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Recallio
What it is
Recallio is a free, self-hosted photo and video backup for phones. After setup, its Android app automatically backs up a phone library. Media remains on hardware you control, such as a local disk, NAS, or USB drive, while Tailscale’s WireGuard mesh provides encrypted device access. The server installer targets an Ubuntu home server and installs FFmpeg and Tailscale. Its web library supports browsing, favorites, search, albums, grid view, lightbox previews, and full-resolution originals. Existing folders on internal or external drives can be added, with subfolders becoming albums. Deleted photos move to a Bin with configurable retention, set to 10 days by default. The maker says Recallio has no telemetry, advertising SDKs, or content scanning, and that media travels directly between your devices. A server with 2 GB of RAM is enough according to the maker, with storage sized to your library. Nightly release checks and automatic updates run during a chosen window. Face recognition, shared albums, and family sub-accounts are planned features.
For and against
For
- Free server, web panel, and mobile app
- Stores media on user hardware
- Automatic Android library backup
- Supports full-resolution originals
- No telemetry or content scanning
Against
- Requires self-hosted Ubuntu server
- No face recognition yet
- No shared albums
- No family sub-accounts
The verdict
Recallio offers a privacy-focused, self-hosted backup with automatic Android uploads and browser-based library tools. It favors user-controlled storage, while several sharing and recognition features remain planned.
Who it suits
Recallio suits people who want phone backups stored on hardware they control. It is aimed at users comfortable operating an Ubuntu home server and self-hosted services.
Plans and prices
Free
Server, web panel, and mobile app are free · self-hosted
Read 8 Oct 2026 · recallio.org
On the record
- Automatic backup
- The Android app backs up the phone’s library automatically after setup.recallio.org · read 8 Oct 2026
- Data handling
- The maker says media travels directly between the user’s devices and Recallio operates no servers that touch it.recallio.org · read 8 Oct 2026
- Delete recovery
- Deleted photos go to a Bin with configurable retention, set to 10 days by default.recallio.org · read 8 Oct 2026
- Existing libraries
- Users can point Recallio at folders on internal disks or external drives, and subfolders become albums.recallio.org · read 8 Oct 2026
- Library browsing
- The web library supports browsing, favorites, search, full-resolution originals, albums, grid view, and lightbox preview.recallio.org · read 8 Oct 2026
- Limitations
- The maker says face recognition and shared albums are on the roadmap, and family sub-accounts are planned for v2.recallio.org · read 8 Oct 2026
- Privacy
- The maker says Recallio has no telemetry, advertising SDKs, or content scanning.recallio.org · read 8 Oct 2026
- Purpose
- Recallio is a self-hosted photo and video backup for phones.recallio.org · read 8 Oct 2026
- Remote access
- Recallio uses Tailscale’s WireGuard mesh for encrypted access between devices.recallio.org · read 8 Oct 2026
- Requirements
- The maker says a server with 2 GB of RAM is enough, with storage sized to the library.recallio.org · read 8 Oct 2026
- Server setup
- The server installer is for an Ubuntu home server and installs FFmpeg and Tailscale.recallio.org · read 8 Oct 2026
- Storage
- Photos are stored on hardware the user controls, such as a local disk, NAS, or USB drive.recallio.org · read 8 Oct 2026
- Updates
- The server checks for releases nightly during a user-chosen window and installs updates automatically.recallio.org · read 8 Oct 2026
