imgproxy vs PicGo + libvips/sharp (DIY)
Self-host pick — both replace Cloudinary (Image / video CDN + on-the-fly transformation).
Both imgproxy and PicGo + libvips/sharp (DIY) self-host as a replacement for Cloudinary (Image / video CDN + on-the-fly transformation). Pick imgproxy if you want the lighter footprint — 5min docker run, $5-15/mo vps for the proxy; storage and cdn bill separately. Pick PicGo + libvips/sharp (DIY) if you need teams that want fully custom transform semantics (project-specific watermarking, branding) without paying Cloudinary's per-credit pricing — 30min — build a small Node service and $5/mo vps for a small node service.
| imgproxyopen-source | PicGo + libvips/sharp (DIY)open-source | |
|---|---|---|
| License | MIT | Apache-2.0 |
| Setup time | 5min docker run | 30min — build a small Node service |
| Monthly cost | $5-15/mo VPS for the proxy; storage and CDN bill separately. | $5/mo VPS for a small Node service. |
| GitHub | imgproxy/imgproxy | lovell/sharp |
| Replaces | Cloudinary | Cloudinary |
Good fit for
imgproxy
Most use cases — fastest single-binary image processor, near-perfect feature parity with Cloudinary's transformation surface.
Weak at:No upload/management UI; you push images to S3 yourself. Video transformation requires the Pro edition.
PicGo + libvips/sharp (DIY)
Teams that want fully custom transform semantics (project-specific watermarking, branding) without paying Cloudinary's per-credit pricing.
Weak at:Bring your own everything — you build the URL contract, signing, cache invalidation, and admin UI.
In a terminal? npx -y github:SolvoHQ/os-alt-cli cloudinary prints Cloudinary's self-host options including both —
how the CLI works →
FAQ
Which is easier to self-host, imgproxy or PicGo + libvips/sharp (DIY)?
imgproxy: 5min docker run. PicGo + libvips/sharp (DIY): 30min — build a small Node service.
What does each cost to run?
imgproxy: $5-15/mo VPS for the proxy; storage and CDN bill separately.. PicGo + libvips/sharp (DIY): $5/mo VPS for a small Node service.. Both projects are free and open source.
Do imgproxy and PicGo + libvips/sharp (DIY) replace the same SaaS?
Yes — both are open-source alternatives to Cloudinary.