Immich
Kdenlive
| Feature | Immich | Kdenlive |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free / from $0/mo | Free only |
| Free Plan | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Rating | 4.7 / 5 | 4 / 5 |
| Best For | self-hosters, families, privacy-focused-users, photographers | linux-users, hobbyists, educators, budget-users |
| Founded | 2022 | 2002 |
| Photo Backup | ✓ | ✗ |
| Facial Recognition | ✓ | ✗ |
| Smart Search | ✓ | ✗ |
| Shared Albums | ✓ | ✗ |
| Memories | ✓ | ✗ |
| Map View | ✓ | ✗ |
| Mobile Apps | ✓ | ✗ |
| Multi Track | ✗ | ✓ |
| Effects | ✗ | ✓ |
| Transitions | ✗ | ✓ |
| Keyframes | ✗ | ✓ |
| Proxy Editing | ✗ | ✓ |
| Titling | ✗ | ✓ |
✓ 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)
✓ Kdenlive Pros
- Free and open-source
- Multi-track editing
- Good effects library
- Active community
✗ Kdenlive Cons
- Stability issues
- Less polished UI
- Limited Mac support
The Verdict
Immich is built for self hosters and families, with a focus on photo-backup and facial-recognition. Kdenlive targets linux users and hobbyists and leads with multi-track and effects.
Kdenlive uses custom enterprise pricing, while Immich starts at $0/mo — a tangible advantage for teams with a fixed budget.
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). 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 Kdenlive 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, Kdenlive may still be the right call.