Hydrus Network vs PiGallery2
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?
Hydrus Network
Self-hosted tag-based media organizer and image database
VS
PiGallery2
Fast directory-based photo gallery with search and maps
| Feature | Hydrus Network | PiGallery2 |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Photo Management | Photo Management |
| License | WTFPL | MIT |
| Language | Python | TypeScript |
| Setup difficulty | Hard | Easy |
| Min. RAM | 1,024 MB | 512 MB |
| Deployment | bare-metal, binary, source | docker, bare-metal |
| GitHub stars | ★ 3,148 | ★ 2,251 |
| First released | 2011 | 2016 |
| Replaces | Google Photos, Eagle | Google Photos |
Why pick each one
Frequently asked questions
Is Hydrus Network or PiGallery2 better?
Neither is universally better. Hydrus Network has the larger community, while PiGallery2 is simpler to set up (easy difficulty). Choose based on the comparison table above and your own setup.
Are Hydrus Network and PiGallery2 free and open-source?
Yes. Hydrus Network is licensed under WTFPL and PiGallery2 under MIT. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Hydrus Network and PiGallery2 with Docker?
Hydrus Network: check the project docs for container support. PiGallery2: yes.
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