes | Yes | 9.2 |
| 3 | Amazon Photos | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 9.0 | |
| 4 | Flickr | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | 8.7 | |
| 5 | SmugMug | No | $20/mo | Yes | Yes | 8.6 | |
| 6 | Piwigo | Yes | €32/mo | Yes | No | Yes | 8.5 |
| 7 | Immich | Yes | Free | Yes | Yes | Yes | 8.4 |
| 8 | PhotoPrism | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 8.3 | |
| 9 | LibrePhotos | Yes | Free | Yes | Yes | Yes | 8.2 |
| 10 | Ente Photos | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 8.1 | |
| 11 | QuMagie | Yes | Free | Yes | Yes | 8.1 | |
| 12 | IDrive | Yes | 8.0 | ||||
| 13 | Photobucket | Yes | $5/mo | Yes | Yes | 7.9 | |
| 14 | Noodle Gallery | Yes | Free | Yes | Yes | Yes | 7.8 |
| 15 | PhotoStructure | Yes | Yes | Yes | 7.7 |
Head-to-Head
- Synology Photos vs Google Photos
- Synology Photos vs Amazon Photos
- Synology Photos vs Flickr
- Synology Photos vs SmugMug
- Synology Photos vs Piwigo
- Synology Photos vs Immich
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
Last updated · How we research and update