Immich v3 Emerges as 15GB-Beating Google Photos Alternative
Updated
Updated · Android Police · Jul 26
Immich v3 Emerges as 15GB-Beating Google Photos Alternative
1 articles · Updated · Android Police · Jul 26
Summary
Immich v3 convinced the reviewer a full switch from Google Photos is now realistic, after months of testing alternatives and finding this release finally complete enough for daily use.
15GB of free Google Photos storage versus self-hosted ownership was the key draw: Immich removes cloud storage limits and gives users direct control of their photo library.
Version 3.0.0 closed major feature gaps with background Android library uploads, a Recently added page, mobile OCR, an improved slideshow, and non-destructive edits that preserve originals.
Docker setup and migration still remain the biggest hurdles, with Google Takeout exporting metadata into separate JSON sidecar files that users must merge manually.
Launched in 2022, the open-source app now looks and feels close to Google Photos—with timeline view, face recognition, album sharing and automatic backup on Android and iOS.