Damselfly is free, self-hosted photo management software for indexing large, folder-based collections so users can search and tag images. Its search supports full-text and multi-phrase partial-word queries, with filters for dates, faces, objects, camera details, file size, and orientation. Machine-learning features detect and recognize faces, identify objects, and classify image colours; face processing runs locally and offline. Damselfly uses ExifTool to write metadata without re-encoding JPEGs. It runs as a server with a web interface and can be deployed with Docker or installed without it. Desktop clients for macOS, Windows, and Linux can sync selected server images to a local folder. Authentication can assign User, ReadOnly, and Admin roles, while baskets can be private or shared. By default, anyone with access can browse, modify, and download images, so authentication is needed for role-based permissions. Non-Docker installation is unsupported and intended for experts; AI setup is harder without Docker, and AI processing can be CPU-intensive.
Who it is for
Damselfly suits people managing large, folder-based photo collections who can run self-hosted software. It may also suit users who want locally processed face recognition and desktop clients to sync selected images.
What is good
- Free, open-source, and self-hosted.
- Search includes detailed filters and partial-word phrases.
- Face processing runs locally and offline.
- Metadata updates do not re-encode JPEGs.
- Desktop clients sync selected images to a local folder.
What to know first
- Authentication must be enabled for role-based permissions.
- Non-Docker installation is unsupported and intended for experts.
- AI setup is harder without Docker.
- AI processing can be CPU-intensive.
Verdict
Damselfly combines collection search, image recognition, and metadata management in a self-hosted server. Enable authentication to apply user roles, and note the installation and resource caveats around AI processing.
Damselfly plans and pricing
All plansCompared on photo management software
- Free plan
- Yes
- Primary platform
- multi-platform
- RAW photo support
- Yes
- Face recognition
- Yes
- AI-powered search
- Yes
- Metadata tools
- Yes
