SHSelfHostIndex

Hydrus Network vs Stingle API 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?
HY Hydrus Network Self-hosted tag-based media organizer and image database VS ST Stingle API Server Self-hostable backend for the Stingle encrypted photo apps
FeatureHydrus NetworkStingle API Server
Deploy effortRead-the-docs projectUnder-an-hour setup
Health score88 · Excellent57 · Fair
CategoryPhoto ManagementPhoto Management
LicenseWTFPLAGPL-3.0
LanguagePythonPHP
Setup difficultyHardHard
Min. RAM1,024 MB1,024 MB
Deploymentbare-metal, binary, sourcedocker, bare-metal
GitHub stars★ 3,211★ 15
First released20112020
ReplacesGoogle Photos, EagleGoogle Photos

What are Hydrus Network and Stingle API Server?

Hydrus Network

Hydrus Network is a personal media management application that lets you import images and files, tag them, and search a private collection with a powerful tag system. It includes a client-server architecture so the database can be self-hosted and accessed remotely.

  • Powerful tag-based search
  • Client-server architecture
  • Local-first media database
  • Duplicate detection

Read the full Hydrus Network guide →

Stingle API Server

Stingle API Server is the self-hostable PHP backend for Stingle Photos, an end-to-end encrypted photo and video backup app. Running your own server lets the Stingle mobile clients back up encrypted media to infrastructure you control.

  • End-to-end encrypted photos
  • Self-hostable API server
  • Stingle mobile clients
  • Private backup

Hydrus Network vs Stingle API Server: key differences

Hydrus Network is written in Python, while Stingle API Server is built with PHP. Licensing differs — WTFPL for Hydrus Network versus AGPL-3.0 for Stingle API Server. Hydrus Network is the more established project (first released 2011), while Stingle API Server arrived in 2020. Hydrus Network has the considerably larger community, at 3,211 GitHub stars versus 15. Stingle API Server lists first-class Docker deployment; Hydrus Network does not.

Why pick each one

Choose Hydrus Network if…

  • Extremely powerful tagging
  • Handles huge collections

Watch out for

  • Steep learning curve
  • Complex interface
Hydrus Network details

Choose Stingle API Server if…

  • Released under the AGPL-3.0 license
  • First-class Docker support for quick deployment
  • Written in PHP

Watch out for

  • Setup is involved
  • Smaller ecosystem
Stingle API Server details

Frequently asked questions

Is Hydrus Network or Stingle API Server better?

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

Are Hydrus Network and Stingle API Server free and open-source?

Yes. Hydrus Network is licensed under WTFPL and Stingle API Server under AGPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.

Can I run Hydrus Network and Stingle API Server with Docker?

Hydrus Network: check the project docs for container support. Stingle API Server: yes.

Related comparisons