Google Photos Alternatives (2026): 10 Apps Compared

Google Photos is where millions of us keep our phone photos, and it's easy to see why. Yet plenty of people want a change: more privacy, a place that isn't tied to one big company, a tidy home for the business photo library, or simply a second copy of the pictures that matter most.

Here are ten Google Photos alternatives in no particular order, sorted alphabetically. I've mixed smaller, privacy-focused and self-hosted options with a couple of big, familiar names, and every description comes from each service's own website and directory listings rather than guesswork. If you're sorting out a business photo library, my guide on briefing a brand photoshoot shows how to plan the pictures worth keeping in the first place.

Photo backup apps and services at a glance

In the free plan column, Yes means the service's own pages describe a free way to get started, such as a free starter allowance or free open source software. Free allowances are usually limited, and self-hosted software needs a computer or server that you run yourself. Trial only and No aren't needed on this page. Check each service in your own region.

Tool	Type	Good for	Free plan
Amazon Photos	Cloud photo storage	Photo backup tied to an Amazon account	Yes
Ente	Encrypted photo storage	Private, end-to-end encrypted family photos	Yes
Filen	Encrypted cloud storage	Encrypted storage with phone photo upload	Yes
iCloud Photos	Apple photo sync	Photos synced across Apple devices	Yes
Immich	Self-hosted photo server	Running your own photo and video backup	Yes
Mylio Photos	Photo organiser	Organising photos across many devices	Yes
pCloud	Cloud storage	General cloud storage with automatic photo upload	Yes
PhotoPrism	Self-hosted photo app	Browsing a private library with AI tagging	Yes
Piwigo	Photo gallery software	Web galleries you host yourself	Yes
Proton Drive	Encrypted cloud storage	Encrypted storage with automatic photo backup	Yes

Ten places to store and share your photos instead of Google Photos

Amazon Photos

Best for: People already in the Amazon ecosystem who want their phone photos backed up and shared with family from one account.

Ente

Best for: Families who want privacy-first, open source photo storage with apps for phone, desktop and web, and the option to self-host.

Filen

Best for: People who want one encrypted place for documents and photos, with camera upload from the phone app.

iCloud Photos

Best for: iPhone, iPad and Mac users who want their photo library to appear on every Apple device without extra setup.

Immich

Best for: Technical users, or anyone with a helpful developer, who want a self-hosted photo library with phone apps and local face recognition.

Mylio Photos

Best for: People with photos scattered over phones, laptops and drives who want one organised library across Windows, Mac and mobile.

pCloud

Best for: People who want general cloud storage that also backs up phone photos and videos automatically.

PhotoPrism

Best for: Photo enthusiasts happy to run it at home or on a server, with automatic tagging and search over their own library.

Piwigo

Best for: Photographers and small businesses who want a gallery on their own website, with albums, plugins and a free mobile app.

Proton Drive

Best for: Privacy-minded people who want end-to-end encrypted storage and automatic photo backup from their phone.

How to choose a photo backup service

Photo storage looks simple until you've got a decade of pictures to move. These are the points that decide whether a new home for your photos will still suit you in a year.

• Privacy. Some services encrypt your photos so that only you can read them. Others can scan your library to organise it. Decide how much that matters to you.
• Automatic backup. Check that the phone app can upload new photos in the background, and that it works for videos too.
• Original quality. Look for a service that keeps full-size originals, especially if you shoot RAW or edit later.
• Sharing. If family or clients need to see albums, check how sharing works and whether the other person needs an account.
• Search and organising. Face grouping, places and tags save time once your library grows.
• Getting out again. A good service lets you export everything easily, in case you want to move on later.

Questions to ask before you move your photo library

• Do I want a service that runs for me, or software I'd have to set up and maintain myself?
• Who else needs access, such as family members, a partner or a team?
• Are these personal pictures, business photos, or both, and should they live in separate places?
• How big is my library, and will the free starter allowance be enough while I test?
• Do I trust the company with my pictures, and where does it store them?
• What's my backup plan if this service closes or I lose access to the account?

Which type of photo storage suits which person

• Big cloud services suit people who want it to just work, across their phone, tablet and computer, with little setup.
• Encrypted services suit privacy-minded families who'd rather their pictures weren't scanned or read by anyone else.
• Self-hosted software suits technical users, or businesses with a developer, who want full control and don't mind running a server.
• Photo organisers suit people whose pictures are scattered across devices and drives and need gathering up first.
• Gallery software suits photographers and small businesses who want albums on their own website for clients to browse.

Once the library is safe, you might want to improve the pictures themselves. My walkthrough of enhancing and upscaling photos with AI is a good place to start.

Moving your photos out of Google Photos

• Use Google Takeout to export your photos. You choose Google Photos, pick the albums, and Google prepares the files for download.
• Keep your Google library in place until you've checked that the exported copy opens and looks right.
• Expect photo details such as dates to be stored in separate files in the export. Some services can read these automatically, so check how your new service handles them.
• Watch for duplicates if the same picture sits in several albums.
• Do the move in stages: start with the albums that matter most, then work through the rest.
• Keep a second copy of your best pictures on a drive at home, whichever service you choose.

Photo backup mistakes to avoid

• Treating a sync service as a backup. If you delete a picture on one device, it can disappear everywhere.
• Moving everything in one go and deleting the original straight away.
• Forgetting the photos that live in messaging apps. If those backups are slow, my guide on why a WhatsApp backup takes so long may help.
• Choosing a self-hosted option without anybody to look after it.
• Assuming one copy in one place is enough for pictures you can't replace.

Why a smaller photo service can be worth a look

Smaller and independent photo services often put one thing first, such as privacy, openness or running on your own hardware. That focus can make them a better fit than a big all-purpose service.

Before you rely on one, check that it's still being updated, that its apps work on your devices, and that you can export your photos at any time. For anything that really matters, keep a second copy somewhere else.

Do you make a photo storage or photo backup service? Tool makers can ask to be considered for a featured place on this list.

Settling on a home for your photos

Pick one service that fits your privacy needs and devices, and try it with a small album first. Check that the originals come out looking right, that sharing works for the people who need it, and that you can export everything. Then move the rest across at a pace that suits you.

Frequently asked questions

What is the best way to back up my phone photos?

Use a service whose phone app uploads new photos automatically, and keep a second copy somewhere else, such as a drive at home. One copy in one place is never enough for pictures you can't replace.

How do I export my photos from Google Photos?

Use Google Takeout. Choose Google Photos, select the albums you want, and Google prepares the files for you to download. Check the exported copy before you delete anything.

Are there free Google Photos alternatives?

Yes. Several services on this list describe a free way to get started, such as a free starter allowance or free open source software. Allowances are limited, so check each service's own site.

Which photo services are best for privacy?

Look for end-to-end encryption, where only you can read your pictures, and check where the company stores data. Self-hosted software gives you more control but needs somebody to look after it.

Can I keep my business photos separate from family photos?

Yes, and it's a good idea. Use separate accounts or libraries so that clients and team members only see what they should, and so personal pictures don't mix with brand images.