What it does
LibrePhotos is a private alternative to cloud photo services that you run on your own computer or home server. It organises photos and videos into a timeline, albums and a map.
It uses machine learning to group faces, add tags and captions, and let you search with phrases like "dog on a beach". It also spots duplicates and creates event albums automatically.
There is a web app and a mobile app for Android and iOS, with support for multiple users and shared albums.
Who it's for
People who want a private, self-hosted photo library with smart search.
Can I use it without coding?
With some setup. Usually installed with Docker; there is also a standalone Windows version that needs no Docker. New to this? Start here.
Can I run it?
- Cost
- FreeNothing to pay or sign up for.
- Runs on
- Windows, Linux, Server, Web browser, Phone
- Computer
- Works best on a powerful computer or one with a graphics card (GPU)
- Privacy
- Runs on your own device: your data stays with you
- API key
- Not needed
Try it
- Point LibrePhotos at your photo folders and let it scan them.
- Open the web app or the mobile app to browse and search your photos.
Using Claude Code, Cursor or another AI coding assistant? Paste the prompt and it will walk you through the setup.New to this?
Before you install
- Only download from the official GitHub page. Copies with similar names exist for many popular projects.
- License (MIT): Very permissive: free to use, change and share, including for business.
- More on staying safe
Where people are talking about it
- LibrePhotos: A Self-Hosted Google Photos AlternativeHacker News · Dec 2020