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Running Immich: The Self-Hosted Google Photos Replacement

Immich is a high-performance self-hosted photo and video backup solution. Machine learning face detection, timeline view, and mobile apps.

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Why Replace Google Photos?


  • Google scans every photo with AI
  • Free unlimited storage ended in 2021
  • Google One costs $3-10/month for storage
  • Your memories shouldn't train someone else's AI models

    • What Makes Immich Special


    Performance

    Immich is fast. Built with modern tech (Rust, TypeScript, Dart), it handles large libraries smoothly where other self-hosted solutions struggle.


    Machine Learning

  • Face detection and recognition
  • Object detection (search for "dog" or "beach")
  • CLIP-based smart search
  • All ML runs locally on your server

    • Mobile Apps

    Native iOS and Android apps with automatic background backup. The experience feels like Google Photos.


    Timeline View

    Browse photos chronologically with smooth scrolling through years of memories.


    Sharing

    Shared albums, partner sharing, and public link sharing.


    Hardware Requirements


  • CPU: 2+ cores (4 recommended for ML features)
  • RAM: 4 GB minimum (8 GB recommended)
  • Storage: Depends on your library — budget 1 TB per 100,000 photos
  • GPU: Optional but dramatically speeds up ML processing

    • Deployment


    1. Deploy Immich on TinyPod

    2. Install the mobile app

    3. Configure auto-backup on your phone

    4. Import existing photo library

    5. Enable ML features for face detection and search


    Migration from Google Photos


    1. Request Google Takeout export

    2. Download the archive (can take days for large libraries)

    3. Use Immich's import tool to load photos with metadata

    4. Verify all photos imported correctly

    5. Delete from Google Photos


    Cost Comparison


    Google One 2 TB: $10/month = $120/year

    TinyPod + external storage: $5/month + storage costs


    For large libraries, the self-hosted option becomes dramatically cheaper over time.