When I decided to leave Google Photos, it was due to privacy concerns and curiosity about how practical it would be to replace Google services with open-source alternatives. I had already grown used to the Google way of things. Its automated sorting and reminders filled certain gaps for me. Using Google Photos was convenient until it became uncomfortable. It was like I was letting a machine interpret my memories instead of simply storing them. I needed to cut through the filters and predictions to understand what my library looked like.

So, I switched to Piwigo. It wasn’t a flashy replacement, but rather a sturdier and more deliberate one. It did not treat my photos as behavioral data but as files.

Realizing my photos were more than mere storage for Google

I once searched for "sketchbook" on Google Photos, and it dug up private work drafts I had forgotten I ever photographed. At that moment, it hit me that Google could be doing more than identifying people; it could also be analyzing objects tied to my habits, routines, and creative process. Instantly, I started looking at Google Photos as a sensor rather than a vault.

This is not a groundbreaking finding. Google has documented that it improves its models using metadata. But experiencing firsthand how my archive feeds Google was enough to reshape my relationship with Google Photos. It was time to opt out.

The appeal of Piwigo was practical. Its image gallery does not subject my photos to automated categorization or machine learning if I don’t explicitly opt in. It’s a refreshing kind of silence that excludes algorithmic interpretations and extraction cloaked as convenience—a simple photo library acting like a photo library.

Piwigo

OS Web app, OS, Android

Price model Free

Piwigo is an open-source photo management software for organizing, managing, and sharing digital photos and videos on the web.

Building a library that matches how I think

Hierarchies, virtual albums, and metadata I can relate to

Google Photos is great for casual users, but once I reached around 20,000 images, the timeline flattened, albums became secondary, and my searches felt like guesswork. The only efficient way to navigate was by relying on Google’s AI.

Piwigo is built around intentional structure. I can use nested albums to express how I actually categorize memories and work. Rather than using a single giant reverse-chronological feed like Google Photos, I built my own system. So, for instance: Family > 2020s > Trips > Morocco, or Work > Clients > Deliverables. This structure reflects me more than a universal timeline does

The first feature that genuinely caught my attention was virtual albums. Without any weird syncing behavior, additional storage, or duplicates, I can access the same file from several albums. There’s nothing comparable on Google Photos.

Also, Piwigo reads my EXIF and IPTC tags from Lightroom directly. It gives me fast, accurate filtering that doesn’t rely on algorithmic guessing.

Customization that turns a gallery into a workspace

Themes, plugins, and capabilities that grow with you

Google Photos is very uniform, giving everyone the same interface and layouts, ultimately resulting in the same limited control. However, removing complexity also takes away ownership. It’s a stark contrast to Piwigo, where I can make the interface feel like it’s actually mine.

The themes change the way the library feels and flows. With a darker theme, my photography instantly looks richer and more like how I want to present it professionally. I control thumbnails, browsing modes, display density, and the sorting logic.

Add to that the hundreds of plugins, many of which are built by long-time photographers, and you get a very rich photo environment. You simply get a lot of tools you didn’t know you needed: bulk renaming utilities, extended search tools, and alternate layout engines.

I added a digital-download plugin, and that’s when Piwigo clicked as a platform rather than a gallery, giving me a basic storefront overnight. It feels like my gallery has room to grow with me rather than contain me.

Sharing on your terms

Granular access, controlled downloads, and secure viewing

Google Photos offers a private or public link for sharing, which is intentionally simple. However, this approach works best for casual sharing and can be blunt in real-world situations. It’s preferable to have different levels of visibility for a family archive, a client gallery, and a public collection.

Piwigo’s access levels let me approach sharing in a different way. I create groups and set album-specific permissions. I allow some people to view, others to download full-res originals, and others to see only watermarked versions.

Scaling was surprisingly efficient. I could make an album display low-resolution previews to the public while displaying print-ready originals to a predefined group. It didn’t require duplicate albums, sharing hacks, or hidden URLs. This level of control is a major reason several people switch to open-source tools.

A learning curve with long-term payoff

Set up effort, stable independence, and two hosting paths

It’s important to note that, unlike Google Photos, Piwigo isn’t plug-and-play. I self-host several of the services that I use, and it isn’t as intimidating as you may think. Self-hosting Piwigo means you have to configure a database, tweak permissions, and set up backups. Once my server was running and all set, I downloaded the app on my mobile devices and connected to my server. Maintenance is minimal after setup.

The tool instantly rewards you with stability and control. I never have to battle with new UI experiments or sudden policy changes. However, self-hosting isn’t required, since Piwigo offers a paid cloud-hosted package. It’s fully managed and offers all the features without any of the setup work. I chose to self-host because it reduces uncertainty and costs nothing beyond a server. I use an older computer as my dedicated home server.

A photo library finally feels like mine

Google Photos is a very well-thought-out service. However, using Piwigo has changed how I relate to my own library. My archive is something that I can now shape with intention. While I gave up some convenience, I’ve benefited from greater clarity.

Privacy and control are some reasons Piwigo is worth the switch; you’ll be switching to a tool that respects the effort behind every photo.