Amazon Photos vs Google Photos
Updated October 2026 · AppBreakup editorial
Amazon Photos
Photo backup included with Amazon Prime, with unlimited full-resolution photo storage.
Google Photos
Google's photo backup and library, with strong search, editing tools and Android integration.
The short answer
Google Photos and Amazon Photos are both automatic photo backups for phones and computers. Google Photos has much stronger search, editing and AI features and works for anyone with a Google account. Amazon Photos' main draw is that Prime members get unlimited full-resolution photo storage at no extra cost, which makes it a cheap backup for Prime households, though video storage is limited and the benefit ends if Prime is cancelled.
Amazon Photos or Google Photos: our take
Google Photos is the more capable app. Search finds people, places, pets, documents and objects, AI features let you ask questions about your library, and editing reaches up to Magic Editor on supported devices. It also creates albums, collages, highlight videos and memories automatically, and offers shared albums and partner sharing. Amazon Photos recognises faces and objects for search too, but its search and editing are less advanced. It has a Family Vault for pooling family photos, lets you order prints directly, and shows photos on Fire TV and Echo Show devices.
Storage is where they diverge. Google gives 15 GB free, shared with Gmail and Drive, and both Original and Storage saver uploads count against it, so most people eventually pay for a Google One plan (up to 5 TB). Amazon gives Prime members unlimited full-resolution photo storage plus 5 GB of video storage; without Prime there is only a small free allowance, with extra storage plans for video and other files. Google Photos is not end-to-end encrypted and is analysed by Google's systems, and exporting a large library through Takeout is clumsy.
Amazon Photos has apps for Android, iOS, Windows, macOS, Fire devices and the web; Google Photos runs on Android, iOS and the web and comes preinstalled on most Android phones.
Choose Google Photos if search, editing and automatic organisation matter most, or you shoot a lot of video and are willing to pay for storage. Choose Amazon Photos if you already pay for Prime and mainly want a full-resolution backup of your photos. Some people use Amazon as a second backup alongside Google.
Which should you pick?
Choose Amazon Photos if…
- Amazon Prime members who want a free, full-resolution photo backup
- You need Windows and macOS, which Google Photos doesn't list
- Unlimited full-resolution photos with Prime
- Family Vault for pooling family photos
Choose Google Photos if…
- Android and iPhone users who want the best automatic search and organisation
- Excellent search by people, places and objects
- Strong built-in and AI editing tools
About each app
What is Amazon Photos?
Amazon Photos is Amazon's photo backup service, and its main appeal is that Prime members get unlimited full-resolution photo storage at no extra cost, plus a limited amount of video storage. The apps back up phones and computers automatically, recognise faces and objects for search, and show photos on Fire TV and Echo Show devices. A Family Vault lets several people pool photos into one shared space, and prints can be ordered directly. People without Prime get only a small free allowance, and Amazon also sells extra storage plans that cover videos and other files. Apps run on Android, iOS, Windows, macOS, Fire devices and the web. Editing and search are less advanced than Google Photos, Amazon dropped its general-purpose Amazon Drive in 2023, and the unlimited photo storage depends on keeping a Prime membership: cancel it and you are limited to the free tier.
What is Google Photos?
Google Photos backs up pictures and videos from phones and computers into your Google account and organises them automatically. Its search is the standout: you can type a place, a person, a pet, a document or a thing in the picture and it usually finds it, and recent AI features let you ask questions about your library in plain language. Built-in editing covers quick fixes up to generative tools such as Magic Editor on supported devices, and it creates albums, collages, highlight videos and memories on its own. Shared albums and partner sharing make it easy to swap photos with family. Storage is shared with Gmail and Drive, so once the free allowance runs out you pay for a Google One plan. Apps run on Android, iOS and the web, and it is preinstalled on most Android phones. The downsides are privacy and lock-in: photos are not end-to-end encrypted and are analysed by Google's systems.
Side by side
| Attribute | Amazon Photos | Google Photos |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free plan + paid | Free plan + paid |
| Open source | No | No |
| Self-hostable | No | No |
| Platforms | Web, Windows, macOS, iOS, Android | Web, iOS, Android |
| Best for | Amazon Prime members who want a free, full-resolution photo backup | Android and iPhone users who want the best automatic search and organisation |
| Status | Active | Active |
Amazon Photos vs Google Photos pricing
Amazon Photos: free plan + paid
We couldn't verify Amazon Photos's plan details on its own site yet, so we don't list them.
Google Photos: free plan + paid
- Free storage: 15 GB, shared with Gmail and Drive source
Platforms
| Platform | Amazon Photos | Google Photos |
|---|---|---|
| Web | ||
| Windows | ||
| macOS | ||
| iOS | ||
| Android |
Amazon Photos facts
1 of 1 verified- Prime photo storage
- Unlimited, full resolution
- Checked Oct 25, 2026amazon.com(opens source in a new tab)
- “unlimited full-resolution photo storage”
Google Photos 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)
- “Unlock even more You get 15 GB of storage, so you can back up and keep your memories safe automatically – at no cost.”
- Storage counting
- Original and Storage saver both count
- Checked Oct 25, 2026support.google.com(opens source in a new tab)
- “Photos and videos backed up in Original quality count toward your Google Account storage.”
- Pre-2021 uploads
- High quality uploads before June 2021 do not count
- Checked Oct 25, 2026support.google.com(opens source in a new tab)
- “before June 1, 2021 don't count toward your Google Account storage.”
- Paid storage
- Google One plans up to 5 TB
- Checked Oct 25, 2026one.google.com(opens source in a new tab)
- “5 TB total storage for Google Photos, Drive & Gmail”
Pros and cons of Amazon Photos
- Unlimited full-resolution photos with Prime
- Family Vault for pooling family photos
- Shows photos on Fire TV and Echo Show
- Video storage is limited without paying more
- Benefit disappears if you cancel Prime
- Weaker search and editing than Google Photos
Pros and cons of Google Photos
- Excellent search by people, places and objects
- Strong built-in and AI editing tools
- Easy shared albums and partner sharing
- Not end-to-end encrypted
- Free storage is shared with Gmail and Drive
- Exporting a large library through Takeout is clumsy
Other apps to consider
Ente PhotosInstead of Amazon Photos
Encrypted and open source, without depending on a retail membership.
Synology PhotosInstead of Google Photos
Keep the library on your own Synology NAS with mobile backup.
FlickrInstead of Google Photos
A community-oriented photo home that suits hobbyist and pro photographers.
- SnSnapseed
Instead of Google Photos
Google's free mobile editor for finer, non-destructive edits than the built-in Photos editor.
Amazon Photos vs Google Photos: common questions
Is Amazon Photos better than Google Photos?
Google Photos and Amazon Photos are both automatic photo backups for phones and computers. Google Photos has much stronger search, editing and AI features and works for anyone with a Google account. Amazon Photos' main draw is that Prime members get unlimited full-resolution photo storage at no extra cost, which makes it a cheap backup for Prime households, though video storage is limited and the benefit ends if Prime is cancelled.
Is Amazon Photos free?
Amazon Photos has a free plan, with paid plans for more features. See its verified pricing facts above for current limits.
Is Google Photos free?
Google Photos has a free plan, with paid plans for more features. See its verified pricing facts above for current limits.
Is Amazon Photos or Google Photos open source?
Neither is open source.
Which platforms do Amazon Photos and Google Photos support?
Amazon Photos: Web, Windows, macOS, iOS and Android. Google Photos: Web, iOS and Android.