PixelUnion

PixelUnion offers managed photo and video storage for people who want a European home for their library without maintaining a server. Automatic phone backups, facial recognition, and object search cover familiar Google Photos tasks. The practical distinction is that the service runs the infrastructure, while the interface and mobile workflow are built around Immich.

The platform uses a fork of Immich, with support for its iPhone and Android apps. Photos can be browsed, searched, mapped, and shared, with additional users available for friends or family. Managed hosting removes the installation and upkeep that normally accompany running a photo server, although storage capacity still depends on the chosen plan.

Key features:

• Phone backups copy photos from compatible iPhone and Android apps automatically
• Facial recognition helps find pictures of familiar people within the library
• Object search locates images through recognised subjects rather than filenames alone
• Photo sharing lets users share selected memories with the people they choose
• Map view offers another way to browse photos through their recorded locations
• Immich foundation brings an established photo-management interface to a hosted service

The operator is PixelUnion V.O.F., based in Alkmaar, Netherlands, founded in early 2025. It states that photos are stored in the European Union with EU companies and that servers use renewable energy. The open source Immich foundation is distinct from a claim that every part of the managed service is publicly licensed.

A permanent free plan includes 16 GB. Paid monthly storage starts at EUR 2.95 for 150 GB, with larger plans and annual discounts. It suits a growing personal library, but testing mobile backup and search with a small collection first helps establish whether the workflow fits.