I built PicHub - a free, permanent image hosting platform with API for developers
I'm excited to share PicHub, a free image hosting platform I've been building to solve a problem many developers face.
The Problem
As a developer, I was frustrated with existing free image hosting services:
They shut down unexpectedly, breaking thousands of image links
They add intrusive ads after gaining users
They lack proper APIs for developers
They impose strict limits that make them unusable for real projects
I needed a reliable solution for my blog and projects, and I couldn't find one that checked all boxes.
The Solution: PicHub
PicHub is a professional image hosting platform that's:
100% Free - No hidden costs, no premium upsells for basic features
Permanent - Your images stay forever, no sudden shutdowns
API-First - Full RESTful API with detailed documentation
Ad-Free - Clean interface, no annoying ads
Developer-Friendly - Built by developers, for developers
Key Features
For End Users:
Drag-and-drop upload with batch processing
Album management with privacy controls
Public gallery with waterfall layout
Multi-language support (Chinese, English, French, Russian)
Dark mode and responsive design
For Developers:
RESTful API with token authentication
API documentation at /api-docs
Webhook support
Batch operations
Multiple image formats (JPEG, PNG, WebP, GIF)
Storage Options:
Local storage (default)
Alibaba Cloud OSS
Tencent Cloud COS
Qiniu Cloud
Tech Stack
Backend: Laravel 11 + PHP 8.2 + MySQL
Frontend: Tailwind CSS + Alpine.js + Blade
Admin: Filament 3.2
Image Processing: Intervention Image
Authentication: Laravel Sanctum
Current Status
Live at: https://pichub.app GitHub: https://github.com/truman-world/PicHub
License: MIT (fully open source)
The platform is fully functional with:
Complete image management system
Album organization with public/private controls
Subscription system (for premium features like extra storage)
Admin panel powered by Filament
Comprehensive API documentation
Multi-language support
What's Next?
I'm working on:
Mobile apps (iOS/Android)
CDN integration for faster delivery
Advanced image editing tools
Plugin system for extensibility
More storage provider integrations
Why I'm Sharing
I believe image hosting should be a public good, like email or DNS. I'm building PicHub not just as a product, but as infrastructure that developers can rely on.
I'd love to hear your feedback:
What features matter most to you in an image hosting service?
Would you trust a free service for your production projects?
What would make you switch from your current solution?
Check it out at https://pichub.app and let me know what you think!
Tech details for the curious:
Self-hostable with Docker
One-command deployment
Modular architecture
Queue-based processing
SEO optimized (Open Graph, Twitter Cards, JSON-LD)
Looking forward to your feedback!
