If you need a place to access your photos or videos, no matter what device you’re on, you should download Google Photos, which is the perfect solution. Linked to your Google account, it uses the cloud storage space that’s shared with Gmail and Google Drive and syncs photos automatically across different devices and platforms.
Google Photos also has advanced object and pattern recognition systems, which make searching and organizing photos extremely easy and fast.
Why should I download Google Photos?
With this cloud-based photo and video management service, you can backup, organize, edit, and share your content from a single place. Google Photos is linked to your Google account, and once you download the app and sign in, it can back up all photos on your device and keep syncing them in real time. This way, not only can you access your collection from any other phone or desktop, but you can also intervene if your device is stolen or lost. Once your photos are backed up, you can free up storage space by removing the originals and only keeping the files on the cloud.
When you download Google Photos, you get access to essential editing tools from within this app, and they allow you to crop, even out, or apply filters to the images. This software can also automatically generate collages and videos based on your memories and uploaded files.
Because Google Photos uses refined and sophisticated object and pattern recognition algorithms, you can search through your library using natural language, so you can type in “Paris” or “walk on the beach” or any other phrase and Google Photos will return the results. Because this is automatic, you don’t need to add specific metatags or information to your photos. This feature is also super helpful when quickly organizing your photo collection into albums. The same feature is also used to create automatic memories that remind you of specific moments in time, for example, a year ago or more on the same day.
Google Photos also allows you to share your photos, either individually or through albums, easily, and you have total control over access and permissions. With encryption protocols and protection methods provided by Google, your images and videos are safe and protected from unauthorized access.
What is also appreciated by people who download Google Photos is the fact that the synchronization of your content happens in the background in real-time and allows you to benefit from the various features between different platforms and have a unified experience. Whether you’re on an Android device or an iPhone or iPad, you can access and edit your photos anywhere, also through Google Photos online service available on any browser installed on Windows, MacOS, or Linux, and its service smoothly integrates with other Google products.
Is Google Photos free?
When you download Google Photos, you get access to free storage space up to 15GB that’s shared between Gmail and Google Drive. However, if you opt to backup your photos in an optimized format (up to 16 megapixels) instead of their full version, the storage for those files is unlimited.
Users needing access to their original file, resolution, and size can also purchase a Google One subscription that extends their cloud storage and other benefits. Different tiers are available to choose from, but most users start using the service on their free tier and then just gradually upgrade the storage space as their needs increase.
What operating systems are compatible with Google Photos?
You can download Google Photos on Android devices from version 5.0, iPhones and iPads on iOS 12.0 or higher, and access it through your web browser. The online access means you can use this photo service on any operating system, whether it’s Windows, MacOS, or Linux.
What are the alternatives to Google Photos?
If you’re an Apple user with different devices from this brand, the best choice would be to go with Apple Photos linked to your iCloud account. This service is preinstalled on all Apple devices and supports many of the same features as Google Photos. It automatically syncs all your photos and videos to the cloud storage, making them available from different platforms, like your Macbook or Apple Watch. This service also has more advanced editing features built into it, which doesn’t only cover the most basic needs. You can make more detailed light adjustments, manipulate different factors in your photo or video, or even use AI-based features to retouch your photos and clean them up. Apple Photos gets 5GB of free space shared with other iCloud services, but users can upgrade to more cloud storage on a subscription plan if needed.
Another solution comes from a big tech company, Amazon Photos. Though it’s not extremely popular among users yet, it offers unlimited storage space to Amazon Prime subscribers, which can be tempting for those who have really big libraries of photos and videos. It can be launched on Android and iOS smartphones and tablets as well as accessed through a web service, so all you need is a browser on your operating device and you get the same cross-platform experience as with other tools.
Flickr has been a long-time favorite and tool for photographers and people who need professional photo management and sharing. It has a vast community that users can interact with and various sharing models from which you can choose. The free version is limited to 1000 photos, but once you upgrade to a higher plan, you also get access to advanced statistics on your photos, and all the ads are removed from your interface. You can install Flickr on Android and iOS as well as use its web service online through the browser of your choice.
