Pho
Chengdu, Sichuan, China
What it is
Pho is a photo backup and gallery app that syncs camera-roll photos in original quality to storage chosen by the user. It works across Android, iOS and macOS, and shows local and remote pictures together in a timeline with pinch-to-zoom and full-screen viewing. Storage options include SMB, WebDAV, NFS, Google Drive, Baidu Netdisk and S3-compatible services such as AWS S3, Backblaze B2, Cloudflare R2 and MinIO. Pho says its sync engine is built into the app, so it does not need a separate Docker container, database or reverse proxy. Photos go directly to user-controlled storage rather than through Pho’s servers; the product also says it has no central database, analytics pipeline or ads. Images are organized in date-based directories that can be viewed in a file manager. The free tier is for personal use and includes local gallery and basic cloud sync. Pro adds AES-256 encryption, custom filters, multi-threaded sync, directory options, theme colors, a Release Space tool and priority support. Pro Annual costs $19.99 a year.
For and against
For
- Syncs original-quality camera-roll photos.
- Supports NAS and S3-compatible storage.
- Photos go directly to user-controlled storage.
- Files use browsable date-based directories.
Against
- Free tier is intended for personal use.
- AES-256 encryption is a Pro feature.
- Pro Annual costs $19.99 a year.
The verdict
Pho pairs photo backup with a unified gallery and supports a range of user-selected storage options. Users should note that AES encryption and several additional controls are reserved for Pro.
Who it suits
Pho suits people who want to back up camera-roll photos to storage they control and browse local and remote images together. Its free tier is described for personal use, while Pro adds more sync and organization features.
Plans and prices
Free
Local gallery · Basic cloud sync · Personal use
Read 3 Oct 2026 · pho.tools
Pro (Annual)
AES Encryption · Custom Sync Filters · Multi-threaded Sync · Multiple Directory Structures
Read 3 Oct 2026 · pho.tools
On the record
- Background backup
- Pho watches the camera roll and uploads original-quality photos in the background.pho.tools · read 3 Oct 2026
- Encryption
- AES encryption is a Pro feature, and the product page specifies AES-256 encryption.pho.tools · read 3 Oct 2026
- File access
- Photos are stored in a transparent date-based directory structure and can be browsed directly with a file manager.pho.tools · read 3 Oct 2026
- Intended users
- Pho describes its free tier as intended for personal use and positions the app for people backing up photos to storage they own.pho.tools · read 3 Oct 2026
- Open source
- Pho says its core sync engine is open source on GitHub, while Pro features extend that open core.pho.tools · read 3 Oct 2026
- Privacy
- Pho says photos go directly to user-controlled storage and do not pass through its servers; it also says it has no central database, analytics pipeline, or ads.pho.tools · read 3 Oct 2026
- Pro features
- The Pro plan lists custom sync filters, multi-threaded sync, multiple directory structures, custom theme colors, a Release Space tool, and priority support.pho.tools · read 3 Oct 2026
- Purpose
- Pho is a photo backup and gallery app that syncs mobile camera-roll photos to storage chosen by the user.pho.tools · read 3 Oct 2026
- Serverless design
- Pho says its sync engine is embedded in the app and requires no separate Docker container, database, or reverse proxy.pho.tools · read 3 Oct 2026
- Sharing
- The iOS app can share originals through the native share sheet without compression or watermarks and export originals to the camera roll or other apps.pho.tools · read 3 Oct 2026
- Storage integrations
- Pho lists SMB, WebDAV, NFS, Google Drive, Baidu Netdisk, and S3-compatible storage including AWS S3, Backblaze B2, Cloudflare R2, and MinIO.pho.tools · read 3 Oct 2026
- Unified gallery
- The app displays local and remote photos together in a single timeline with pinch-to-zoom and full-screen viewing.pho.tools · read 3 Oct 2026
