Google Photos Alternatives: Where to Move Your Library

Updated October 8, 2026 · Reading time: 6 minutes

Pick a destination by what you need

Prices and storage tiers change often, so we link to each provider instead of quoting them. Compare against what your library uses today at one.google.com/storage.

  • iCloud Photos (opens in a new tab)

    Best for: iPhone, iPad and Mac households

    Google and Apple offer a direct transfer, but it skips Live Photos and puts everything in one album.

    Transfer guide →

  • Microsoft OneDrive (opens in a new tab)

    Best for: Windows users who already pay for Microsoft 365

    Takeout can deliver your archive straight to OneDrive, but it arrives as zip files that still need unpacking and fixing.

  • Dropbox (opens in a new tab)

    Best for: People who mainly want files in folders, synced everywhere

    Also a Takeout delivery option. Dropbox shows photos as files, so the dates inside each file decide how they sort.

  • Amazon Photos (opens in a new tab)

    Best for: Prime members with a large photo library

    Amazon includes photo storage with Prime; videos count against a smaller allowance. Check the current terms for your country.

  • Ente (opens in a new tab)

    Best for: Privacy first: end-to-end encrypted cloud photos

    Open-source apps and a Google Photos-style interface, with encryption Google and Apple do not offer by default.

  • Immich or Synology Photos (opens in a new tab)

    Best for: Running your own server or NAS

    No subscription and no one can lock you out, but you own the hardware, updates and backups.

  • External drives

    Best for: A permanent offline copy (do this whatever else you choose)

    Two drives in different places, following the 3-2-1 rule, protect you if any account is lost.

How to move your library without losing anything

Whichever service you choose, three steps decide whether your library arrives intact.

  1. Export everything. Use Google Takeout and download every zip part. Takeout leaves out photos other people added to shared albums, so grab those separately.
  2. Put the metadata back into the files. Takeout stores dates, GPS and descriptions in JSON sidecar files, often in a different zip from the photo. Write them back with Metadata Fixer or one of the free tools before uploading anywhere.
  3. Verify, then keep a backup. Compare counts, spot-check old photos for the right date and place, and keep the fixed files on an external drive using the 3-2-1 rule. Only then think about clearing out Google Photos.

Should you leave Google Photos at all?

Google Photos is still excellent at search and sharing, and plenty of people keep it while adding a second copy elsewhere. The usual reasons to move are cost as a library outgrows the free tier, wanting photos in the same ecosystem as your phone, privacy, and the risk of losing everything if a Google account is disabled. Even if you stay, an exported and fixed copy you control costs little and removes that last risk.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best alternative to Google Photos?

It depends on your devices. iCloud Photos suits Apple households, OneDrive suits people already paying for Microsoft 365, Ente suits people who want end-to-end encryption, and Immich or Synology Photos suit people willing to run their own server. Whatever you pick, keep an offline copy on an external drive.

How do I move all my photos out of Google Photos?

Export the library with Google Takeout, restore the dates and locations from Google's JSON files into each photo, then upload or import the fixed files into your new service. Google and Apple also offer a direct transfer to iCloud Photos, but it skips Live Photos and albums.

Will my photos keep their dates when I leave Google Photos?

Only if you fix them first. Google Takeout keeps each photo's original date and GPS location in a separate JSON file instead of inside the photo. Most photo apps read the date inside the file, so un-fixed photos show the day you downloaded them.

Should I delete Google Photos after moving?

Not until you have checked the new library: compare item counts, open older photos to confirm their dates and locations, and make sure a separate backup exists. Deleted Google Photos items stay in Trash for 60 days and are then gone for good.

Take your whole library with you, dates included

Metadata Fixer turns your Google Takeout zips into a clean library with the original dates, locations and Live Photos restored, ready for any destination above. Try it free on 100 files.

Download Now

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