Immich
Joplin
| Feature | Immich | Joplin |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free / from $0/mo | Free / from $2.99/mo |
| Free Plan | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Rating | 4.7 / 5 | 4.2 / 5 |
| Best For | self-hosters, families, privacy-focused-users, photographers | privacy-advocates, developers, linux-users, evernote-migrants |
| Founded | 2022 | 2017 |
| Photo Backup | ✓ | ✗ |
| Facial Recognition | ✓ | ✗ |
| Smart Search | ✓ | ✗ |
| Shared Albums | ✓ | ✗ |
| Memories | ✓ | ✗ |
| Map View | ✓ | ✗ |
| Mobile Apps | ✓ | ✗ |
| Markdown | ✗ | ✓ |
| Encryption | ✗ | ✓ |
| Sync | ✗ | ✓ |
| Web Clipper | ✗ | ✓ |
| Plugins | ✗ | ✓ |
| Notebooks | ✗ | ✓ |
✓ Immich Pros
- Full Google Photos replacement (self-hosted)
- AI face recognition and smart search
- Mobile apps with automatic background backup
- Shared albums and partner sharing
✗ Immich Cons
- Self-hosting only (no managed cloud option)
- Resource-intensive (especially ML features)
- Still in active development (breaking changes possible)
✓ Joplin Pros
- Free and open-source
- End-to-end encryption
- Self-host option
- Import from Evernote
✗ Joplin Cons
- Less polished UI
- Sync requires setup
- Limited collaboration
The Verdict
Immich is built for self hosters and families, with a focus on photo-backup and facial-recognition. Joplin targets privacy advocates and developers and leads with markdown and encryption.
Pricing is close: Immich starts at $0/mo versus $2.99/mo for Joplin — not a deciding factor on its own.
Both offer free plans, so you can test each with your real workflow before committing to a subscription.
Immich edges out on user ratings (4.7 vs 4.2). While both are well-regarded, that gap reflects real differences in user satisfaction worth considering.
Feature-wise, Immich offers broader built-in capabilities (7 features vs 6), while Joplin takes a more focused approach — which can mean a simpler, faster onboarding experience.
Bottom line: Immich has a slight overall edge — but if free and open-source matters most to you, Joplin may still be the right call.