# Pixel Gallery vs Focus Go

Canonical: https://pixel-gallery.app/android/compare/focus-go

Last updated: November 9, 2026

**Verdict:** Pick Focus Go if you want a light, fast gallery with no internet permission at all. Pick Pixel Gallery if you also want face grouping, cleanup, stories, places and statistics, computed on the phone.

Focus Go is a fast, minimal gallery with no internet permission, offline smart search and an encrypted Locked Folder. Pixel Gallery adds faces, cleanup and much more.

## Feature comparison

| Capability | Pixel Gallery | Focus Go |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Photos stay on the phone | Yes (Pixel Gallery never uploads your photos or videos.) | Yes (Listing: 100% offline, no internet permission required, no cloud syncing) |
| Works without an account | Yes | Yes |
| On-device smart search | Yes (SigLIP2 model, ~375 MB optional download.) | Yes (Smart Search finds photos by what they show (e.g. 'dog'), offline; method not documented) |
| Face grouping | Yes (Runs on the phone.) | No (Not advertised) |
| Duplicate and similar cleanup | Yes | No (Not advertised) |
| Encrypted metadata database | Yes | Not documented |
| No ads | Yes | Yes |
| No subscription | Yes (Free, plus an optional one-time Premium purchase.) | Yes (Free; optional in-app donation) |
| Cloud backup | No (Pixel Gallery has no cloud. Backup is up to you.) | No |
| Open source | No | No (No public source code found) |
| No internet permission | No (Uses the network for optional model downloads, maps and consented analytics.) | Yes |
| Encrypted Locked Folder | Partly (Blurs items behind a biometric lock; files are not encrypted.) | Yes |
| Map and places | Yes | No |
| Stories and statistics | Yes | No |
| Photo editor | Yes | Yes (Light, color, crop and filters.) |
| Video editor | Yes | No |

## Is Pixel Gallery a good Focus Go alternative?

If you want more than a fast viewer, yes. Focus Go is admirably light: no internet permission, offline search by what a photo shows, and an encrypted Locked Folder. It also has a basic photo editor. Pixel Gallery is heavier and does a lot more: face grouping, cleanup, stories, places, statistics and a video editor.

## What does Focus Go do better?

- **Lightness.** Big libraries open quickly, and the app stays small.
- **No internet permission.** It cannot reach the network at all.
- **Encrypted Locked Folder.** Private photos behind fingerprint or PIN, encrypted.

## What does Pixel Gallery do better?

- **People.** Face grouping, naming and contact linking on the phone.
- **Cleanup.** Duplicates, similar shots and low-quality photos with swipe review.
- **Exploring.** Stories, places and statistics.
- **Creating.** A video editor and collages on top of the photo editor.

## Who should pick which?

Pick Focus Go if speed and a hard no-network guarantee matter most. Pick Pixel Gallery if you want the library organized for you, still without uploading anything.

## How to switch from Focus Go

Move anything out of the Locked Folder you want indexed, install Pixel Gallery and allow photo access.

## Questions

**Is Focus Go offline?**
Yes. Its listing says it needs no internet permission and its Play data safety section says no data is collected.

**Is there a Focus Go alternative with face recognition?**
Yes. Pixel Gallery groups faces on the phone and adds cleanup, stories and statistics.

**Which package is Focus Go on Google Play?**
Focus Go is com.franco.focus.lite by Francisco Franco. The older Focus listings are no longer on Play.

## Sources

- [Focus Go on Google Play](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.franco.focus.lite), accessed November 8, 2026
- [Focus Go 3.1.1 on APKMirror (what's new)](https://www.apkmirror.com/apk/francisco-franco/focus-go/focus-go-photo-gallery-3-1-1-release/), accessed November 8, 2026
- [Focus Go version history (APKMirror)](https://www.apkmirror.com/apk/francisco-franco/focus-go/), accessed November 8, 2026
- [Android Authority: Focus Go free photo gallery app (2024)](https://www.androidauthority.com/focus-go-free-photo-gallery-app-3434495/), accessed November 8, 2026