Immich vs Synology Photos

For a household that wants a family photo appliance, buy the Synology DS225+ for Synology Photos, with disks, its supported memory upgrade and independent backups. Choose Immich when someone wants to administer it: reuse an eligible home server first, or add a Beelink EQ14 N150 for compute while keeping photo storage separate. For that separate storage role, also consider the UGREEN NASync DXP2800, with compatible photo disks and independent backups.

Quick picks: buy around the administrator

Compare specifications and all conditions

Keep an eligible host

Our pick

Existing Linux host meeting the requirements below

Database and photo destination

Immich database on local SSD; assets on existing suitable storage

Independent backup

Rotating external backup drives

All specifications

Who should choose it

Someone already maintaining a server

Buy a photo appliance

Our pick

DS225+ with supported memory and mirrored disks

Database and photo destination

Native Synology Photos on the NAS

Independent backup

Hyper Backup to external drives

All specifications

Who should choose it

A family wanting a packaged workflow

Separate Immich compute

Our pick

EQ14 N150, 16 GB / 500 GB kit, plus NAS storage; also consider DXP2800 for the storage role

Database and photo destination

Database on the PC's SSD; assets on the NAS

Independent backup

Restic snapshots to external drives

All specifications

Who should choose it

An administrator who wants compute separate from storage

Full comparison table ↔

Swipe to compare. Row labels stay visible.

Hardware path	Our pick	Database and photo destination	Independent backup	Who should choose it
Keep an eligible host	Existing Linux host meeting the requirements below	Immich database on local SSD; assets on existing suitable storage	Rotating external backup drives	Someone already maintaining a server
Buy a photo appliance	DS225+ with supported memory and mirrored disks	Native Synology Photos on the NAS	Hyper Backup to external drives	A family wanting a packaged workflow
Separate Immich compute	EQ14 N150, 16 GB / 500 GB kit, plus NAS storage; also consider DXP2800 for the storage role	Database on the PC's SSD; assets on the NAS	Restic snapshots to external drives	An administrator who wants compute separate from storage

Hardware path	Our pick	Database and photo destination	Independent backup	Who should choose it
Keep an eligible host	Existing Linux host meeting the requirements below	Immich database on local SSD; assets on existing suitable storage	Rotating external backup drives	Someone already maintaining a server
Buy a photo appliance	DS225+ with supported memory and mirrored disks	Native Synology Photos on the NAS	Hyper Backup to external drives	A family wanting a packaged workflow
Separate Immich compute	EQ14 N150, 16 GB / 500 GB kit, plus NAS storage; also consider DXP2800 for the storage role	Database on the PC's SSD; assets on the NAS	Restic snapshots to external drives	An administrator who wants compute separate from storage

These are purchasing judgments, not measured performance rankings. The separate-compute path adds equipment and administration; choose it for control over Immich, rather than assuming it makes phone uploads more dependable.

Check the application version before buying hardware

Version baseline, checked November 2, 2026: Immich's latest non-prerelease is v3.3.5. Its release-pinned requirements specify:

The Synology baseline is Photos 1.9.1-10928, the newest entry in its release feed, using DSM 7.3 specifications. This identifies the documentation used; recheck package requirements when ordering.

Best first step for Immich: keep an eligible host

Spend on recovery before replacing suitable compute. Check available memory after existing services, CPU compatibility, local SSD space and an administrator willing to read upgrade notes. Immich recommends Linux and a full VM when virtualizing; it discourages Docker inside LXC.

• Yes: Keep the host when it meets the release's CPU and available-memory requirements
• Yes: Keep the database on local SSD storage with Unix permissions
• Partly: Reuse NAS storage for assets after checking mounts and permissions
• No: Reject a plan that puts the live database on a network share

Our existing-host basket assumes suitable primary storage already exists. Add the backup drives below; if primary storage is missing, add the same NAS-and-disk basket as the separate-compute path, or the DXP2800 storage option below with compatible disks. For broader platform choices, see our home server guide.

Best family appliance: Synology DS225+

The DS225+ specifications list an Intel Celeron J4125, two SATA bays, one 2.5GbE port and one gigabit port. Its software table explicitly includes Synology Photos.

Buy the memory module with it: Synology says this model needs at least 4 GB for Photos object recognition. The supported D4NS01-4G module adds 4 GB to the installed 2 GB, reaching the official 6 GB maximum. Do not mistake a bare chassis for our complete photo kit.

That ceiling is below Immich's recommended 8 GB. Our recommendation is therefore native Photos on this NAS, with its package workflow and Hyper Backup, rather than buying it as an Immich host. Our NAS buying guide covers other enclosure choices.

Best separate Immich compute candidate: Beelink EQ14 N150

Select the EQ14 N150 kit with 16 GB DDR4, 500 GB SSD and dual 2.5G LAN. Beelink lists a quad-core processor and a 16 GB memory ceiling. The supplied memory and SSD cover our starting compute basket; an additional boot SSD or RAM purchase is unnecessary for that configuration.

Check the exact variant and delivery: the maker labels this kit pre-order. It describes PCIe-capable M.2 slots but says the supplied SSD is SATA III. Its own headings also alternate “Twin Lake” and “Alder Lake”; match the N150 model and selected bundle rather than relying on the generation label.

Beelink lists Windows 11 Home. Our plan requires installing Linux and checking storage and network operation before migration. Keep Immich's database on that internal SSD; the included SSD is not our family-library capacity allowance. With NAS-hosted assets, arrange persistent mounts and follow Immich's storage-location guidance. An existing suitable NAS can replace the listed NAS purchase after those checks.

Also consider for Immich photo storage: UGREEN NASync DXP2800.

The DXP2800 is a diskless NAS with an Intel N100 quad-core processor, 8 GB DDR5 expandable to 16 GB, two SATA bays and a 2.5GbE port. Its two M.2 NVMe slots support SSD caching or a separate SSD pool. Buy compatible photo disks separately.

Our recommendation here is for photo-asset storage alongside an eligible Linux host or the specified EQ14. Keep Immich and its live database on the host's local SSD, and verify persistent mounts and permissions before migration. The DXP2800 runs UGOS; the native Synology Photos workflow described above belongs to the Synology path. Budget for independent backups and the administrator responsible for both machines.

Photo disks: supported default and WD alternative

Our default is two Synology HAT3320-8T drives. The maker identifies this exact 8 TB model in the DS225+'s compatible-accessories list; its Plus drive family uses CMR recording. Match the complete suffix: other capacities and HAT revisions are separate configurations.

Use a RAID 1 mirror. Two 8 TB drives give the capacity of the smaller member—nominally 8 TB before system and filesystem overhead. They do not combine into double that photo capacity.

Already own WD Red Plus drives? The WD80EFPX is an 8 TB, 3.5-inch SATA CMR NAS drive. Synology's DSM 7.3 policy permits third-party-drive installation and pool creation on its applicable models. That policy is not confirmation that this exact WD model is on the DS225+ validation list. Our default stays with the explicitly listed Synology drive; existing WD owners should check the current list before moving data.

Buy the complete storage and backup basket

For each path, choose a pair of WD Elements Desktop 12 TB drives, WDBWLG0120HBK-NESN as rotating backup targets. This is the powered desktop model: WD includes a USB-A cable and AC adapter. Keep a completed copy disconnected and offsite; rotate it on an agreed schedule.

Connect the backup drive to the NAS for Photos, or to the Linux host for Immich. Plan to format it appropriately, such as ext4, and verify mounting and restoration before migration. WD lists Windows compatibility and possible macOS reformatting; it does not certify this proposed NAS/Linux setup on that page.

Sizing example, not a measured workload: assume a household has 4 TB of originals. Immich documents average extra storage of 10–20% for thumbnails and transcoded video, before future originals or backup history. Our mirrored 8 TB basket leaves growth space for that example; a 12 TB backup disk is a starting choice, not a promise of unlimited versions. Measure the actual library and backup repository, choose retention, and increase capacity before either fills.

Phone uploads, sharing and everyday work

Immich: selected phone albums upload when the app opens or resumes and periodically in the background; Wi-Fi is the default. On iOS, Background App Refresh must be enabled, but the OS decides when background work runs. Android battery optimization can obstruct it. Its public share links support passwords and expiry dates, and local shared albums have editor/viewer permissions. See its mobile-backup and sharing documentation.

Synology Photos: supports album permissions, collaborative Shared Space and links with passwords and expiry dates. Its selected mobile specifications require iOS 16.0 or Android 11 and above. Synology advises enabling notifications and connecting iOS devices to a charger for backup efficiency. HEIC/HEVC preview handling can require Image Assistant; check your phone's workflow before importing the archive. These are documented in its technical specifications.

Before handing over either system, check a fresh phone upload in the server browser, open a representative video and try a share link from the recipient's device. Agree who reviews upload failures, storage use, backup completion and updates. Immich's upgrade instructions specifically require reading release notes for breaking changes; assign that work to someone.

Back up and restore the whole photo system

Synology Photos: install Hyper Backup and select Synology Photos in its backup wizard, rather than merely copying visible photo folders. Its recovery instructions cover originals, albums, recognition results, package settings and share-link settings. Hyper Backup supports external-device destinations and integrity checks.

To recover, use Hyper Backup to restore the chosen package/data backup. The restore overwrites current Photos settings and data; Synology also says the destination volume cannot be smaller than the source. Save encryption credentials separately and check that the intended replacement can satisfy that volume requirement.

Immich: automatic database dumps contain metadata, not photos, and live under UPLOAD_LOCATION/backups. Follow the release's backup and restore instructions. Our proposed file-backup tool is Restic, writing snapshots to the independent USB drive.

1. 1

   Quiesce the library

   Stop immich-server during backup and create a fresh database dump using the documented database procedure.

2. 2

   Capture the complete set

   Archive the dump, entire UPLOAD_LOCATION, external-library files if used, and saved .env and docker-compose.yml configuration.

3. 3

   Restore files before the database

   Recreate the recorded application version and paths; populate the asset folders, then use onboarding's Restore from backup.

4. 4

   Prove recovery

   On a separate recovery installation, check account access, albums, original downloads and video playback before retiring old copies.

The project recommends stopping immich-server for consistency; when that is impossible, its documented order is database first, filesystem second. Include separately mounted folders and external libraries in the backup scope. Restic restores files from a selected snapshot; Immich then restores the application database. Start recovery with the recorded version, because cross-version restoration may require migrations.

For either basket, give the recipient the administrator login, backup location, encryption credentials and a restore record. Make a trial recovery part of handover, and agree how much recent uploading the household can afford to lose between backups.

How we choose

This is a documentation-based comparison of an existing host, a native appliance and separate compute with storage. Requirements come from the selected stable Immich release; compatibility, phone behavior and recovery features come from the projects and hardware makers linked above. We prioritize a complete recoverable kit and a named administrator over unsupported speed or reliability claims. See how we choose.

Verdict

Choose DS225+ with native Synology Photos, supported memory, mirrored disks and independent backups for our family-appliance pick. Keep an eligible host for Immich first; consider the specified EQ14 only when separate compute is useful and its delivery works for you. If separate Immich storage is needed, also consider the DXP2800 with compatible disks, keeping the database on the Linux host and backing up both database and assets. Complete a restore before making either the household archive.