Alternatives to Photos App

Is there an iOS app (free or paid) that will put all new photos into a folder (or album or whatever you want to call it) that I can then *move* to another folder and the photo will not be in the “new photos” folder. You know, like we’ve been doing with files for decades and that Apple is obviously not interested in meeting the need in their native app. Ideally I want a locally run app, not yet another cloud-based app. Google photos, Amazon photos, etc are just so clunky and filled with unnecessary features.


So what do you use instead of Photos?

iPhone 12 Pro, iOS 17

Posted on Jun 26, 2024 07:00 PM

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Posted on Jun 27, 2024 03:49 AM

I am entirely aware how the Photos app functions. I don’t want to have the same photo appear in multiple albums. I want a single photo in a single place and for it to stay there unless I move it somewhere else and then it goes to that place and exists nowhere else. In the exact same way that I can take a physical photograph out of physical photo album and put it in another physical photo album and the photograph is no longer in the previous photo album. That is why I asked about alternatives to Photos.


As a matter of preference, I do not like the way the Photos app stores and organizes photographs. If I wanted someone to explain to me why I am wrong about my personal preference that’s the question I would’ve asked.

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Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Jun 27, 2024 03:49 AM in response to Yer_Man

I am entirely aware how the Photos app functions. I don’t want to have the same photo appear in multiple albums. I want a single photo in a single place and for it to stay there unless I move it somewhere else and then it goes to that place and exists nowhere else. In the exact same way that I can take a physical photograph out of physical photo album and put it in another physical photo album and the photograph is no longer in the previous photo album. That is why I asked about alternatives to Photos.


As a matter of preference, I do not like the way the Photos app stores and organizes photographs. If I wanted someone to explain to me why I am wrong about my personal preference that’s the question I would’ve asked.

Jun 27, 2024 02:42 AM in response to Augasaurus

Not that I have noticed. But then I think you're confused. Photos is not for managing and arranging files. It's for managing and arranging Photographs. Once you grasp that distinction you begin to understand that there are multiple ways to arrange and categorise your photographs, and then the library system makes sense. Albums are not places, they are lists. Essentially they are instructions to the app: display these photographs together, and the great thing about the library system is the same photos can appear multiple times on different lists, while using no extra disk space. If that's not what you want you may need a different device.

Jun 27, 2024 04:26 AM in response to Augasaurus

No need to be offended. No one here knows you, no one here knows what your level of knowledge is after your solitary post. And that post is very reminiscent of plenty of other posts from people who don't know how Photos works and are happy to admit it. No one said you were wrong about your personal preferences either. As for what to do, I notice you seem to miss my recommendation:


If that's not what you want you may need a different device.

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Alternatives to Photos App

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