shouldiuse.io

VERDICT

Should I use PhotoPrism?

AI-powered, privacy-first, self-hosted app for browsing, organizing, and sharing photos and videos - photoprism.app

Depends. Buy if you're technical, privacy-focused, and want your library on your own hardware. Skip it if you want phone-first simplicity or an official mobile app — try Immich instead.

Confidence

Medium. Based on 30+ public sources: official docs, G2, Reddit, blog reviews, and NVD/SentinelOne CVE data.

Ratings

  • Value for money
  • Ease of use
  • Feature depth
  • Support quality
  • Security posture

Pricing

Free

Community Edition

ModelNot disclosed
Monthly feesNot disclosed
HardwareNot disclosed
Free tierYes
Plus (Personal Membership)Paid membership (price not listed in sources)
Pro / TeamCustom, contact sales

Best for

  • Privacy-focused self-hosters
  • Large libraries (tens of thousands of photos)
  • Google Photos refugees
  • Homelab and NAS owners

Not for

  • Non-technical users wanting one-click setup
  • Phone-first users needing an official mobile backup app
  • Buyers expecting everything free — key features are paid
  • Anyone unwilling to run and patch a server

Gotchas - check before you buy

high

Run the latest build: two 2026 auth-bypass CVEs hit older versions; never expose unpatched instances publicly.

medium

Full feature set sits behind the paid Plus membership; Community Edition is feature-limited.

medium

No official mobile app — phone backup depends on third-party clients.

low

Paid membership for open-source self-hosted software annoys part of the community.

Pros and cons

Pros

  • Free, open-source Community Edition for self-hosters.
  • Mature AI organization: indexing, faces, labels, places.
  • Privacy-first: everything stays on your own server.
  • 100% self-funded, independent team — no VC pressure.
  • Rated 4.3/5 on G2.

Cons

  • No official mobile app; third-party clients only.
  • Setup demands Docker, self-hosting skills, and strong hardware.
  • Advanced features locked behind paid Plus membership.
  • Only 10 G2 reviews — satisfaction data is thin.
  • Some reviewers wanted to love it but couldn't.

Sources & method

Analyzed 9/25/2026 - 11 sources - Two 2026 auth-bypass CVEs found; update to the latest build before any exposure.

official x3review x6security x2
  • CVE-2026-72540: Auth bypass via insecure direct object reference, Authentication bypass vulnerability disclosed for PhotoPrism.
  • CVE-2026-57945: Auth bypass in versions before 260601-a7d098548, Fixed in build 260601-a7d098548; older installs are affected.

Key stats

  • Value for money: 4/5

    Rating

  • Free

    Starting price

  • 11

    Sources

  • Analyzed

  • Value for money: 4/5. Free core; advanced features behind paid membership
  • Ease of use: 3/5. G2 users find it easy; setup and mobile app friction
  • Feature depth: 4/5. Mature AI indexing: faces, labels, places, sharing
  • Support quality: 3/5. Community support free; dedicated support paid
  • Security posture: 2/5. Two 2026 auth-bypass CVEs, now patched
  • 4.3/5 G2 rating 10 G2 reviews
  • Free Starting price Community Edition, self-hosted
  • Yes Free tier Open-source Community Edition
  • Self-funded Funding 100% independent, no VC

Pricing

Community Edition

Free

  • Self-hosted, open source
  • Core AI indexing and browsing

Plus (Personal Membership)

Paid membership (price not listed in sources)

  • Advanced features
  • Dedicated support

Pro / Team

Not disclosed

  • Multi-user teams
  • Enterprise support options

Security

Two 2026 auth-bypass CVEs found; update to the latest build before any exposure.

  • CVE-2026-72540: Auth bypass via insecure direct object referenceAuthentication bypass vulnerability disclosed for PhotoPrism.11
  • CVE-2026-57945: Auth bypass in versions before 260601-a7d098548Fixed in build 260601-a7d098548; older installs are affected.10

What users say

Users praise PhotoPrism's AI organization and maturity but commonly gripe about mobile app support and the paid membership model.

“I want to like this so bad! Needs better App support”
Reddit, r/photoprism
“Photoprism is more mature.”
Reddit, r/selfhosted
“Photoprism is very easy to use and it”
G2 review
Full analysis

Based on 30+ public sources: official docs, G2, Reddit, blog reviews, and NVD/SentinelOne CVE data.

Powerful self-hosted Google Photos rival for techies; casual phone-first users should look at Immich first.

Methodology

Based on 30+ public sources: official docs, G2, Reddit, blog reviews, and NVD/SentinelOne CVE data.

Sources

  1. PhotoPrism Pricing & Editionsphotoprism.app
    official
  2. PhotoPrism Featuresphotoprism.app
    official
  3. PhotoPrism Membership FAQphotoprism.app
    official
  4. PhotoPrism on G2g2.com
    review
  5. PhotoPrism seller rating on G2g2.com
    review
  6. Immich vs photoprism — Reddit r/selfhostedreddit.com
    review
  7. Needs better App support — Reddit r/photoprismreddit.com
    review
  8. Why I Wanted to Love It… And Why I Can'tmarcrphoto.wordpress.com
    review
  9. Photo Backup Bakeoff: PhotoPrism vs Immichmike.lapidak.is
    review
  10. CVE-2026-57945 — NVDnvd.nist.gov
    security
  11. CVE-2026-72540 — SentinelOnesentinelone.com
    security

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