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Dupe Zappa vs Immich

Immich is a self-hosted photo server for mobile backup, partner sharing, and ML face search in a Google Photos-like web app. Dupe Zappa Face Recognition runs on your Windows PC against existing folder trees with local ONNX models. Pick the tool that matches where your photos actually live.

Why Dupe Zappa

Clean up the library sync servers cannot

Immich backs up phones. Dupe Zappa cleans up what lands on disk.

Faces without a server

Local ONNX clusters people on existing Windows and NAS folders: no Docker, no import step.

Dedup on any folder

Immich's Duplicates Utility stays inside its library; Dupe Zappa scans wherever your files live.

One-time price, local-first

No server hardware or hosting costs for face and cleanup workflows.

Verdict

Who should pick what

Keep Immich if

Keep Immich if your primary problem is backing up phone camera rolls to your own server, sharing with a partner, and browsing everything in one household gallery.

Add Dupe Zappa if

Add Dupe Zappa when photos already live on Windows drives and NAS paths, you need faces without a sync server, and you want people discovery tied to duplicate cleanup and Universal Search.

Replace entirely?

Replace Immich entirely only if you never rely on mobile auto-backup or the household web gallery. Dupe Zappa does not upload phones or host a shared photo server.

Complementary

Phone backup and desktop cleanup differ

A sync server and a folder-native toolkit solve different photo problems. Run one, the other, or both depending on where files live.

01

Phone-first library

Use Immich when cameras on phones are the source of truth and you want automatic backup to your server.

02

Desktop folder cleanup

Use Dupe Zappa when archives, exports, and NAS copies need face grouping, dedup, and search without moving files into a server library.

Folder problems

Where Dupe Zappa wins on scope

Immich organizes a server library; these jobs stay on your folders.

NeedImmichDupe Zappa
Face groups on messy Windows/NAS foldersRequires server libraryLocal ONNX on existing paths
Delete duplicates outside the app libraryDuplicates Utility is library-scopedDuplicate Scanner on any folder
Dedup burst shots after naming a personManual selection in the utilityFace tags + Duplicate Scanner + undo

Official docs

Immich's own duplicate utility

Respect first

Where Immich still shines

Immich is built for mobile backup and household sharing. Dupe Zappa does not upload phones or host a shared photo server.

Mobile backup

iOS and Android apps upload camera rolls to infrastructure you control.

Google Photos-like UX

Timeline browsing, search, and sharing designed for household photo libraries.

Partner and multi-user

Shared libraries and accounts for families without consumer cloud lock-in.

Active ML roadmap

Server-side face and object features evolve with the Immich project.

Comparison

Dupe Zappa vs Immich

FeatureDupe ZappaImmich
Primary jobFolder-native cleanup toolkit with local facesPhone backup plus household photo gallery on a server
Mobile syncNo iOS/Android upload pipelineMobile apps backup camera rolls to your server
Face searchLocal clusters; you name people manuallyServer ML faces with partner and household sharing
File locationPhotos stay on existing disk pathsLibrary stored on the Immich server
Tie to dedupDuplicate Scanner + face-linked Smart TagsML Duplicates Utility, library-scoped
PriceOne-time purchase (early access)Open source + your own server and hosting cost

Cost of ownership

Self-hosted gallery vs one-time desktop toolkit

ToolCost
Immich (self-hosted)Free software + your server, storage, and maintenance
Dupe Zappa€9.99 one-time (early access)Faces, dedup, and search on Windows: no sync server
Fair readMobile auto-backup and household sharing are Immich's strengths; desktop folder cleanup is Dupe Zappa's

Get started

Cluster faces on existing folders

Index photo roots, run local ONNX face detection, name people, and search with tag:name across drives. Tie results into duplicate scans and preview-first cleanup in the same app.

Related reading

Workflow guides

Faces on your folders

Back up phones with Immich. Clean up archives with Dupe Zappa.

Dupe Zappa does not replace mobile backup or household sharing. It clusters people on Windows paths, syncs Smart Tags, and ties face search to dedup without a sync server.