Mediagoblin

Self-Hosted

Open-source self-hosted media gallery for photos, videos, and more

Overview

Mediagoblin is an open-source, self-hosted media gallery that lets you store, organize, and share photos, videos, audio files, and documents. It supports federation via ActivityPub, enabling cross-instance interaction with other users. Customizable themes personalize your gallery, while tags and collections help organize content. Deploy easily with Docker or traditional Python setup—you retain full data control, avoiding third-party platform restrictions. Ideal for privacy-focused individuals or communities wanting a flexible alternative to proprietary media services.

Self-Hosting Resources

Find Official Image on Docker Hub View Source & Docs

Below is a reference structure for docker-compose.yml. ⚠️ Do NOT run blindly. Replace placeholders with official values.

docker-compose.template.yml TEMPLATE


version: '3'
services:
  mediagoblin:
    image: <OFFICIAL_IMAGE_NAME>:latest
    container_name: mediagoblin
    ports:
      - "8080:<APP_INTERNAL_PORT>"
    volumes:
      - ./data:/app/data
    restart: unless-stopped

Key Features

Supports multiple media types (photos, videos, audio, documents)
Federated via ActivityPub for cross-instance social interaction
Customizable themes and content organization tools (tags, collections)
Docker and Python-based deployment options

Frequently Asked Questions

? Is Mediagoblin hard to install?

Mediagoblin offers Docker deployment (simpler for beginners) and traditional Python/pip setup. Docker images reduce complexity, but basic server skills (managing containers or web servers) are helpful for configuration, SSL setup, and ongoing maintenance.

? Is it a good alternative to Google Photos?

Yes—if you prioritize data privacy and control. Unlike Google Photos, Mediagoblin lets you host your own media without third-party access. It supports more media types but lacks AI-powered features like automatic face tagging or cloud sync across devices (unless you set up your own sync).

? Is it completely free?

Yes! Mediagoblin is open-source under the AGPLv3 license. It’s free to download, use, modify, and self-host—there are no paid tiers or subscription fees for any features.

Top Alternatives

Google Photos Compare

Flickr Compare

Amazon Photos Search Google

Tool Info

Pricing Free/Open Source

Category Photo Galleries

Platform Self-Hosted

Pros

⊕ Full control over your media data (privacy-focused)
⊕ No subscription fees or hidden costs
⊕ Federated features for social sharing across instances
⊕ Supports diverse media beyond just photos

Cons

⊖ Requires basic server setup and maintenance knowledge
⊖ Federated network is smaller than mainstream platforms
⊖ Lacks advanced AI features (e.g., automatic media tagging) found in proprietary tools