Both are open-source and privacy-focused, but with different architectures: Immich is a self-hosted server, Lap is a local desktop app.
| Dimension | Lap | Immich |
|---|---|---|
| Cloud | No | No (self-hosted) |
| Local | Yes, desktop | Yes, on your server |
| Privacy | No account | Self-hosted |
| AI Search | Local AI | Server-side AI |
| RAW | Yes, 24 formats | Yes |
| Video | Yes | Yes |
| Offline | Fully offline | Needs server reachable |
| Open Source | Yes, GPL-3.0 | Yes, AGPL-3.0 |
| Price | Free | Free (self-hosted) |
| Platform | macOS / Windows / Linux desktop | Server + mobile apps |
Choose Immich if you want self-hosted cloud-like sync with mobile apps and are comfortable running a server. Choose Lap if you want a simple, local desktop app with zero infrastructure.
Lap