My Local-Only iCloud Alternative: OpenMediaVault + PhotoSync Without Internet Exposure

Why I Intentionally Avoid Cloud Photo Backups

I didn’t replace iCloud because it was “bad”.

I replaced it because it didn’t match how I actually live and use my devices.

With Apple iCloud Photos:

• Backups can happen anytime, anywhere
• Mobile data gets used silently
• Storage grows without restraint
• You pay monthly just to keep existing photos

I wanted something different:

• Backup only when I’m home
• Zero internet exposure
• Zero mobile data usage
• Storage I can browse, audit, and clean up easily

So I designed my setup around that.

The Core Principle: Local-Only by Design

This is important:

• No port forwarding
• No public IP
• No reverse proxy
• No “just in case” access

Everything happens inside my home network only.

That single decision:

• Reduces attack surface
• Eliminates cloud trust issues
• Simplifies security dramatically

My Actual Setup (Real-World, Not Theory)

Virtualisation & Storage

• Proxmox VE as my home hypervisor
• OpenMediaVault running as a VM
• External HDD physically connected to the home server
• Disk passed directly into the OMV VM

This gives me:

• Hardware flexibility
• Simple storage expansion
• Clean separation between host and storage OS

How Photo Backups Work (iCloud-Style, But Local)

On iOS, I use PhotoSync

This is where the magic happens.

Backup Logic

• PhotoSync only runs when I’m connected to home Wi-Fi
• No backups over mobile data
• No background uploads outside my house
• No internet dependency at all

Daily Reality

1. I come home
2. iPhone connects to Wi-Fi
3. PhotoSync detects the network
4. Photos sync to OMV via SMB
5. Backup completes quietly

From a usability perspective, it behaves like iCloud —but only within my own network.

Zero Internet Exposure = Real Peace of Mind

Because OMV is local-only:

• Photos never leave my house
• No public endpoints to secure
• No certificates, no reverse proxies
• No constant patch anxiety

For backups, offline-first beats cloud-first every time.

Saving Money on Mobile Data (Underrated Benefit)

This part doesn’t get talked about enough.

With iCloud:

• Photos sync whenever Apple decides
• Mobile data usage creeps up
• You don’t always notice until the bill arrives

With my setup:

• No mobile photo uploads
• No background sync over 5G
• Wi-Fi only, always

That alone justifies the setup for me.

OMV as a Network Drive (This Is the Killer Feature)

My OMV storage isn’t just a dump target.

I mount it as a network drive on my PC.

That means:

• I can browse photos like normal files
• Review images comfortably on a large screen
• Delete junk photos properly
• Keep what matters, remove what doesn’t

This turns backups into an active workflow, not a black hole.

Why I Prefer Files Over “Smart Photo Clouds”

Cloud photo platforms love:

• Abstracted libraries
• Hidden indexes
• Sync logic you don’t control

My OMV setup gives me:

• Plain folders
• Predictable structure
• No vendor lock-in
• Easy secondary backups

If OMV dies tomorrow, my photos are still just… files.

Who This Setup Is Perfect For

This approach works best if you:

• Want a self-hosted iCloud alternative
• Prefer local-only access
• Care about privacy and cost control
• Already have (or want) a home server

It’s not ideal if you:

• Need global access to photos anytime
• Want zero maintenance
• Don’t want to think about storage at all