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PhotoStructure
What PhotoStructure is
PhotoStructure is a personal digital asset manager for organizing, browsing, and sharing photos and videos on hardware you control. It scans drives, sorts files into a folder structure you choose, and watches for new arrivals. Duplicate copies, edited or resized versions, and related burst photos can be grouped as one library entry. Browsing pages provide random samples and filters for dates, locations, camera details, folders, and people tags. The software supports several hundred photo and video formats and creates web-friendly previews. Tags, captions, corrected dates, and locations can be saved in files or XMP sidecars readable by other photo apps. It can import metadata from Apple Photos libraries and read sidecars and Google Takeout JSON files. Desktop editions are available for Windows, macOS, and Linux; server editions run through Docker or Node.js on a home server, NAS, or VPS. The maker says libraries with millions of files have been tested and the library database is backed up automatically. Lite is free; Plus costs $5 a month and includes automatic organization, keyword tagging, and support.
Who it suits
PhotoStructure suits people who want to organize a personal photo and video library on their own hardware. Its desktop and server editions offer options for different setups.
What it does well
- Groups duplicate files, edits, resized versions, and burst photos.
- Supports several hundred photo and video formats.
- Saves metadata in files or readable XMP sidecars.
- Available for Windows, macOS, Linux, and server setups.
What to know first
- Plus costs $5 a month.
- Optional error reports may include paths, logs, and system details.
- After Plus ends, new imports lose Plus-only organization and tagging.
Limits
Lite is free and includes automatic drive scans, duplicate and edited-copy grouping, metadata reading and date recovery, and random library samples. After Plus ends, Lite can open any PhotoStructure library, but new imports no longer receive Plus-only automatic organization or tagging.
Plans
| Plan | Billed and limits | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Lite | Free · Portable libraries · duplicate and edited-copy grouping · metadata reading and date recovery · random library samples · automatic drive scans | Free |
| Plus | $42/year (30% less than monthly billing) · One household · many photo and video formats · browser video previews · keyword tagging · Apple Photos metadata import · corruption checks · automatic organization · reads existing face tags · archive, exclude, and delete · forum and email support | $42 a year |
| Plus | $5/month · One household · many photo and video formats · browser video previews · keyword tagging · Apple Photos metadata import · corruption checks · automatic organization · reads existing face tags · archive, exclude, and delete · forum and email support | $5 a month |
As photostructure.com lists them, read 4 Oct 2026. The maker's own page has the final word.
Getting started
- Visit https://photostructure.com/.
- Choose a Windows, macOS, or Linux desktop installer, or a server edition for Docker or Node.js.
- Install the app or server edition on your chosen device.
- Choose Lite or start the 15-day Plus trial; Plus is $5/month.
- Scan drives and choose the folder structure for organizing photos.
Verdict
PhotoStructure offers local library organization, broad format support, and metadata that can be read by other photo apps. Consider whether Lite’s features are sufficient, since Plus-only automatic organization and tagging stop for new imports when the subscription ends.
Questions
Is PhotoStructure free?
Yes. Lite is free. Plus costs $5/month and has a 15-day trial.
Which platforms does it support?
Desktop installers are available for Windows, macOS, and Linux. Server editions support Docker or Node.js on a home server, NAS, or VPS.
Does PhotoStructure upload my photo library?
The privacy policy says the app does not upload photo or video libraries. Optional error reports may send system information, file paths, logs, and error details.
Can it import metadata from other tools?
It can import metadata from Apple Photos libraries and read metadata sidecars and Google Takeout JSON files.
What does Plus add?
Plus includes keyword tagging, Apple Photos metadata import, automatic organization, forum and email support, and other features. It costs $5/month.
Facts from PhotoStructure's own pages
- Audience
- The maker presents PhotoStructure as a personal photo and video organizer for people who want their library on hardware they control. · photostructure.com, 4 Oct 2026
- Browsing
- Its pages show random samples from across a library, with facets based on dates, locations, camera details, folders, and people tags. · photostructure.com, 4 Oct 2026
- Duplicate handling
- It groups duplicate copies, edits, resized versions, and related burst photos into a single library entry. · photostructure.com, 4 Oct 2026
- File organization
- It scans drives, organizes photos into a folder structure users choose, and watches for new photos as they arrive. · photostructure.com, 4 Oct 2026
- Format support
- PhotoStructure says it supports several hundred photo and video formats and pre-renders web-friendly previews for browsing. · photostructure.com, 4 Oct 2026
- Hosting and platforms
- Desktop installers are offered for Windows, macOS, and Linux, while server editions support Docker or Node.js on a home server, NAS, or VPS. · photostructure.com, 4 Oct 2026
- Integrations
- It can import metadata from Apple Photos libraries, and its guide describes reading metadata sidecars and Google Takeout JSON files. · photostructure.com, 4 Oct 2026
- Metadata
- It saves tags, captions, corrected dates, and locations in files or XMP sidecars using standards other photo apps can read. · photostructure.com, 4 Oct 2026
- Privacy controls
- The maker says Lite has no tracking or analytics, and its privacy policy says in-app update checks, detailed identification, and application error reporting can be disabled. · photostructure.com, 4 Oct 2026
- Product
- PhotoStructure describes itself as a personal digital asset manager for organizing, browsing, and sharing photos and videos. · photostructure.com, 4 Oct 2026
- Scale and durability
- The maker says PhotoStructure has been tested with libraries containing millions of files and automatically backs up its library database. · photostructure.com, 4 Oct 2026
- Security and privacy
- The privacy policy says the application does not upload photo or video libraries, while optional error reports may send system information, file paths, logs, and error details. · photostructure.com, 4 Oct 2026
- Subscription lapse
- The free Lite edition can open any PhotoStructure library after Plus ends, but new imports no longer receive Plus-only automatic organization or tagging. · photostructure.com, 4 Oct 2026
- Support
- Plus includes forum and email customer support, and the maker also points users to its community forum and Discord. · photostructure.com, 4 Oct 2026
Where PhotoStructure stands on Freedom251
- Photo Management Software#16 of 37
- Photo Storage Services#34 of 71