Sigal

Self-Hosted

Lightweight, static photo gallery generator

Overview

Sigal is an open-source static photo gallery generator that turns images and videos into responsive, fast HTML galleries with no server-side dependencies. It supports EXIF metadata extraction, album organization, customizable themes (including Bootstrap options), automatic thumbnail generation, and video playback. Deployable to any static hosting (GitHub Pages, Netlify, own server), it’s ideal for privacy-focused users wanting full control over their media. Configure via YAML, run a single command to build—perfect for personal collections or small-scale sharing.

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:
  sigal:
    image: <OFFICIAL_IMAGE_NAME>:latest
    container_name: sigal
    ports:
      - "8080:<APP_INTERNAL_PORT>"
    volumes:
      - ./data:/app/data
    restart: unless-stopped

Key Features

Static gallery generation (no server code)
EXIF metadata & album organization
Customizable themes & responsive design
Video support & auto-thumbnail creation
Deployable to any static hosting service

Frequently Asked Questions

? Is Sigal hard to install?

Sigal is installed via Python's pip (pip install sigal). Setup involves editing a simple YAML config file (specify source folders, themes, etc.) and running a command to generate the gallery. Basic command-line knowledge helps, but documentation is clear for beginners.

? Is it a good alternative to Google Photos?

Yes—if you want full control over your photos and privacy. Unlike Google Photos, Sigal generates static files (no cloud sync), so you host them yourself, avoiding ads and data mining. It lacks cloud features like auto-sync but offers complete ownership.

? Is Sigal completely free?

Absolutely! Sigal is licensed under the MIT License, meaning it’s free to use, modify, and distribute without any costs or restrictions. There are no premium tiers or hidden fees.

Top Alternatives

Google Photos Compare

Flickr Compare

500px Search Google

Tool Info

Pricing Open Source

Category Photo Galleries

Platform Self-Hosted

Pros

⊕ Privacy-focused (no third-party data collection)
⊕ Fast loading & low resource usage
⊕ Easy deployment to static hosts
⊕ Lightweight & offline-friendly

Cons

⊖ Requires command-line setup
⊖ No dynamic features (comments, search)
⊖ Manual media updates (rebuild gallery for new content)