Which NAS to choose for Immich?
Guide to choosing a NAS that can run Immich correctly, with RAM, CPU, Docker, storage, backup and remote access.
À retenir
Immich demande Docker, de la RAM et une maintenance régulière
Immich peut offrir une excellente expérience photo, mais il faut prévoir un NAS compatible Docker, une marge mémoire et une stratégie de sauvegarde applicative (base de données + uploads).
RAM minimale
4 Go, 8 Go ou 16 Go : que peut-on faire ?
Choix simple
Synology Photos
- Prêt à l’emploi, peu de maintenance.
- Idéal si la priorité est la simplicité familiale.
- Moins flexible que la pile Docker Immich.
Choix power-user
Immich
- Très bon potentiel pour remplacer Google Photos.
- Plus de contrôle sur les données et les workflows.
- Exige suivi, sauvegarde applicative et mises à jour.
Repères NAS
Modèles souvent retenus pour Immich
Installer Immich puis oublier la sauvegarde de la base de données : en cas d’incident, la reconstruction est incomplète même si les fichiers photo existent encore.
#1
Immich is not a simple photo gallery
Immich looks like a modern alternative to Google Photos, but technically it's not just a gallery. It uses several services, a database, indexing, miniatures, sometimes machine learning and a mobile application. The NAS should therefore be chosen as a small application server, not just as a network disk.
#2
Criterion 1: RAM
For Immich, RAM is often more important than the number of berries. A NAS with 2 GB of RAM can be great for a simple native photo application, but it will quickly be limited for Immich. For comfortable use, it is better to target a NAS with 8 GB of RAM or the ability to increase memory.
#3
Why Docker Counts
Immich usually installs with Docker or Docker Composer. Therefore, a SIN must be selected to manage containers, volumes, updates and persistent files properly. The NAS interface must remain understandable, but a higher technical level than a native photo application must be accepted.
#4
CPU: useful for indexing and processing
The processor plays mainly when importing, generating miniatures, indexing and certain treatments. A modern CPU makes the experience smoother, especially if many users import a lot of photos and videos. For a small family, a correct CPU is enough, but too weak models must be avoided.
#5
Synology Photos or Immich?
Synology Photos is simpler and better integrated for a beginner Synology. Immich is more modern and flexible, but it requires more maintenance. If you want zero technique, Synology Photos is more reassuring. If you want to self-host a powerful alternative to Google Photos, Immich becomes very interesting.
#6
Why a 2-bay NAS can be enough
A 2-bay NAS can be enough for Immich if the family has a reasonable volume of photos and if the RAM is correct. The real point to watch is the margin of evolution: photos, videos, backups, database and related applications. A 2 berries is more economical, but less comfortable in the long term.
#7
Why a 4-bay NAS is more comfortable
A 4-bay NAS gives more room for storage, videos, evolution and disk strategies. For Immich, it becomes interesting if you want to keep several years of photos and videos, add other Docker apps, or avoid saturating too fast. It is often the quietest choice for serious use.
#8
Save Immich correctly
The Immich backup should not be limited to the photo folder. You should also think about the database, configuration files and Docker volumes. A photo may be present on disk, but if the database is lost or inconsistent, restoration can become complicated.
#9
Remote access: avoid direct exposure
Immich is often used from a phone outside the house. So you have to think about remote access. For a beginner, it is best to avoid opening ports directly to Immich or to the NAS administration. Tailscale, a VPN or a controlled solution are often more cautious.
#10
SSD cache or NVMe storage: useful but not magic
A SSD or NVMe location may improve some uses, but this is not the first criterion for Immich. Before purchasing a SSD, you must check the RAM, backup, main storage and simple maintenance. A misunderstood SSD does not compensate for a too limited NAS.
#11
What NAS profiles look at?
For Immich, NAS Easy favours models with comfortable RAM, exploitable Docker and good network margin. UGREEN is interesting for raw power and RAM. QNAP is a good compromise prosumer. ASUSTOR may be relevant for network and M.2. Synology remains excellent to start with, but with Synology Photos or with RAM upgrade for Immich.
#12
Easy NAS Recommendation
For serious Immich use, choose a NAS as a small server: sufficient RAM, clean Docker, modern CPU, reliable NAS drives, tested backup and prudent remote access. The best NAS isn't the one that has the most beautiful data sheet, but the one you can keep without putting your photos in danger.