That's it. Google Photos will no longer let you store unlimited photos completely free of charge in exchange for compressing the files. From now on, every new photo you upload will count towards your available storage. So, if you exceed the 15 GB free limit, you'll have to pay if you want to continue using its features. Perhaps it's time to consider creating your own "Google Photos ." Want to know how? Let me tell you.
How to create your own Google Photos
What has changed in Google Photos
When Google launched its online photo and video storage service, it quickly conquered millions and millions of users around the world. And it is that they offered unlimited storage capacity totally free. The only condition was to accept that they apply a compression algorithm to photos and videos to optimize the space occupied on the disk.
In the event that you did not want them to modify the original file, then you would have to pay because each stored photo consumed available space. So when occupying the free 15 GB you would have to opt for one of the different existing price plans.
That option is no longer available, and any new photos and videos you upload from June 1, 2022, onward will count against your storage quota. Only uploads made before that date will not count against your available storage.
So, although right now it is not a problem because the photos that you already have uploaded will not modify the initial conditions of use, in a matter of weeks or months you will end up needing more space. Because phones and cameras are increasingly taking higher quality photos and that implies a larger size. Unless you rarely take photos or have them on another service, then you could have Google Photos for years.
So, what options do you have to avoid paying for the service every month, an expense that will surely increase over time? Well, create your own Google Photos account. But first, if you'd like, let's do the math.
Google Photos vs your own photo storage system
Since your stored photos aren't taking up space right now, to find out how much Google Photos will cost you over time, you need to know when you'll have to start paying. To do this, go to the Google Photos app or the website via this link. This will give you an estimate of how long it will take to reach your current storage capacity.
Based on that information, you'll know when you'll have to pay for more storage. If you're currently only using the free 15GB, the first upgrade would be 100GB for €1,99 per month. If you need more, you'll have the options of 200GB for €2,99 per month or 2TB for €9,99 per month.
Knowing all this, in the best of cases you do not pay, in an intermediate one you would have to pay about 30 euros a year if you take advantage of the annual offer or 36 euros adding the monthly amount. And in most cases, all those users who take a lot of photos with their phone, keeping Google Photos would cost them 99,99 euros with the annual plan and 119,88 euros with the monthly plan.
It's true that it might not seem like much money now, but in the long run, it adds up and everything starts to change . Besides, you'll probably need more storage space, so the day will come when you'll need more than 2TB.
With this information in mind, a storage system like a Synology NAS might initially seem like a less attractive investment, because it's more expensive. But it's important to remember that these devices are much more than just an online photo and video storage solution .
As we have already shown you, you can create backup copies of any file, allow devices that are not compatible with HomeKit to integrate with the home app, create your VPN server, a multimedia server for series and movies, host your website or even podcasts, work collaboratively and much more.
In addition, there are solutions for all types of users and needs, from cheap models with a single drive, the most popular with two bays and other proposals with 4 or more bays that offer greater versatility and options for the future.
Synology Photos: your photos wherever you go and only for you
However, once you have made the decision that you think is most appropriate, if you think that a NAS may be your ideal option, pay attention to this Synology app for managing photos and videos.
Synology Photos is the name of the application that the well-known NAS manufacturer has been developing and improving for years, to the point that it rivals many of the cloud-based photo storage solutions currently available. Moreover, it offers some additional advantages that, if you're concerned about privacy, will make it a much more compelling choice.
Of course, if you'd like, let me show you the key features of this application, which will allow you to manage all your photos from wherever you are, with the peace of mind that only you will have access to them.
- Private storage that you can share only with whom you decide. Here with the addition of being able to set a password to the links and even expiration dates so that if they are rolling around your privacy cannot be affected
- Ability to create albums manually and automatically with which to enjoy an organization that can then be chronological or by folders. This way it will be much easier for you to separate those photos in which only you or someone in particular appear, those that are from a specific trip, etc.
- Advanced search engine that allows you to locate photos and videos by years, places and even other criteria such as the camera with which they were taken, focal length, etc. This for advanced users can be great if you want to locate specific photos that you know were taken with a telephoto or wide angle lens.
All this and much more is what Synology Photos allows, an application that has little to envy to the Google service. In addition, thanks to the use of mobile applications you can upload the photos you take even with your phone and check them wherever you go.
Synology Photos is available for DSM 7 (currently in beta for Synology NAS operating systems). If you're using version 6, then Photo Station is available for DSM 6. Both apps are available in their respective Package Centers.
To install the DSM 7 beta, simply go to the following DiskStation Manager 7.0 link and then click on " Join the beta".
How to create your own Google Photos
Well, now that you know the solution, you may be wondering, how is it created, is it a complex process? Well no, so if that throws you off, get it out of your head because it's as easy as you'll see below.
The first step is to start your NAS , create your user account, and then install the Synology Photos package . This application corresponds to version 7.0 of DSM, the operating system used by Synology NAS devices, which is currently in beta.
Once installed, all you have to do is start loading the images and let the automatic system create the first folders and albums. Then you can manage the images as you prefer.
Of course, if you are going to upload a number of important photos, it is advisable to use the application that Synology makes available to its users to ensure that it is done correctly and also faster than through the default option, which for thousands and thousands of photos is fine, but not ideal. direct connection to the NAS.
Okay, once you have all the photos, all you have to do is start enjoying all the possibilities of this alternative , which for many is already their main option for storing and managing photos and videos.
Extra bonus: how to say goodbye to Google Photos
If you have finally decided to say goodbye to Google Photos and although you could continue saving the photos you already have there, we will also tell you how to remove them from the service to add them to your Synology NAS or delete them if you already did so to save space and even reduce what you pay for extra storage on Google Drive.
- The first thing is to go to Google Photos and in the configuration options you can find a link to the options of account storage management. This will allow you to clean up email attachments and other services that use Google Drive, so you are aware of the space you really need if you decide to keep the files.
- Once you have only what you really want to keep, to download everything you have to request a copy of your data through Google Take Out
- Select the services you want to download data from, in this case it would be Google Photos only
- Now in the download settings, if you don't have a good connection, set the size of each generated file to a small value, so that if the download stops you don't have to start over. Ideal if the network speed is low
- Once done, you will receive a link from Google to download everything and once you have the images, delete them if you want from the cloud and upload them to your NAS or whatever you think is appropriate
Ready, as you can see building your own Google Photos is not complicated at all. It may involve an initial investment that you did not count on, but we assure you that in the long run you will not regret it with the number of uses and possibilities it offers. But it is your decision.