# PhotoPrism vs LibrePhotos

> Pick PhotoPrism for a polished, mature web library that indexes folders in place; pick LibrePhotos if you want a fully MIT-licensed, Django-based app with AI search and no paid tier.

## Verdict

PhotoPrism is the more polished and established option for browsing a large photo archive, with fast search, maps and good RAW support, although some features sit behind a paid membership. LibrePhotos fits users who want everything free under a permissive license and a Python/Django stack they can extend, and who accept a smaller project.

- Best for PhotoPrism: A polished web library for a large existing photo archive
- Best for LibrePhotos: A fully free, permissively licensed photo app with AI search

## Key differences

| Aspect | PhotoPrism | LibrePhotos |
|---|---|---|
| License | AGPL-3.0; some features are reserved for paid members. | MIT, with no paid feature tier. |
| Language/stack | Go with TensorFlow; MariaDB or SQLite. | Python (Django) backend with PostgreSQL and a React/TypeScript frontend. |
| Standout features | Fast indexing of existing folders, maps, RAW and video support, PWA. | Face recognition, object and scene detection, semantic search and reverse geocoding. |
| Mobile apps | PWA plus third-party native apps such as PhotoSync. | The repository includes an Expo-based mobile app for Android and iOS. |
| Maturity | Larger user base and extensive documentation. | Smaller community; documentation is lighter. |

## GitHub numbers

| Metric | PhotoPrism | LibrePhotos |
|---|---|---|
| GitHub stars | 40,272 | 8,089 |
| Forks | 2,329 | 405 |
| Commits, last 12 months | 2,819 | 753 |
| Last commit | Oct 6, 2026 | Oct 5, 2026 |
| Latest release | 260919-28c46a116 | 1.2.1 |
| License | AGPL-3.0 | MIT |
| License type | Open source | Open source |
| Language | Go | Python |
| Docker image | Yes | Yes |
| Repository | https://github.com/photoprism/photoprism | https://github.com/LibrePhotos/librephotos |

App pages: [PhotoPrism](https://appsgit.com/apps/photoprism), [LibrePhotos](https://appsgit.com/apps/librephotos)

## FAQ

### Is LibrePhotos completely free?

Yes. LibrePhotos is released under the MIT license and has no paid tier.

### Which handles RAW photos better?

Both import RAW files. PhotoPrism has long-standing RAW conversion support and is the safer choice if RAW is a large part of your library.

### Do I need a GPU for either app?

No. Both run their machine-learning features on the CPU, though initial indexing of a large library takes longer on low-power hardware.

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Canonical page: https://appsgit.com/compare/photoprism-vs-librephotos
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