Dear Moment vs Google Photos
Which is better, Dear Moment or Google Photos?
Google Photos is a backup for your whole camera roll, with strong search, editing and a free storage tier. It is not a private family diary. Google says your Photos data is never used for ads unless you connect Photos to services that support ads, and isn't used to train generative AI models outside Google Photos. If you want a private Google Photos alternative for family moments, Dear Moment is a diary for the moments you want to keep: photos, videos, written notes and voice notes, shared only with the people you choose, with data stored in the EU and never used to train AI. You can use both. Dear Moment costs $39.99/year after a 14-day free trial.
We make Dear Moment, so we're not neutral. Every fact about Google Photos links to Google's own pages, and where we quote Google, we quote it exactly. If something is out of date, email hello@dearmoment.app and we'll fix it.
Side by side
| Dear Moment | Google Photos | |
|---|---|---|
| What it's for | A private family diary of chosen moments | Backing up and searching your whole photo library |
| Price | $39.99/year or $5.99/month after a 14-day free trial | Up to 15 GB free, shared with Gmail and Drive (in some countries, 5 GB until you add a phone number); more with a paid Google One plan |
| What you save | Photos, videos, written notes and voice notes, transcribed automatically | Photos and videos |
| Who sees what | You choose for each moment; each person sees only what you shared with them | Shared albums, shared links and partner sharing |
| Shared links | Each person gets their own private link; you can revoke it at any time | "Anyone with the link can view the photos and add to the album" |
| Family follow along | Private link in a browser, no app or account; optional email digest | Through the Photos app or a shared link |
| Ads | None; subscriptions only | "Your personal data in Google Photos is never used for ads", unless you make Photos data available to services that support ads |
| AI training | Never used to train AI | "We don't train any generative AI models outside of Google Photos with your personal data in Google Photos" |
| Where data is stored | EU (Frankfurt) | Google says your information "may be processed on servers located outside of the country where you live" |
| Search and editing | Browse by month; no text search | Strong: face groups, search, editing tools |
| Automatic backup | No; you choose what to save | Yes, your whole camera roll |
Google quotes from Google's Gemini features in Photos privacy page, sharing help page, storage help page and privacy policy, checked on 20 October 2026.
Who can see a Google Photos shared album?
Google Photos gives you several ways to share: shared albums, shared links, and partner sharing with one person. Two details from Google's own help pages matter for family photos:
- Links are open to anyone who has them. Google says: "When you share a link to your album, anyone with the link can view the photos and add to the album." A link forwarded in a group chat reaches people you did not invite.
- Removing someone doesn't always remove access. Google says: "If you remove someone from a shared album, but have link sharing turned on, anyone with the original link can still view the album." Turn link sharing off when you remove someone.
In Dear Moment, each person you share with gets their own private link, and you can revoke one person's link without affecting anyone else. Share links need no password, so anyone who has a link can see what it shows; that's why each link is separate.
Does Google Photos use your photos for AI or ads?
Here is what Google's Photos privacy page says, word for word:
- On AI training: "We don't train any generative AI models outside of Google Photos with your personal data in Google Photos."
- On ads: "Your personal data in Google Photos is never used for ads, unless you choose to make data from Google Photos available to third party or other Google services that support ads."
- On connected services: "In connecting to other Google services, Google may train on things like summaries, inferences, and generated media that are based on the contents of your Photos library."
- On human review of Ask Photos: "Human reviewers don't review Ask Photos responses, unless you give feedback, or in rare cases to address abuse or harm."
The AI statement covers models outside Google Photos. If this matters to you, read Google's Photos privacy page in full (linked under Sources) and decide for yourself. Dear Moment's promise is simpler: your memories are never used to train AI, and there are no ads.
Sharing baby photos with family
For a new baby, the question is often less "where do I back up 10,000 photos" and more "how do the grandparents see the good ones, and nobody else". Google Photos can do this with a shared album, but everyone in the album sees everything in it, and links can travel. Dear Moment is built for this: choose who sees each moment, add a voice note or a line about what happened, and grandparents open it from a private link or an email digest, with no app or account.
He was begging to get into water as soon as we arrived and wasn't afraid at all. Started splashing and laughing and enjoying it like he's done this for ages, even though that was his first time in the swimming pool.
Where Google Photos is better
- Backup. It backs up your whole camera roll automatically. Dear Moment is not a backup; you choose what to save.
- Search. Face groups and search make it easy to find any photo.
- A free tier. Up to 15 GB free, shared with Gmail and Drive.
- Editing tools, and it's already installed on most Android phones.
You can use both: Google Photos as the backup, and Dear Moment for the moments you want to keep and share privately.
Which should you choose?
- Choose Google Photos if you need a free backup and search for your whole library.
- Choose Dear Moment as a Google Photos alternative for family if you want a private diary with notes and voice, a choice of who sees each moment, no ads, and data in the EU. Or use both: Google Photos for backup, Dear Moment for the moments you share.
Comparing more apps? See Dear Moment vs Tinybeans vs FamilyAlbum vs TinyNest.
Questions
Does Google Photos use my photos to train AI?
Google's Photos privacy page says: "We don't train any generative AI models outside of Google Photos with your personal data in Google Photos." The statement covers models outside Google Photos. Dear Moment never uses your memories to train AI.
Does Google Photos use my photos for ads?
Google says: "Your personal data in Google Photos is never used for ads," unless you choose to make Photos data available to services that support ads. Dear Moment has no ads at all and makes money from subscriptions only.
Are Google Photos shared albums private?
Shared albums are visible to the people you share them with, and Google says that when you share a link to an album, anyone with the link can view the photos and add to the album. If you remove someone from a shared album but link sharing is on, Google says anyone with the original link can still view it.
Is Google Photos free?
Each Google Account includes up to 15 GB of storage, shared across Gmail, Google Drive and Google Photos. In some countries, accounts start with 5 GB and get 10 GB more after adding a phone number. More storage needs a paid Google One plan. Dear Moment costs $5.99/month or $39.99/year after a 14-day free trial.
Can I use Google Photos and Dear Moment together?
Yes. Google Photos is a strong backup for your whole camera roll. Dear Moment is for the moments you want to keep and share privately, with notes, voice notes and a choice of who sees each one.
Sources
- Google: Gemini features in Photos privacy hub, Share photos and videos, Shared album controls, How your Google storage works, Google One on the App Store (storage in some countries), Privacy Policy (checked 20 October 2026)
- Dear Moment: pricing and FAQ, privacy policy, our team
Try Dear Moment free for 14 days. Then $5.99/month or $39.99/year. Cancel anytime before your trial ends and you won't be charged.