SHSelfHostIndex

fgallery vs Shotwell Server

A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted photo management options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.

Not the right match-up?
FG fgallery Archived Minimalist static photo gallery generator VS SH Shotwell Server Digital photo organizer with tagging and event grouping
FeaturefgalleryShotwell Server
Deploy effortRead-the-docs projectRead-the-docs project
StatusArchivedActively maintained
CategoryPhoto ManagementPhoto Management
LicenseMITLGPL-2.1
LanguageJavaScriptVala
Setup difficultyEasyEasy
Min. RAM128 MB256 MB
Deploymentbare-metal, sourcebare-metal, binary
GitHub stars★ 248★ 400
First released20132009
ReplacesFlickr, Google PhotosGoogle Photos, Apple Photos

What are fgallery and Shotwell Server?

fgallery

fgallery is a static photo gallery generator that produces a minimalist, self-contained HTML gallery from a folder of images. The generated gallery is fully static, privacy-respecting, and can be hosted on any web server.

  • Minimalist static galleries
  • Self-contained output
  • Mobile friendly
  • No tracking

Shotwell Server

Shotwell is a digital photo organizer that imports, tags, rates, and lightly edits photos, grouping them automatically by event. While desktop-focused, its library folders can be shared and backed up centrally.

  • Event-based grouping
  • Tagging and ratings
  • Basic editing tools
  • Direct import from cameras

fgallery vs Shotwell Server: key differences

The biggest difference is maintenance: fgallery's repository is archived and no longer developed, while Shotwell Server is actively maintained. Fgallery is written in JavaScript, while Shotwell Server is built with Vala. Licensing differs — MIT for fgallery versus LGPL-2.1 for Shotwell Server. Fgallery is the lighter option, starting around 128 MB of RAM against 256 MB for Shotwell Server. Shotwell Server is the more established project (first released 2009), while fgallery arrived in 2013.

Why pick each one

Choose fgallery if…

  • Clean simple design
  • Privacy respecting

Watch out for

  • Command-line only
  • Minimal features
fgallery details

Choose Shotwell Server if…

  • Fast and stable
  • No accounts

Watch out for

  • Desktop only
  • No web interface
Shotwell Server details

Frequently asked questions

Is fgallery or Shotwell Server better?

Neither is universally better. Shotwell Server has the larger community; both share a easy setup difficulty, so the decision comes down to features and licensing.

Are fgallery and Shotwell Server free and open-source?

Yes. fgallery is licensed under MIT and Shotwell Server under LGPL-2.1. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.

Can I run fgallery and Shotwell Server with Docker?

fgallery: check the project docs for container support. Shotwell Server: check the project docs for container support.

Which is lighter on resources, fgallery or Shotwell Server?

fgallery has the smaller minimum footprint at 128 MB of RAM, compared to about 256 MB for Shotwell Server. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.

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