# Pixel Gallery vs Gallery by Google

Canonical: https://pixel-gallery.app/android/compare/google-gallery

Last updated: November 9, 2026

**Verdict:** Pick Gallery by Google for a tiny, simple gallery on an entry-level phone. Pick Pixel Gallery if you want search by what a photo shows, cleanup, stories, a video editor and an encrypted index.

Gallery by Google, formerly Gallery Go, is a small offline gallery that groups photos into people and categories. Pixel Gallery is also local, with semantic search, cleanup and much more.

## Feature comparison

| Capability | Pixel Gallery | Gallery by Google |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Photos stay on the phone | Yes (Pixel Gallery never uploads your photos or videos.) | Yes (Offline gallery with no cloud library.) |
| Works without an account | Yes | Yes |
| On-device smart search | Yes (SigLIP2 model, ~375 MB optional download.) | Partly (Nightly on-device grouping into People, Selfies, Nature, Animals, Documents, Videos; free-text content search not documented.) |
| Face grouping | Yes (Runs on the phone.) | Yes (On device; Google says face grouping is not available in all countries.) |
| Duplicate and similar cleanup | Yes | Not documented |
| Encrypted metadata database | Yes | Not documented |
| No ads | Yes | Yes (Play listing carries no 'Contains ads' label.) |
| No subscription | Yes (Free, plus an optional one-time Premium purchase.) | Yes (Free; no in-app purchases listed.) |
| Cloud backup | No (Pixel Gallery has no cloud. Backup is up to you.) | No (Designed to work offline; no backup feature.) |
| Open source | No | No |
| Search by what a photo shows | Yes | Not documented (Category browsing; free-text search is not documented.) |
| Runs on older phones (Android 8.1+) | No (Needs Android 13 or newer.) | Yes |
| Video editor | Yes | Not documented |
| Map and places | Yes | No |
| Stories and memories | Yes | No |

## Is Pixel Gallery a good Gallery by Google alternative?

Yes, if your phone runs Android 13 or newer and you want more than the basics. Gallery by Google, formerly Gallery Go, is a light offline gallery that groups photos into people and categories such as selfies and documents. Pixel Gallery is local too, and adds semantic search, cleanup, stories, places, statistics and a video editor.

## What does Gallery by Google do better?

- **Size and reach.** A very small app that runs on Android 8.1 and entry-level phones.
- **Simplicity.** Few screens, nothing to configure.
- **SD card tools.** Copy and move files to an SD card.

## What does Pixel Gallery do better?

- **Search by content.** Type what you are looking for; the SigLIP2 model runs on the phone.
- **Cleanup.** Duplicates, similar shots and low-quality photos with swipe review.
- **Much more to do.** Stories, places, statistics, collages, photo and video editing.
- **An encrypted index.** The metadata database is encrypted on the phone.

## Who should pick which?

Pick Gallery by Google on an older or low-storage phone. Pick Pixel Gallery if your phone is recent and you want your library organized and searchable for you.

## How to switch from Gallery by Google

Install Pixel Gallery, allow photo access and set it as the default gallery. Your folders are already there; people are grouped again on the phone.

## Questions

**Is Gallery Go still supported?**
It was renamed Gallery by Google in 2022 and is still on Google Play, last updated in June 2026. Its feature set has changed little since launch.

**Gallery by Google or Google Photos?**
Gallery by Google is offline and simple; Google Photos is a cloud service. Pixel Gallery sits between them: local like Gallery, with smart features like Photos.

**Does Gallery by Google upload photos?**
No. It works offline with no cloud library. Pixel Gallery also never uploads your photos or videos.

## Sources

- [Gallery by Google on Google Play](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.google.android.apps.photosgo), accessed November 8, 2026
- [Google blog: Gallery Go, organize your photos offline (2019)](https://blog.google/products-and-platforms/products/photos/gallery-go/), accessed November 8, 2026
- [GSMArena: Gallery Go drops the Go name (2022)](https://www.gsmarena.com/new_gallery_go_app_drops_the_go_name-news-54464.php), accessed November 8, 2026
- [Android Authority: Google's Gallery app surprises Pixel owners (2025)](https://www.androidauthority.com/google-gallery-app-existence-surprise-3555934/), accessed November 8, 2026