Self-host Immich

updated Jul 2026deployed by usprices checked · Jul 2026Install verified on Ubuntu 26.04 · Aug 2026 · how we test

We earn commissions when you shop through the links below. Full disclosure →

Blazing-fast self-hosted photo and video backup with ML search, faces, and a great mobile app. The Google Photos killer.

Key facts

CategoryPhoto backup & gallery

LicenseAGPL-3.0

StackTypeScript, Node.js

Min RAM6144 MB

Official imageyes

Measured idle RAM1940 MB

Difficulty

Sourcegithub.com/immich-app/immich

Websiteimmich.app

Our recommendation

Choose Immich if you want a genuine Google Photos replacement — fast mobile backup, face and object search, a real timeline — and you can give it a box with proper RAM (ideally a GPU for the machine-learning features). It moves fast: pin a version and read the release notes before every update.

Follow the Immich deploy guide →

What you need

Any VPS with at least 6144 MB of RAM
A domain you control — most self-hosted setups need HTTPS in front of them
About an afternoon — budget time for troubleshooting

Where to host itaffiliate disclosure

Hetzner Cloudrun it on

From $23.59/mo · 2 vCPU / 4 GB / 80 GB · EU + US

Get Hetzner Cloud

Kamaterafree trial

From $4/mo · 1 vCPU / 1 GB / 20 GB · US + EU + Asia

Start free on Kamatera →

DigitalOceanalso works on

From $6/mo · 1 vCPU / 1 GB / 25 GB · US + EU + Asia

Deploy on DigitalOcean →

Paid link — we earn a commission if you shop through it.

Install

Run these commands on your server:

# Immich — official compose + env template
wget -O docker-compose.yml https://github.com/immich-app/immich/releases/latest/download/docker-compose.yml
wget -O .env https://github.com/immich-app/immich/releases/latest/download/example.env
# set UPLOAD_LOCATION and DB_PASSWORD in .env, then:
docker compose up -d  #  →  http://SERVER_IP:2283

deploy guideHow to Deploy Immich on a VPS vps picksBest VPS for Immichbenchmarked quarterly · re-priced monthly

What you take on

Immich is superb, but it's pre-1.0 software holding your only copy of irreplaceable photos:

non-negotiableIt is still beta. Breaking changes ship regularly — pin an exact image tag, never latest, and read the release notes before you upgrade.

non-negotiableIt is not your backup. Immich manages your library, it doesn't protect it — keep a separate, off-box copy of the originals so a bad migration can never lose a photo.

non-negotiableMachine learning is hungry. Face and smart search want several GB of RAM and are far happier with a GPU; on a small VPS, expect to throttle or disable them.

An alternative to

Google Photos →

Head-to-head

PhotosSep 2026

Immich

Ente

Server-side smart search vs. a server that never sees your photos.

Phone-first backup vs. mature library organizer.

Read the verdict →

More in Photo backup & gallery

Photo backup & gallery

Common questions

How much RAM does Immich need?

Immich's listed minimum is 6 GB of RAM, with 8 GB recommended; upstream says a 4 GB system can run it only with machine learning disabled. The machine-learning features (face recognition, smart search, object detection) are the main driver of that requirement, more than the file storage itself.

Can I self-host Immich with Docker?

Yes — download the official docker-compose.yml and .env template, set UPLOAD_LOCATION and DB_PASSWORD, then run docker compose up -d to reach it on port 2283.

Is Immich a good Google Photos alternative?

Immich is built specifically to replace Google Photos: automatic mobile backup, a timeline view, and ML-powered search, while keeping every photo on hardware you own under the AGPL-3.0 license.

Is Immich stable enough for daily use?

Immich is still under active, fast-moving development (it's rated mid-difficulty to deploy), so expect frequent updates; back up your library before major version bumps as the project recommends.