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Synology Photos alternatives: 4 apps ranked by verified data

Facts checked Oct 25, 2026AppBreakup editorialHow we rank

Common reasons people leave Synology Photos: only runs on Synology NAS devices, and search is basic compared with Google Photos. We ranked 4 alternatives by how directly each one replaces Synology Photos, then by reviews, real visits and how recently each app's facts were checked against its own website. Immich currently ranks first.

Quick comparison

#AppPricingOpen sourcePlatformsVerified factsScore
1Immich logoImmichOpen sourceYesWeb, iOS, Android +14 of 466.5
2PhotoPrism logoPhotoPrismOpen sourceYesWeb, Self-hosted4 of 462.6
3Google Photos logoGoogle PhotosFree plan + paidNoWeb, iOS, Android4 of 459.6
4Mylio Photos logoMylio PhotosFree plan + paidNoWindows, macOS, iOS +13 of 357.2
  1. Immich logo

    1. ImmichTop pick

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

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

    66.5

    score / 100

    Why switch from Synology Photos

    Runs in Docker on a Synology too, with richer features.

    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 ×0.3100
    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 Immich a good Synology 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)
  2. PhotoPrism logo

    2. PhotoPrism

    Best for: Self-hosters organising a large existing photo archive

    Open sourceSelf-hostableWeb, Self-hosted

    62.6

    score / 100

    Why switch from Synology Photos

    Docker-based library with AI tagging that runs on most NAS devices.

    Pros

    • Indexes existing folders without moving them
    • Local AI tagging, face recognition and maps
    • Runs on modest hardware, including Raspberry Pi

    Cons

    • No official mobile backup app
    • Some features need a paid membership
    • Interface is less suited to casual family use
    Visit PhotoPrism Details 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 PhotoPrism a good Synology Photos alternative?

    Verified facts

    4 of 4 verified
    License
    AGPL (Community Edition)
    Checked Oct 25, 2026photoprism.app(opens source in a new tab)
    Essentials membership
    €2/month
    Checked Oct 25, 2026photoprism.app(opens source in a new tab)
    Plus membership
    From €6/month
    Checked Oct 25, 2026photoprism.app(opens source in a new tab)
    AI
    AI-powered organisation
    Checked Oct 25, 2026photoprism.app(opens source in a new tab)
  3. Google Photos logo

    3. Google Photos

    Best for: Android and iPhone users who want the best automatic search and organisation

    Free plan + paidWeb, iOS, Android

    59.6

    score / 100

    Why switch from Synology Photos

    Hosted option with no hardware to maintain.

    Pros

    • Excellent search by people, places and objects
    • Strong built-in and AI editing tools
    • Easy shared albums and partner sharing

    Cons

    • Not end-to-end encrypted
    • Free storage is shared with Gmail and Drive
    • Exporting a large library through Takeout is clumsy
    Visit Google 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 Google Photos a good Synology Photos alternative?

    Verified facts

    4 of 4 verified
    Free storage
    15 GB, shared with Gmail and Drive
    Checked Oct 25, 2026google.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Storage counting
    Original and Storage saver both count
    Checked Oct 25, 2026support.google.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Pre-2021 uploads
    High quality uploads before June 2021 do not count
    Checked Oct 25, 2026support.google.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Paid storage
    Google One plans up to 5 TB
    Checked Oct 25, 2026one.google.com(opens source in a new tab)
  4. Mylio Photos logo

    4. Mylio Photos

    Best for: People with large libraries who want privacy and no cloud storage bills

    Free plan + paidWindows, macOS, iOS, Android

    57.2

    score / 100

    Why switch from Synology Photos

    Device-to-device library without a NAS or cloud.

    Pros

    • Syncs between your devices with no cloud needed
    • AI tagging, faces and duplicate cleanup
    • Works across Windows, Mac, iOS and Android

    Cons

    • Multi-device sync requires a subscription
    • Devices must be on to sync
    • Busy interface with a learning curve
    Visit Mylio Photos 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 Mylio Photos a good Synology Photos alternative?

    Verified facts

    3 of 3 verified
    Platforms
    Mac, Windows, Android, iOS
    Checked Oct 25, 2026mylio.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Sync method
    Peer-to-peer, no cloud uploads needed
    Checked Oct 25, 2026mylio.com(opens source in a new tab)
    AI tagging
    Yes
    Checked Oct 25, 2026mylio.com(opens source in a new tab)

The best Synology Photos alternative for…

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

Immich logo

Best Synology Photos alternative for most people

Immich

Runs in Docker on a Synology too, with richer features.

PhotoPrism logo

Best Synology Photos alternative for a free option

PhotoPrism

Docker-based library with AI tagging that runs on most NAS devices.

Google Photos logo

Best Synology Photos alternative for a free plan you can upgrade

Google Photos

Hosted option with no hardware to maintain.

Immich logo

Best Synology Photos alternative for open source

Immich

Runs in Docker on a Synology too, with richer features.

Immich logo

Best Synology Photos alternative for self-hosting

Immich

Runs in Docker on a Synology too, with richer features.

Mylio Photos logo

Best Synology Photos alternative for Mac

Mylio Photos

Device-to-device library without a NAS or cloud.

Mylio Photos logo

Best Synology Photos alternative for Windows

Mylio Photos

Device-to-device library without a NAS or cloud.

Immich logo

Best Synology Photos alternative for iPhone and Android

Immich

Runs in Docker on a Synology too, with richer features.

Immich logo

Best Synology Photos alternative for working in the browser

Immich

Runs in Docker on a Synology too, with richer features.

Synology Photos alternatives: common questions

What is the best alternative to Synology Photos?

Immich ranks first right now. Runs in Docker on a Synology too, with richer features. PhotoPrism and Google Photos follow it in our ranking.

Is there a free alternative to Synology Photos?

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

Is there an open-source alternative to Synology Photos?

Yes: Immich and PhotoPrism. Immich and PhotoPrism can also be self-hosted.

Why do people switch from Synology Photos?

The complaints we hear most: only runs on Synology NAS devices; search is basic compared with Google Photos; you must back up the NAS separately.

How is this list ranked?

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