Immich
Sync.com
| Feature | Immich | Sync.com |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free / from $0/mo | Free / from $6/mo |
| Free Plan | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Rating | 4.7 / 5 | 4.4 / 5 |
| Best For | self-hosters, families, privacy-focused-users, photographers | privacy-conscious-users, healthcare-professionals, lawyers, businesses-handling-sensitive-data |
| Founded | 2022 | 2011 |
| Photo Backup | ✓ | ✗ |
| Facial Recognition | ✓ | ✗ |
| Smart Search | ✓ | ✗ |
| Shared Albums | ✓ | ✗ |
| Memories | ✓ | ✗ |
| Map View | ✓ | ✗ |
| Mobile Apps | ✓ | ✗ |
| End To End Encryption | ✗ | ✓ |
| File Sharing | ✗ | ✓ |
| Vault Storage | ✗ | ✓ |
| Document Scanning | ✗ | ✓ |
| Remote Wipe | ✗ | ✓ |
| Compliance | ✗ | ✓ |
✓ 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)
✓ Sync.com Pros
- True zero-knowledge encryption
- GDPR and HIPAA compliant
- Generous free 5GB plan
- No third-party tracking
✗ Sync.com Cons
- Sync speeds slower than competitors
- Limited collaboration features
- No built-in document editing
The Verdict
Immich is built for self hosters and families, with a focus on photo-backup and facial-recognition. Sync.com targets privacy conscious users and healthcare professionals and leads with end-to-end-encryption and file-sharing.
On pricing, Immich is the clear winner for budget-conscious users — starting at $0/mo compared to $6/mo for Sync.com. That $6/mo difference adds up quickly for growing teams.
Both offer free plans, so you can test each with your real workflow before committing to a subscription.
Feature-wise, Immich offers broader built-in capabilities (7 features vs 6), while Sync.com takes a more focused approach — which can mean a simpler, faster onboarding experience.
Bottom line: Immich has a slight overall edge — but if true zero-knowledge encryption matters most to you, Sync.com may still be the right call.