It's over, Google Photos will no longer allow you to store unlimited photos and completely free in exchange for applying compression to the files. From now on, each new photo you upload will count towards your available storage capacity. So if you exceed 15 GB for free, you will have to checkout if you want to continue making use of its options. So maybe the time has come for you to consider the possibility of create your own “Google Photos”. You want to know how, I'll 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.
Now that option is over and all new photography and video that you upload after June 1, 2022 will take up space storage. Only uploads before said date will remain without counting in the available quota.
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.
Therefore, what options do you have to avoid having to pay every month for the service, an expense that will surely increase over time? Well create your own google photos. But first, if you agree, let's do the math.
Google Photos vs your own photo storage system
Since stored photos do not take up space right now, to know how much Google Photos would cost you over time, you must know when you will have to start paying. To do this, go to the Google Photos application or to the website through this link. This way you will be able to know an estimate of the time it would take to reach the current capacity.
Based on that data, you will know from when you will have to pay for more storage. And if right now you only use the free 15GB, the first jump would be 100GB for 1,99 euros per month. If you needed more, you would have the options of 200GB for 2,99 euros per month or 2TB for 9,99 euros a 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 is true that it still does not seem like a lot of money to you now, but in the long run you add up and everything starts to change. In addition, it is normal that you need more space, so the day will also come when you need more than 2TB.
With these facts in mind, a storage system like a Synology NAS might seem like a less attractive investment at first, because it's superior. But keep in mind that these devices are much more than a storage solution of photos and videos online.
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 spent years developing and improving to such an extent that it has little to envy from many of the cloud photo storage solutions that currently exist. What's more, it offers some additional advantages that if you are concerned about privacy, will make it much easier for you to opt for it.
Of course, if you like, let me show you the keys of this application with which you can 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.
Of course, Synology Photos is available for DSM 7 (currently in beta version of the Synology NAS operating system). If you are on version 6, then for DSM 6 you have Photo Station. Both apps are available in their respective Package Center.
To install the DSM 7 beta you just have to go to the following link DiskStation Manager 7.0 and then click 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 is start your NAS, create your user account and immediately install Synology Photos package. This time you are looking at the application that corresponds to version 7.0 of DSM, the operating system used by Synology NAS that 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.
Ready, once you have all the photos, all you have to do is start enjoying all possibilities this alternative For many, it 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.