Apple Photos with iCloud vs Google Photos

[SkyLinx]

I switched to Google Photos a couple years ago and have had an Android phone since then. I like the search functionality and the fact that I get unlimited storage for free for photos and videos (albeit with some limitations in quality, which is fine to me). I was wondering whether there would be any advantage in switching to Apple Photos with iCloud today, ignoring for a moment the cost? How does the search work in the current Apple Photos? Is it as advanced as or better than that of Google Photos? In GP I can search with natural terms such as "wedding", "flowers", etc and it finds what I am looking for. Does AP do this as well?
And iCloud? Does it offer anything that I can't do with Google Photos?

Thanks!

 

[akash.nu]

Google photos app is available on iOS as well. So you won’t really lose anything by moving to Apple.

For me iCloud is more than just photos but I like the fact the the photos automatically gets synced across all my devices.

Also, simple search terms seems to be working fine for me as you mentioned in your post.

 

[Ray2]

I've tried Google Photos a few times and went back to Apple every time. First and important, I consider them both lousy apps. They are terribly deficient or executed poorly in many areas I deem important (album composition). Having said that:

- As above GP is available on iOS.
- If cloud storage is important to you, Google. However, realize Google can/will scrub your images and can make them available on their image search. The last time I used GP I created some albums, the images were location named and I shared a link to the album. Later I did an image search for a specific location and low and behold one of my shots was in the results. That's Google. If that's ok with you, go for it.
- If you compile albums and order/sort images in any order other than date placed on line. GP works fine. If you want control over the order images show in an album, since iOS 10 images in Apple Photos can be sorted by tap/hold/move. For me, what I want as my Mac/Lightroom is my primary image management/editing tool.
- If you edit images, Apple all the way. The editor in GP can do some really weird stuff to color hue, luminescence and saturation. I also noticed severe compression after editing in GP. Maybe a setting I missed.
- Neither are committed to Photos. They just want your business and offer a rather poor app to check off an item on their "must have" list. Apple has gone from MobileMe to iPhoto, to Journals, to Photos. All not seemless transitions and all poorly executed. Google went from Picasa to Photos, a lousy transition for Picasa users. If your Photos mean anything to you, having local backup and a robust image browser that's been around a while makes sense.

 

[SkyLinx]

The last time I used GP I created some albums, the images were location named and I shared a link to the album. Later I did an image search for a specific location and low and behold one of my shots was in the results. That's Google.

WUT? Are you sure? Your private photos were shown by Google search???

 

[robgendreau]

I think Google's content search is much better.

But if you try to organize by other means, it's kind of pitiful. Photos has more tools, and of course can do editing, etc. Google is pretty much just online storage. Quite good if you accept the limitations, and considering the cost.

 

[Ray2]

WUT? Are you sure? Your private photos were shown by Google search???

This is nothing new. Where do you think Google gets all the images that show up on image search? Google scrubs all the image depositories, including their own. Read the T&C.

Apple posts a notice when you share a public link your images are available to any one, any bot. The rest are protected from outside access. Google does not provide warning and I believe their T&C gives them limited rights to any images stored on their servers.