Comparison
PicPeak vs PIKD
PIKD is a free SaaS with a 50 GB limit on someone else's servers. PicPeak has no limit and no lock-in — because it runs on your own server.
- vendor lock-in — you own everything
- 0
- vendor lock-in — you own everything
- storage instead of a 50 GB free tier
- ∞
- storage instead of a 50 GB free tier
- open source, full source code
- MIT
- open source, full source code
| Feature | PicPeak — free & self-hosted | PIKD — free SaaS (50 GB) |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly cost | $0 (free forever) | free up to 50 GB, then paid |
| Self-hosted | yes — your server, your data | no — cloud only |
| Open source | MIT license, full source code | proprietary |
| Storage limit | unlimited (your server capacity) | 50 GB free |
| Vendor lock-in | none | depends on the PIKD service |
| Expiring galleries | built in, configurable | not available |
| Guest uploads | yes — for weddings & events | not available |
| Password protection | built in per gallery | yes — PIN protection |
| Client proofing | yes — favorites & selections | yes — selection feature |
| Analytics | views, downloads, engagement | basic stats |
| GDPR | data stays on your server | Hamburg-based, GDPR-compliant |
| Setup | 5 minutes (Docker) | instant (SaaS signup) |
| Running cost | ~$5/month hosting only | free up to 50 GB |
Why photographers choose PicPeak
True data ownership
PIKD is SaaS — your photos live on their servers. With PicPeak, every photo stays on your infrastructure. If PIKD shuts down or changes pricing, you're unaffected.
Unlimited storage
PIKD ends at 50 GB free. PicPeak has no quotas — thousands of high-resolution images, limited only by your server capacity.
Expiring galleries
Set an expiry date and the gallery locks itself — built into PicPeak, absent from PIKD.
Open-source freedom
MIT license: read the code, contribute features, fork it. PIKD is proprietary — how your data is handled stays invisible.
No limit, no lock-in.Your platform from day one.
View on GitHubMore comparisonsvs PicDropvs Piwigovs PixiesetFAQ