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Photos Backup Anywhere
What Photos Backup Anywhere is
Photos Backup Anywhere backs up an entire Apple Photos library on macOS to storage you choose, including an external drive or NAS. It supports iCloud Photos and can download items that are missing locally when Optimize Mac Storage is enabled. While a backup is running, it checks hourly for new or changed items. Photos and videos are kept in their original formats and filenames, arranged in YYYY/MM/DD folders. Backups preserve non-destructive edits, albums, locations, capture dates and times, and favorites, and can be restored into a Photos library with supported metadata intact. The app is designed for very large libraries, including collections of 2TB or more; backups are incremental and resumable. The App Store listing describes a Verify feature to compare backup contents with the library, find discrepancies, and repair them. Some metadata—including Smart Albums, Memories, titles, captions, keywords, People, Hidden Items, and Shared Albums—is not supported. The app costs $9.99, paid once, requires macOS 15.1 or later, and has no free plan.
Who it suits
This app suits Mac users who want to back up an Apple Photos library to their own external drive or NAS. Note that continuing backups must run on the Mac that created the backup.
What it does well
- Backs up to an external drive or NAS
- Supports iCloud Photos
- Incremental, resumable backups for large libraries
- Restores supported metadata into Photos
What to know first
- Requires macOS 15.1 or later
- Continuing backups must use the original Mac
- Several metadata types are not supported
- Deleted backup items can be permanently removed
Limits
The $9.99, paid once plan is Mac only and requires macOS 15.1 or later. Smart Albums, Memories, titles, captions, keywords, People, Hidden Items, and Shared Albums are not preserved as supported metadata. Continuing backups must run on the Mac that created the backup.
Plans
| Plan | Billed and limits | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Photos Backup Anywhere | one-time purchase · Mac only · macOS 15.1 or later · external-drive or NAS destination · iCloud Photos support | $9.99, paid once |
As photosbackup.app lists them, read 21 Oct 2026. The maker's own page has the final word.
Getting started
- Open the product website or App Store listing
- Install it on a Mac running macOS 15.1 or later
- Choose an external drive, NAS, or other storage location
- Select the Apple Photos library to back up
- Enable iCloud downloading when Optimize Mac Storage is enabled
- Run the backup and use Verify to compare and repair discrepancies
Verdict
Photos Backup Anywhere offers library-level backups to storage you provide, with restore and verification capabilities. Check its metadata exclusions and same-Mac requirement before relying on it for ongoing backups.
Questions
What does it cost?
Photos Backup Anywhere costs $9.99, paid once.
Is there a free plan?
No. The listed offering is paid and there is no free plan.
Which platforms are supported?
It runs on macOS 15.1 or later and is Mac only.
Where can backups be stored?
Backups can go to a chosen storage location, including an external drive or NAS.
Does it support iCloud Photos?
Yes. When Optimize Mac Storage is enabled, it can download items missing locally before backing them up.
What metadata is not preserved?
Smart Albums, Memories, titles, captions, keywords, People, Hidden Items, and Shared Albums are unsupported metadata.
Facts from Photos Backup Anywhere's own pages
- App size and language
- The listing reports a 4 MB size and English language support. · apps.apple.com, 21 Oct 2026
- Automatic background backup
- After setup, the app automatically backs up new photos and videos in the background. · photosbackup.app, 21 Oct 2026
- Automatic backups
- When a backup is running, the app scans the library every hour for new or changed items. · photosbackup.app, 9 Oct 2026
- Backup deletion options
- Deleted library items can be ignored, moved to a Deleted Items folder, or deleted from the backup; the delete option is not reversible. · photosbackup.app, 9 Oct 2026
- Backup format
- Files retain original formats and filenames and are arranged in YYYY/MM/DD directories. · photosbackup.app, 21 Oct 2026
- Deletion handling
- Deleted items can be ignored, moved to a Deleted Items folder, or deleted from the backup; deletion is irreversible when the delete option is used. · photosbackup.app, 21 Oct 2026
- Developer and API availability
- The official home, FAQ, privacy, and changelog pages reviewed do not describe a public API, SDK, self-hosting option, or software licence. · photosbackup.app, 21 Oct 2026
- Developer model
- The developer describes the product as an indie Mac app and says he is a solo developer. · forums.macrumors.com, 21 Oct 2026
- Device limitation
- A backup can be moved to another folder, external drive, or network location, but continuing backups must run on the same Mac that created it. · photosbackup.app, 9 Oct 2026
- External and NAS storage
- Backups can be stored on Mac-connected volumes, external drives, or NAS and other network storage. · photosbackup.app, 21 Oct 2026
- Family Sharing
- Up to six family members can use the app through Apple Family Sharing. · apps.apple.com, 21 Oct 2026
- Format and organization
- Photos and videos are saved in their original formats with original filenames in YYYY/MM/DD directories. · photosbackup.app, 9 Oct 2026
- iCloud integration
- iCloud Photos libraries are supported, including libraries using Optimize Mac Storage. · photosbackup.app, 21 Oct 2026
- iCloud support
- It supports iCloud Photos and can download items missing locally when Optimize Mac Storage is enabled. · photosbackup.app, 9 Oct 2026
- Incremental and resumable
- Large-library backups are incremental and resumable, so a complete run does not have to finish in one session. · photosbackup.app, 21 Oct 2026
- Large libraries
- The FAQ says the app is designed for libraries of 2TB or more. · photosbackup.app, 21 Oct 2026
- Limit: activity logs
- A reviewer requests detailed logs showing files added, moved, or otherwise processed. · apps.apple.com, 21 Oct 2026
- Limit: reported hidden-item issue
- MacRumors users reported that Hidden photos did not appear in their backups despite expectations that hidden content would sync. · forums.macrumors.com, 21 Oct 2026
- Limit: reported incomplete backup
- A MacRumors user reported version 2.2.0 showing Completed after backing up only about half of a library and then testing a beta build. · forums.macrumors.com, 21 Oct 2026
- Limit: scheduling controls
- A reviewer requests configurable backup times and conditions such as Ethernet or a particular Wi-Fi network. · apps.apple.com, 21 Oct 2026
- Maker identity
- The app and privacy policy identify Benjamin Neil Gerdemann as the developer or service provider. · photosbackup.app, 21 Oct 2026
- Media coverage
- Supported media includes photos, videos, Live Photos, portraits, panoramas, time-lapse, slo-mo, cinematic, burst, and animated items. · photosbackup.app, 21 Oct 2026
- Media types
- Supported media include photos, videos, Live Photos, portraits, panoramas, time-lapse, slo-mo, cinematic, burst, and animated items. · photosbackup.app, 9 Oct 2026
- Menu-bar status
- Version 1.2 added a menu-bar icon showing backup status. · photosbackup.app, 21 Oct 2026
Where Photos Backup Anywhere stands on Freedom251
- Photo Backup Software#25 of 25