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Google Photos alternatives: 7 apps ranked by verified data

Facts checked Oct 25, 2026AppBreakup editorialHow we rank

Common reasons people leave Google Photos: not end-to-end encrypted, and free storage is shared with Gmail and Drive. We ranked 7 alternatives by how directly each one replaces Google Photos, then by reviews, real visits and how recently each app's facts were checked against its own website. iCloud Photos currently ranks first.

Quick comparison

#AppPricingOpen sourcePlatformsVerified factsScore
1iCloud Photos logoiCloud PhotosFree plan + paidNoWeb, macOS, iOS +14 of 466.5
2Amazon Photos logoAmazon PhotosFree plan + paidNoWeb, Windows, macOS +21 of 162.6
3Ente Photos logoEnte PhotosFree plan + paidYesWeb, Windows, macOS +44 of 459.6
4Immich logoImmichOpen sourceYesWeb, iOS, Android +14 of 457.2
5Synology Photos logoSynology PhotosFreeNoWeb, iOS, Android +13 of 355.3
6Flickr logoFlickrFree plan + paidNoWeb, iOS, Android0 of 043.1
7SnSnapseedFreeNoiOS, Android4 of 438.6
  1. iCloud Photos logo

    1. iCloud PhotosTop pick

    Best for: iPhone and Mac owners who want the Photos app synced everywhere

    Free plan + paidWeb, macOS, iOS, Windows

    66.5

    score / 100

    Why switch from Google Photos

    The default for iPhone owners, with full-resolution originals and a shared family library.

    Pros

    • Seamless sync of edits and albums across Apple devices
    • Keeps full-resolution originals, including RAW
    • Optional end-to-end encryption

    Cons

    • Only 5 GB free
    • No Android app
    • Bulk export out of iCloud is slow
    Visit iCloud Photos Compare with Google PhotosDetails and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.3100
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.1585
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is iCloud Photos a good Google Photos alternative?

    Verified facts

    4 of 4 verified
    Original quality
    Full resolution, original formats
    Checked Oct 25, 2026support.apple.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Shared Photo Library
    Up to five other people
    Checked Oct 25, 2026apple.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Free storage
    5 GB
    Checked Oct 25, 2026support.apple.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Device storage
    Optimize Storage option
    Checked Oct 25, 2026support.apple.com(opens source in a new tab)
  2. Amazon Photos logo

    2. Amazon Photos

    Best for: Amazon Prime members who want a free, full-resolution photo backup

    Free plan + paidWeb, Windows, macOS, iOS, Android

    62.6

    score / 100

    Why switch from Google Photos

    Unlimited full-resolution photo storage included with Amazon Prime.

    Pros

    • Unlimited full-resolution photos with Prime
    • Family Vault for pooling family photos
    • Shows photos on Fire TV and Echo Show

    Cons

    • Video storage is limited without paying more
    • Benefit disappears if you cancel Prime
    • Weaker search and editing than Google Photos
    Visit Amazon Photos Compare with Google PhotosDetails and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.387
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.1585
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is Amazon Photos a good Google Photos alternative?

    Verified facts

    1 of 1 verified
    Prime photo storage
    Unlimited, full resolution
    Checked Oct 25, 2026amazon.com(opens source in a new tab)
  3. Ente Photos logo

    3. Ente Photos

    Best for: Privacy-minded families wanting a Google Photos-style app with encryption

    Free plan + paidOpen sourceSelf-hostableWeb, Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android, Self-hosted

    59.6

    score / 100

    Why switch from Google Photos

    End-to-end encrypted and open source, with a Google Photos-like experience.

    Pros

    • End-to-end encrypted with on-device face and text search
    • Open source, audited and self-hostable
    • Three-location replication of every file

    Cons

    • On-device indexing of large libraries is slow
    • Editing tools are basic
    • Smaller company than the big-tech options
    Visit Ente Photos Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.377
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.1585
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is Ente Photos a good Google Photos alternative?

    Verified facts

    4 of 4 verified
    Free plan
    10 GB, free forever
    Checked Oct 25, 2026ente.io(opens source in a new tab)
    Replication
    Stored in 3 locations
    Checked Oct 25, 2026ente.io(opens source in a new tab)
    Open source
    Yes, audited and self-hostable
    Checked Oct 25, 2026ente.io(opens source in a new tab)
    Founded
    2020
    Checked Oct 25, 2026ente.io(opens source in a new tab)
  4. Immich logo

    4. Immich

    Best for: Self-hosters who want Google Photos features on their own server

    Open sourceSelf-hostableWeb, iOS, Android, Self-hosted

    57.2

    score / 100

    Why switch from Google Photos

    Self-hosted near-clone of Google Photos, with mobile backup and face search.

    Pros

    • Feature set close to Google Photos
    • Automatic phone backup with local AI search
    • Free, with no paywalled features

    Cons

    • Needs a server with decent RAM and CPU
    • You are responsible for backups and updates
    • Fast development means occasional breaking changes
    Visit Immich Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.369
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.1585
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is Immich a good Google Photos alternative?

    Verified facts

    4 of 4 verified
    License
    GNU AGPL v3
    Checked Oct 25, 2026docs.immich.app(opens source in a new tab)
    Paywalled features
    None promised
    Checked Oct 25, 2026docs.immich.app(opens source in a new tab)
    Mobile apps
    Android and iOS
    Checked Oct 25, 2026immich.app(opens source in a new tab)
    Face recognition
    Yes
    Checked Oct 25, 2026docs.immich.app(opens source in a new tab)
  5. Synology Photos logo

    5. Synology Photos

    Best for: Synology NAS owners who want to replace cloud photo backup

    FreeSelf-hostableWeb, iOS, Android, Self-hosted

    55.3

    score / 100

    Why switch from Google Photos

    Keep the library on your own Synology NAS with mobile backup.

    Pros

    • No subscription, included with DSM
    • Mobile backup and face recognition on your own hardware
    • Shared Space for family or team libraries

    Cons

    • Only runs on Synology NAS devices
    • Search is basic compared with Google Photos
    • You must back up the NAS separately
    Visit Synology Photos Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.363
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.1585
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is Synology Photos a good Google Photos alternative?

    Verified facts

    3 of 3 verified
    Purpose
    Organising, sharing and safeguarding photos
    Checked Oct 25, 2026synology.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Shared libraries
    Shared Space
    Checked Oct 25, 2026synology.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Sharing links
    Passwords and expiration dates
    Checked Oct 25, 2026synology.com(opens source in a new tab)
  6. Flickr logo

    6. Flickr

    Best for: Hobbyist and professional photographers who want hosting plus a community

    Free plan + paidWeb, iOS, Android

    43.1

    score / 100

    Why switch from Google Photos

    A community-oriented photo home that suits hobbyist and pro photographers.

    Pros

    • Unlimited original-quality storage on Pro
    • Active photography groups and community
    • Creative Commons licensing options

    Cons

    • Free accounts are capped by photo count
    • Weak for private family backup
    • Interface feels dated in places
    Visit Flickr Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.357
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.1515
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is Flickr a good Google Photos alternative?

    Verified facts

    0 of 0 verified

    No sourced facts yet.

  7. Sn

    7. Snapseed

    Best for: Phone photographers who want precise, free edits with no subscription

    FreeiOS, Android

    38.6

    score / 100

    Why switch from Google Photos

    Google's free mobile editor for finer, non-destructive edits than the built-in Photos editor.

    Pros

    • Completely free, with no ads or subscription
    • Selective, Brush and Healing tools for local edits
    • Non-destructive Stacks you can revise and copy

    Cons

    • Mobile only, with no desktop version
    • No library management or cloud sync
    • RAW editing on Android limited to DNG files
    Visit Snapseed Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.37
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.1585
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is Snapseed a good Google Photos alternative?

    Verified facts

    4 of 4 verified
    RAW editing
    Yes (Develop tool)
    Checked Oct 25, 2026support.google.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Android RAW support
    DNG only
    Checked Oct 25, 2026support.google.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Non-destructive editing
    Yes (Stacks)
    Checked Oct 25, 2026support.google.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Copy edits
    Yes
    Checked Oct 25, 2026support.google.com(opens source in a new tab)

The best Google Photos alternative for…

The highest-ranked app in this list for each need.

iCloud Photos logo

Best Google Photos alternative for most people

iCloud Photos

The default for iPhone owners, with full-resolution originals and a shared family library.

Immich logo

Best Google Photos alternative for a free option

Immich

Self-hosted near-clone of Google Photos, with mobile backup and face search.

Amazon Photos logo

Best Google Photos alternative for a free plan you can upgrade

Amazon Photos

Unlimited full-resolution photo storage included with Amazon Prime.

Ente Photos logo

Best Google Photos alternative for open source

Ente Photos

End-to-end encrypted and open source, with a Google Photos-like experience.

Synology Photos logo

Best Google Photos alternative for self-hosting

Synology Photos

Keep the library on your own Synology NAS with mobile backup.

iCloud Photos logo

Best Google Photos alternative for Mac

iCloud Photos

The default for iPhone owners, with full-resolution originals and a shared family library.

iCloud Photos logo

Best Google Photos alternative for Windows

iCloud Photos

The default for iPhone owners, with full-resolution originals and a shared family library.

Ente Photos logo

Best Google Photos alternative for Linux

Ente Photos

End-to-end encrypted and open source, with a Google Photos-like experience.

Flickr logo

Best Google Photos alternative for iPhone and Android

Flickr

A community-oriented photo home that suits hobbyist and pro photographers.

iCloud Photos logo

Best Google Photos alternative for working in the browser

iCloud Photos

The default for iPhone owners, with full-resolution originals and a shared family library.

Google Photos alternatives: common questions

What is the best alternative to Google Photos?

iCloud Photos ranks first right now. The default for iPhone owners, with full-resolution originals and a shared family library. Amazon Photos and Ente Photos follow it in our ranking.

Is there a free alternative to Google Photos?

Yes. iCloud Photos (free plan + paid), Amazon Photos (free plan + paid), Ente Photos (free plan + paid) and Immich (open source) have a free option. Check each app's verified facts for current plan limits.

Is there an open-source alternative to Google Photos?

Yes: Ente Photos and Immich. Ente Photos and Immich can also be self-hosted.

Which Google Photos alternatives work on Linux?

Ente Photos runs on Linux.

Why do people switch from Google Photos?

The complaints we hear most: not end-to-end encrypted; free storage is shared with Gmail and Drive; exporting a large library through Takeout is clumsy.

How is this list ranked?

Every app is scored with the same published formula: how directly it replaces Google Photos, reviews (weighted by verification), visits from AppBreakup, how recently its facts were checked against its own website, and reader votes.