Imgur

Best Self Hosted Alternatives to Imgur

A curated collection of the 5 best self hosted alternatives to Imgur.

Imgur is an image hosting and sharing platform for uploading, hosting, and sharing images, GIFs, and short videos. It provides community-driven galleries, embeddable direct links, simple image hosting tools, and developer APIs for integrating image sharing.

Alternatives List

#1
Chibisafe

Chibisafe

Self-hosted file and image sharing with albums, expiring links, and an API—built for quick uploads and easy sharing.

Chibisafe screenshot

Chibisafe is a self-hosted file sharing service focused on quickly uploading and sharing images and other files via a clean web UI and a developer-friendly API. It is commonly used as a lightweight alternative to hosted image/file hosts, with support for direct links and shareable pages.

Key Features

  • Web UI for uploading and managing files
  • Direct file links and share pages for easy sharing
  • Album/gallery organization for grouping uploads
  • Configurable retention options such as expiring links (where supported by configuration)
  • Public API intended for integrations and automation (e.g., upload from scripts)
  • Docker-based deployment for straightforward installation and updates

Use Cases

  • Personal or team image hosting for sharing screenshots and media
  • Private file drop for sharing files via links without relying on third-party hosts
  • Backend for automated uploads from scripts or tools using the API

Limitations and Considerations

  • Primarily focused on lightweight sharing/hosting; it is not a full document management system (advanced workflows, rich permissions, etc.)

Chibisafe fits users who want a simple, fast, link-based sharing workflow with the option to integrate uploads into tooling via an API. It is a practical choice for personal servers, small teams, and homelabs that need predictable control over uploaded content.

2.5kstars
299forks
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#2
Picsur

Picsur

Self-hosted image hosting and sharing with direct links, albums, and an admin dashboard—designed for quick uploads and lightweight operation.

Picsur screenshot

Picsur is a self-hosted image hosting and sharing web app focused on fast uploads, clean direct links, and simple administration. It’s suited for individuals or small teams who want an Imgur-like experience under their own control, with a modern web UI and an API-oriented design.

Key Features

  • Web-based uploads with shareable links for images
  • Albums/collections to group images (where enabled/configured)
  • Admin dashboard for instance management (users/settings/moderation)
  • Configurable storage backend (local filesystem and common external/object storage options depending on deployment)
  • Image processing for common formats and thumbnails/previews
  • Authentication options suitable for private or semi-public instances

Use Cases

  • Host and share screenshots for homelabs/IT teams via stable direct links
  • Private image dropbox for a household or small group
  • Lightweight alternative to public image hosts for embedding images in docs/issues

Limitations and Considerations

  • Feature set is intentionally simpler than full photo-management suites (e.g., advanced tagging/search/face recognition)
  • Some capabilities depend on deployment configuration (storage/reverse proxy/auth)

Picsur is a practical choice when you need straightforward image hosting with a modern interface and minimal overhead. It balances usability and control while staying focused on the core workflow of uploading, organizing, and sharing images.

1.2kstars
65forks
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#3
xBackBone

xBackBone

xBackBone is a self-hosted web app for uploading files and screenshots, organizing them, and sharing them via direct links with optional expiration and access controls.

xBackBone screenshot

xBackBone is a self-hosted web application for uploading and sharing files and screenshots through a clean web UI and direct links. It’s commonly used as a private alternative to public “file drop” and image hosting services, with user management and link controls.

Key Features

  • Web-based upload and file manager with searchable list views
  • Shareable direct links for files (suitable for quickly sending to others)
  • Optional link expiration / one-time or time-limited sharing (where configured)
  • User authentication with multi-user support and per-user content separation
  • Screenshot-oriented workflow (commonly paired with ShareX and similar tools)
  • Basic organization/metadata (filename, size, upload time) and admin controls
  • API endpoints intended for automation and uploader clients

Use Cases

  • Private replacement for Imgur/WeTransfer-style link sharing
  • Team or homelab “drop zone” for quickly exchanging files and screenshots
  • Integrating with screenshot tools (e.g., ShareX) for instant uploads

Limitations and Considerations

  • Not a full sync platform (no desktop sync like Drive/Dropbox)
  • Feature depth (previewing, advanced permissions, collaboration) is limited vs. enterprise DAM platforms

xBackBone fits best when you want a lightweight, private upload-and-share service with direct links and simple administration. It’s particularly useful for fast screenshot sharing and ad-hoc file transfers without relying on third-party hosts.

1.1kstars
90forks
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#4
Rustypaste

Rustypaste

Rustypaste is a lightweight pastebin and file upload server with configurable storage, expiry, and optional authentication for sharing text and files over HTTP.

Rustypaste screenshot

Rustypaste is a small, fast pastebin and file upload service written in Rust. It provides a simple HTTP interface for uploading files (including text pastes) and serving them back via shareable URLs, with configuration aimed at safe and convenient personal or team use.

Key Features

  • HTTP endpoints for uploading and downloading shared files/pastes
  • Configurable storage backend on disk with directory layout controls
  • Optional expiry/retention settings for uploaded content
  • Limits and controls (e.g., maximum upload size) to reduce abuse
  • Optional authentication/token-based protection for uploads (configurable)
  • Simple configuration file and environment-based configuration support
  • Designed to be lightweight and easy to run behind a reverse proxy

Use Cases

  • Host a private pastebin for sharing logs/snippets within a team
  • Temporary file drop for sharing artifacts (screenshots, binaries) via URL
  • Lightweight “share this file quickly” endpoint for scripts and automation

Limitations and Considerations

  • Not intended as a full collaboration platform (no rich editor, comments, or versioning)
  • Feature set is intentionally minimal; advanced moderation/anti-abuse features may require a reverse proxy/WAF

Rustypaste fits users who want a minimal, performant paste/file sharing endpoint with straightforward configuration and predictable behavior. It is especially suitable when you want a simple URL-based sharing workflow without the complexity of larger file-sharing suites.

1.1kstars
69forks
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#5
Chevereto

Chevereto

Chevereto is a self-hosted image hosting platform providing an Imgur-like experience with albums, user management, theming, and storage/CDN integrations.

Chevereto screenshot

Chevereto is a PHP-based image hosting and sharing application designed to run on your own server, providing an Imgur-like workflow for uploading, organizing, and delivering images. It targets individuals and organizations that need a controllable image host with multi-user features and flexible storage options.

Key Features

  • Web-based image upload and management with shareable links and embeds
  • Albums and image organization for collections and galleries
  • Multi-user support with permissions/roles for managing content
  • Customizable appearance (themes/branding) and configurable pages
  • Configurable storage backends (local storage and external/object storage via integrations, depending on edition/config)
  • Moderation and administrative tools for managing users and content

Use Cases

  • Hosting images for forums, documentation, and blogs with direct links/embeds
  • Internal team image library for marketing/support assets
  • Community image sharing site with user accounts and albums

Limitations and Considerations

  • Chevereto’s feature set and long-term maintenance model varies by edition; verify licensing/edition and included integrations before deploying.

Chevereto is a mature, widely recognized image-hosting app for people who want a dedicated image host with an Imgur-style UX. It is best suited when you need control over uploads, organization, and delivery while keeping the service under your own infrastructure policies.

862stars
68forks
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Why choose an open source alternative?

  • •Data ownership: Keep your data on your own servers
  • •No vendor lock-in: Freedom to switch or modify at any time
  • •Cost savings: Reduce or eliminate subscription fees
  • •Transparency: Audit the code and know exactly what's running