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Photoview 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?
PH Photoview Simple photo gallery for personal servers VS ST Stingle API Server Self-hostable backend for the Stingle encrypted photo apps
FeaturePhotoviewStingle API Server
Deploy effortUnder-an-hour setupUnder-an-hour setup
Health score72 · Good57 · Fair
CategoryPhoto ManagementPhoto Management
LicenseAGPL-3.0AGPL-3.0
LanguageGoPHP
Setup difficultyEasyHard
Min. RAM512 MB1,024 MB
Deploymentdockerdocker, bare-metal
GitHub stars★ 6,535★ 15
First released20192020
ReplacesGoogle PhotosGoogle Photos

What are Photoview and Stingle API Server?

Photoview

Photoview is a simple, user-friendly photo gallery designed to work with photos stored directly on the filesystem. It targets users wanting a lightweight gallery over an existing folder structure. It is deployed via Docker.

  • Works on existing photo folders
  • Face recognition
  • Timeline and albums
  • RAW and video support

Read the full Photoview 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

Photoview vs Stingle API Server: key differences

Photoview is written in Go, while Stingle API Server is built with PHP. Photoview is the lighter option, starting around 512 MB of RAM against 1,024 MB for Stingle API Server. Photoview has the considerably larger community, at 6,535 GitHub stars versus 15.

Why pick each one

Choose Photoview if…

  • Uses your folder structure
  • Lightweight
  • Easy setup

Watch out for

  • Fewer features than Immich
  • Slower development
Photoview 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 Photoview or Stingle API Server better?

Photoview is the stronger all-round pick: it has both the larger community and the simpler easy setup. Consider Stingle API Server if its specific feature set fits your needs better.

Are Photoview and Stingle API Server free and open-source?

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

Can I run Photoview and Stingle API Server with Docker?

Photoview: yes. Stingle API Server: yes.

Which is lighter on resources, Photoview or Stingle API Server?

Photoview has the smaller minimum footprint at 512 MB of RAM, compared to about 1,024 MB for Stingle API Server. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.

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