PhotoPrism Hosting

1. Open your pod and sign in as admin using the initial password set in PHOTOPRISM_ADMIN_PASSWORD during deployment.
2. Upload a few pictures through the browser, or transfer an existing collection into the originals folder.
3. Open Library to index files added directly to originals, then check the Logs tab for progress.

The PhotoPrism PikaPods guide covers the initial password, and First Steps explains indexing versus importing. You can change your password in Settings > Account.

No. PikaPods sets up and runs PhotoPrism for you, including OS and app updates and HTTPS. You won't touch Docker or a server. Your data stays available over SFTP if you ever want to move it elsewhere.

Yes. Use PhotoPrism in your phone’s browser and add the web app to your home screen. For automatic uploads, use a compatible WebDAV client such as PhotoSync. Connect to your pod’s HTTPS domain on port 443 and use /originals/ as the target directory; see the PikaPods mobile-sync settings.

Browser uploads and built-in image classification do not need a separate AI account. Third-party mobile sync apps can charge for WebDAV or background transfers; check the mobile sync guide. Optional external AI caption services have their own setup and may charge separately, as described in First Steps.

Set up incremental backups to S3 in your pod settings for automatic nightly snapshots, or copy your files over SFTP. We keep whole-server backups for server failures, but they aren't a per-pod restore service, so your own backup is what protects your data.

PhotoPrism is an open source alternative to Google Photos. Its source code is public, so anyone can inspect or improve it, and you aren't tied to one vendor.

No. You add prepaid credit and your pods are billed by the hour from that balance, rounded up to full hours. There are no contracts or minimum terms: delete a pod anytime and billing stops. Optional automatic top-ups keep your pods running without manual payments.

You do. And you're in full control. If you ever want to download, migrate, edit or delete your data, just enable SFTP access to your pod and it will be right there.

Yes. PhotoPrism is part of our Green Heart program, so part of the revenue from every deployed pod goes to the project.