Immich 1.120 vs Google and Apple Photos: Which is better

Immich 1.120 technicalities

Immich 1.120 is a high-performance self-hosted solution for managing photo and video libraries. The software requires a system with at least 6GB of RAM and 2 CPU cores. To install the application, users must create a directory like ./immich-app to hold the docker-compose.yml and .env files. Users can download these files using the wget command from the Immich GitHub releases page. For example, a user can run wget -O docker-compose.yml https://github.com/immich-app/immich/releases/latest/download/docker-compose.yml to obtain the file. After the installation, the first person to register becomes the admin user, who can then add other users to the application. Immich includes several capabilities for both web and mobile users. The mobile app supports auto backup when the app is opened and allows for selective albums for backup. Users can navigate to the backup screen by clicking on the cloud icon in the top right corner of the screen. It also supports LivePhoto and MotionPhoto backup and playback. Users can download photos and videos to their local device and use facial recognition and clustering to organize assets. The system prevents duplication of assets and supports metadata viewing for EXIF and map data. Search is possible by metadata, objects, faces, and CLIP. The web interface includes administrative functions like user management and API keys, while the mobile app does not include these specific tools. The web version supports 360 degree image display and tags, but the mobile version does not. Immich provides multi-user support and partner sharing across both platforms. The mobile app also includes a background backup feature and a virtual scroll for easy navigation. Users should always follow a 3-2-1 backup plan for their precious photos and videos. Postgres is not publicly exposed, so the database password is only used for local authentication.

Privacy and data collection

Google collects data, including IP addresses, to deliver and maintain its services. The company uses this information to track outages and protect users against spam, fraud, and abuse. Google also analyzes audience engagement and site statistics to understand how people use the services and to improve quality. When a user selects "Accept all", Google uses cookies and data to develop new services and measure the effectiveness of advertisements. This selection allows Google to show personalized content and ads based on settings. Personalized content can include results, recommendations, and tailored ads based on previous activities in the browser, such as Google searches. If a user selects "Reject all", the company does not use cookies or IP addresses for these additional purposes. Non-personalized content and ads are influenced by the content a person is currently viewing and their general location. Google also uses cookies and data to tailor the experience to be age-appropriate, if relevant. Immich presents a different approach to privacy because it is self-hosted. Immich users manage their own storage structure and must perform manual backups of the images and videos in the upload location. This prevents the service from accessing user location or search history to serve targeted marketing. Immich also provides a global map and public sharing features that users control directly. Does the self-hosted model provide enough speed for massive libraries?

Hardware and the verdict

Apple users often pair their photo libraries with hardware like the iPhone 18 Pro or the iPhone Air. AT&T provides $1051.36 in bill credits for customers who upgrade an existing line to an iPhone Air 1 TB model. For customers activating a new line with an iPhone Air 256 GB, AT&T provides $1063.36 in bill credits. The iPhone 17e is also available, with new line activations for a 256 GB model receiving $483.36 in bill credits. T-Mobile provides up to $1200 in credits for existing customers on an Experience Beyond 2.0, Experience Beyond, or Go5G Next plan when they purchase an iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max, or iPhone Air with an eligible trade-in. For an iPhone 18 Pro, T-Mobile offers credits of $1200, $900, or $500 based on the model and condition of the trade-in smartphone for customers on an Experience Beyond 2.0, Experience Beyond or Go5G Next plan. This credit is comprised of Apple instant trade-in credit at checkout and T-Mobile monthly bill credits over the loan term. Users must purchase the device on a qualifying 36-month 0% APR installment plan to receive these benefits. A $35 device connection charge applies to these T-Mobile offers. Immich is clearly the superior choice for users who prioritize data sovereignty and privacy. While Google uses location data and search history to influence the content and ads a person sees, Immich leaves all data management to the individual. You should ensure your server has enough free space in the directory you choose for the upload location. Immich lacks the automated advertisement-driven ecosystem found in Google. You can use immich-go to add photos from Google Takeout to your Immich server.