The short version: a PhotoPrism alternative with no server for you to run
Pick PhotoPrism for facial recognition, automatic labels and video, if you're happy to run a server or pay for hosting. Pick CachePix to search your photo archive on your phone without setting one up.
As of October 2026, PhotoPrism is server software you install yourself, typically with Docker. You can also pay its partner PikaPods for managed hosting. Your devices open the library in a browser or its web app (PWA).
CachePix is a photo catalog app for Mac and Windows. It catalogs the photos on your drives, then syncs a searchable catalog to free iPhone and Android companion apps, so you can browse your archive with the drives unplugged. Your photos never go to the cloud.
CachePix and PhotoPrism side by side
PhotoPrism's prices and some details come only from its own site and docs, so we attribute them. CachePix facts are for desktop 0.2.1 and the 1.1.0 phone apps.
| Feature | PhotoPrism | CachePix |
|---|---|---|
| What you run | A server: Docker on a computer, NAS, Raspberry Pi or cloud server (at least 2 CPU cores and 3 GB of RAM recommended), or paid hosting from partner PikaPods. | A desktop app. There's no server for you to install or run. |
| On your computer | A web browser, or the web app (PWA) added to your desktop. No separate desktop program. | Native app for Mac with Apple silicon (macOS 12 or later) and 64-bit Windows. |
| Own app in the App Store and Google Play | No. You use the web app (PWA) in the browser or from your home screen. | Yes: iPhone and iPad on iOS 18 or later, Android 9 or later. Free download; a CachePix plan is required. |
| Uploads from your phone | Yes, through third-party apps such as PhotoSync, over WebDAV. | No. It doesn't read your camera roll; it views the catalog your computer builds. |
| Where your photos live | On your own server when self-hosted, not uploaded to PhotoPrism, according to its privacy policy. Optional add-ons you set up, such as OpenAI captions or PikaPods hosting, can send data elsewhere. | Your photos, previews and catalog never leave your own computer and phone. CachePix's only online service is your account: email sign-in, the plan check, and Stripe billing in your browser. |
| Existing folders and drives | Per its docs, it can index existing folders in place and photos on external drives that are connected to and mounted on the computer running the server; with Docker, each folder or drive has to be mounted into the container. | Catalog a Folder… takes any folder or drive: internal, external or removable. |
| Facial recognition | Yes, in all editions, including the free Community Edition. | No, by design. People names come from metadata in your files, or names you type in CachePix. |
| Automatic labels and AI captions | Yes: labels by content and location, plus optional AI captions from a self-hosted Ollama model or OpenAI. | No AI tagging. On the desktop, one search box covers 13 fields, including filename, people, keywords and caption. |
| Edits and your original files | Generally doesn't write to your originals, per its FAQ: edits such as titles and dates go to its own database and sidecar files. Listed exceptions include rotating an image, importing, and deleting files in the app. | Cataloging never modifies, moves, renames or deletes your files. CachePix writes metadata only when you edit it, and only the fields you changed, as standard XMP in the file or in a sidecar next to RAW files. |
| RAW photos | Yes, in all editions, converted for viewing with tools such as Darktable or RawTherapee. | Yes: 15 RAW formats, previewed from the camera's embedded JPEG. |
| Video | Yes: videos, Live Photos and Motion Photos. | No. Video isn't supported. |
| Open source | Yes: the Community Edition is under the AGPL. The standard Docker image uses PhotoPrism's Plus License. | No. |
| Price | Per photoprism.app: Community Edition free; Essentials EUR 2.00 a month and Plus from EUR 6.00 a month, both billed annually; managed hosting through partner PikaPods from $6.50 a month. | $4.99 a month or $29.99 a year after a 14-day free trial, or $99 once for Lifetime. One plan covers your computer and your phone. |
When PhotoPrism is the better pick
PhotoPrism is the stronger choice if any of these matter to you:
- You want faces found for you. PhotoPrism detects faces, groups similar ones and lets you name the people, in all editions.
- You want automatic labels. It labels photos by content and location, with combinable filters such as color and quality. Optional AI captions can come from an Ollama model you host.
- Your archive has video. Videos, Live Photos and Motion Photos play in the browser.
- You want new phone photos sent to your server. Third-party apps such as PhotoSync upload them over WebDAV.
- You want free and open source. As of October 2026, the Community Edition is free to self-host under the AGPL.
- You have a Google Photos export. PhotoPrism can read the JSON metadata files that come with a Google Photos export.
- You already run a NAS or home server and want one library that each device opens in a browser.
It's also actively developed, according to its release notes.
When CachePix fits better
CachePix is for people who want their archive on their phone without setting up a photo server.
- No server for you to install or run. CachePix is a PhotoPrism alternative without Docker: there are no containers or mounts to set up. It's a regular app for Apple silicon Macs and 64-bit Windows, so it also works as a PhotoPrism alternative for Windows users who'd rather not set up a server.
- Native apps at both ends. Desktop apps for Mac and Windows; phone apps for iPhone, iPad and Android. More on the CachePix phone app.
- Drives in a drawer. Browse and search your catalog with the drives unplugged and the computer at home. CachePix checks your plan online at least once every 14 days. On your computer, the Library shows cached 512px thumbnails and HD previews.
- Your metadata does the searching. CachePix reads the metadata you already wrote in Photo Mechanic or Lightroom, including XMP sidecars next to RAW files. On your computer, one search box covers 13 fields, such as people, keywords, caption and city. Words combine, so "Sam graduation" finds photos that match both. The phone searches filename, people, keywords and caption.
- Several drives, one catalog. Identical copies on different drives become one photo with each location listed. Edited or re-saved copies stay separate.
Setup takes three steps:
- Install CachePix, sign in with the 6-digit code we email you, and start the 14-day free trial or choose a plan.
- In Drives & Folders, choose Catalog a Folder… and pick a folder or a drive.
- Open Pair Phone…, click Turn On, then scan the QR code with your phone. The catalog syncs one way, from your computer to your phone, over your local network.
On the phone, HD previews download automatically for a capture-date window you choose: 30 days, 90 days, 1 year (the default), 2 years or All photos. Here's how much space it uses on your phone.
What CachePix doesn't do
CachePix has no facial recognition, face detection or AI tagging, and there's no Linux build.
CachePix catalogs JPEG, PNG, WebP and 15 RAW formats. HEIC and TIFF photos are cataloged and searchable, and previews for them are coming. Video isn't supported.
Drive tracking works on Mac only. On Mac, CachePix tracks each drive by its volume ID, so a renamed drive re-links the next time you connect it.
Same network for syncing. Sync and Get HD need your phone on the same local network as your computer, with CachePix running and phone sync turned on. Full-size originals stay on your drives. The phone carries thumbnails and HD previews.
Not a backup. CachePix is a catalog, not a backup. It makes your archive findable. It doesn't make a second copy, so keep backing up your drives.
Is Immich the best PhotoPrism alternative for you?
Immich is another self-hosted photo server. As of October 2026 it has free iPhone and Android apps, which need an Immich server that you run yourself, usually with Docker. CachePix vs Immich lines up Immich, PhotoPrism and CachePix on setup.
Questions about PhotoPrism
Does PhotoPrism have an iPhone app?
Not its own. As of October 2026, PhotoPrism doesn't publish an app in the App Store or Google Play. On an iPhone you use its web app (PWA) in the browser or on your home screen, and third-party apps such as PhotoSync can upload to your server. CachePix has native apps for iPhone (iOS 18 or later) and Android.
Can PhotoPrism run on Windows?
Yes. As of October 2026, PhotoPrism is server software you typically run with Docker on a Mac, Windows or Linux computer, a NAS, a Raspberry Pi or a cloud server. You then open it in a browser. CachePix works differently: it's a desktop app for 64-bit Windows, and there's no server for you to install or run.
Is PhotoPrism free?
Yes. As of October 2026, the Community Edition is free to self-host and open source, with facial recognition, RAW and video, and PhotoPrism's site lists Essentials at EUR 2.00 a month and Plus from EUR 6.00 a month, billed annually. CachePix has no free plan: $4.99 a month or $29.99 a year after a 14-day free trial, or $99 once.
Keep reading
See all comparisons or the photo cataloging software features.
Compare
CachePix vs Immich
Another self-hosted photo server, row by row.
Plans
CachePix pricing
Monthly, Annual or Lifetime.
Get started
Download CachePix
Apple silicon Mac or 64-bit Windows, plus the phone apps.
Last checked .
Sources
- Setup. PhotoPrism (official docs). Checked October 6, 2026.
- FAQ. PhotoPrism (official docs). Checked October 6, 2026.
- Mobile App (PWA). PhotoPrism (official docs). Checked October 6, 2026.
- Mobile Devices. PhotoPrism (official docs). Checked October 6, 2026.
- Import to Originals. PhotoPrism (official docs). Checked October 6, 2026.
- Release Notes. PhotoPrism (official docs). Checked October 6, 2026.
- Features. PhotoPrism (official site). Checked October 6, 2026.
- Pricing & Editions. PhotoPrism (official site). Checked October 6, 2026.
- Membership FAQ. PhotoPrism (official site). Checked October 6, 2026.
- Open Source FAQ. PhotoPrism (official site). Checked October 6, 2026.
- Privacy Policy. PhotoPrism (official site). Checked October 6, 2026.
- PhotoPrism. heise download (heise online), record last updated May 26, 2026.
- PhotoPrism AI-Powered Photos App Gets Better Face Detection. Linuxiac (Bobby Borisov), September 24, 2026.
- PhotoPrism AI-Powered Photos App Adds Vulkan Transcoding. Linuxiac (Bobby Borisov), May 23, 2026.
- PhotoPrism AI-Powered Photos App Brings Better Ollama Integration. Linuxiac (Bobby Borisov), March 9, 2026.
- PhotoPrism AI-Powered Photos App Rolls Out Performance Boosts. Linuxiac (Bobby Borisov), April 25, 2025.
- I finally replaced Synology Photos with PhotoPrism for these 4 major frustrations. XDA Developers (Chandraveer Mathur), November 21, 2025.
- This self-hosted app sorted my messy photo library in minutes. MakeUseOf (Jayric Maning), November 9, 2025.
- If you only need basic photos and files, these 4 self-hosted tools are better than Nextcloud. XDA Developers (Victor Awogbemila), October 6, 2025.
- Alternatives for Google Photos. XDA Developers (Ruby Helyer), December 27, 2024.
- How I built a Google Photos alternative on my NAS with PhotoPrism. XDA Developers (Adam Conway), April 11, 2024.
- What Is PhotoPrism? How to Use the AI-Powered Photo App. MakeUseOf (Danny Maiorca), March 8, 2024. The only independent source that matches PhotoPrism's prices.
- Download Immich. Immich (official site). Checked October 6, 2026.
- Immich on Google Play. Immich (official store listing). Checked October 6, 2026.
- I (finally) ditched Google Photos for self-hosted; here's how it went. Android Authority (Robert Triggs), January 10, 2026.
- How I ditched Google Photos for my own private self-hosted alternative. ZDNET (Jack Wallen), December 29, 2025.
XDA Developers and MakeUseOf are both owned by Valnet, so we count them as one publisher.