Head-to-Head Comparison · Alternative to Zenfolio · 📷 photo editing
Zenfolio vs Lychee
A tidy self-hosted portfolio and passworded client gallery with downloads; deliberately light on business machinery. Here is how Lychee ($0/mo open source) stacks up against Zenfolio ($9/mo) across cost, hosting, data privacy, and real-world trade-offs.
Zenfolio vs Lychee Specification Matrix
facts verified 2026-08-11
| Dimension | Zenfolio (Paid) | Lychee (Replacement) |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly Price | $9 / mo | $0 / mo |
| 1-Year Cost (1 seat) | $108 / yr | $0 / yr (Save $108) |
| 1-Year Cost (5 seats) | $540 / yr | $0 / yr (Save $540) |
| 1-Year Cost (10 seats) | $1,080 / yr | $0 / yr (Save $1,080) |
| Source & License | Proprietary SaaS | open source MIT |
| Where It Runs | Vendor Cloud | Self-host (your server) |
| Platforms | Web / Cloud | webself-hosteddocker to self-host |
| GitHub Stars | — | ★ 4.3k (active jul 2026) |
Deep Dive: Switching from Zenfolio to Lychee
Trade-offs, installation & data architecture
What you trade away
It handles portfolios and private downloads but lacks Zenfolio's client proofing, store, print fulfillment, booking and photographer-business automation.
How to deploy Lychee
Docker Compose with the Lychee image and MariaDB; prebuilt and source installs also exist
What it takes to run
Docker Compose, writable persistent volumes, a database, an APP_KEY, and domain/TLS setup for remote sharing
Where your data lives
Uploaded originals and derivatives live in persistent uploads storage; albums, users, metadata and settings live in MariaDB (or another configured database), with separate logs and temporary-data volumes
Why fork Lychee instead of vibe-coding a Zenfolio clone?
The core loop is buildable, but a dependable replacement becomes a real weekend or multi-day project. For Zenfolio, publish a portfolio and client galleries with basic downloads. The hard boundary is hosting, templates, proofing, commerce, print labs, and photographer support, plus image pipeline quality, models, and workflow polish.
Zenfolio vs Lychee FAQ
Is Lychee a good free alternative to Zenfolio?+
Yes. Lychee is a verified open-source (MIT) replacement for Zenfolio. A tidy self-hosted portfolio and passworded client gallery with downloads; deliberately light on business machinery.
What is the catch when switching from Zenfolio to Lychee?+
It handles portfolios and private downloads but lacks Zenfolio's client proofing, store, print fulfillment, booking and photographer-business automation.
How much do you save switching from Zenfolio to Lychee?+
Zenfolio costs $9/mo ($108/yr) per seat, whereas Lychee is $0/mo. Switching saves $108/yr for a solo user, $540/yr for a 5-person team, and $1,080/yr for a 10-person team.
How do I install or self-host Lychee instead of Zenfolio?+
Install: Docker Compose with the Lychee image and MariaDB; prebuilt and source installs also exist. Setup: Docker Compose, writable persistent volumes, a database, an APP_KEY, and domain/TLS setup for remote sharing
