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If The Worst Happens ...
Okay, I think the majority of us, certainly those who are Club members, are hoping and maybe even praying that Team Ipernity are able to secure new investment for the site or find a buyer for it.

However, what happens if they fail and we all need to look for an alternative. Some might disagree, but I think ipernity is unique and not only much easier to use than the competition, but offers a better product.

And yet, despite all of that, if it closes then we will need to find a new home, which raises the question of where.

Some might chooses to go back to flickr, but if like me you don't have a superfast broadband connection you will find that difficult if not impossible.

Others who perhaps have a competitive side to their nature might elect to go to Photocrowd or YouPic.

For those amongst you though that are looking for a more straightforward photo sharing platform I personally think it comes down to a choice between the following:

500px; Fotoblur; Blipfoto or 23.

I've been trying out each of these over the last few weeks and have to say there are pros and cons for each.

So, in an attempt to help compare them I've produced a document within which I have tried to capture the essence of each site from what they themselves say about their product to my own observations on what they're like to use.

I'm making that available here both as Word and PDF file formats. Simply click the link to go through to the document type of your choosing and you should then be able to download the appropriate file.

I might have missed a trick or two and some people might disagree with some of my observations, but I hope on the whole that it might be helpful to anyone who is struggling to decide where they will go if ipernity closes.

All I'd say though is don't leave yet ... you never know ipernity might yet be saved and if it is there's no point moving elsewhere because this site is simply the best!

29 comments

StoneRoad2013 said:

I've also had a quick look at smugmug and zenfolio.

Really, I'm not impressed by any of the alternatives ... they either look / feel like fl***r clones or are not suitable for other reasons.

23hq, for example is very basic and security is easily bypassed.
8 years ago

autofantasia replied to StoneRoad2013:

Pretty much what I've said in the document Sara ... great minds and all that! ;)
8 years ago

Heidiho said:

IP. this site is simply the best! !
... nothing more to say.
8 years ago

autofantasia replied to Heidiho:

Can't argue with that! ;)
8 years ago

Pam J said:

Thankyou Paul.... EXCELLENT summery.
8 years ago

autofantasia replied to Pam J:

Hope it helps people ... I know I've been getting confused myself somewhat Pam by all the different permutations because you're not really comparing like with like! :)
8 years ago

Graham Chance said:

Thanks for this Paul. Much appreciated.
8 years ago

autofantasia replied to Graham Chance:

Glad you think it useful Graham! :)
8 years ago

John Sheldon said:

The value of what will be lost if Ipernity closes - becomes clear in my attempt at an objective review of the alternatives at
www.ipernity.com/doc/john_sheldon/44008874
Let's all hope that the wonderful efforts being made by members and others will pay dividends and we will have Ipernity for many more years and beyond!
8 years ago

autofantasia replied to John Sheldon:

Yes, let's hope there is some good news soon ... in the meantime John, thanks for the link to your own article! :)
8 years ago

Clickity Click said:

I have no intention of leaving ipernity unless they actually shut the doors, as I have said before. Paul you have been relentless in your efforts ... thank you again for the nice summery.
8 years ago

autofantasia replied to Clickity Click:

Thanks for that Chris! :)
8 years ago

Gudrun said:

Thanks very much, Paul! An excellent in-depth analysis which helps a lot- though mainly to underline there is no site out there that is as good as ipernity:-(
8 years ago

LutzP said:

Thanks for the effort Paul,

I have had a look Fotoblur, 23 and 500px, coming from Ipernity all three of them rather disapponting. I haven't had a look on Blipfoto, which I will do next.

In addition I looked at fotocommunity (expensive and boring), SmugMug (more a homepage type and well designed, no social element, emphasis also on selling pics), Leica fotopark (very basic, clicks and favs, no IPR protection)

Do you know the very detailed excel chart compiled by Tomas Kohout during the demise of Panoramio, if you provide your mail address via Ipermail, I will gladly mail it to you.

Did you get any feedback on your paper "Saving Ipernity" from the team?

PS: you may download the comparison chart from my docs
8 years ago

StoneRoad2013 replied to LutzP:

That excel chart sounds interesting ...
8 years ago