Ayup! I recently discovered Irys while browsing the App Store. Yet another platform positioning itself as an Instagram alternative. Based on past experience, that probably means it won’t be very good, right? Wrong! I honestly think they might be on to something here.
The primary selling point is that no AI-generated images are allowed. Massive tick. But it doesn’t stop there. No ads, no algorithm, no visible follower counts or post likes, and no data harvesting. Lastly, it’s built by photographers and aimed solely at posting still images.
Most similar ventures consistently lack one key ingredient: big names. Irys’s founder, Alan Schaller, is extremely well connected in the photography world. As a result, you’ve already got plenty of brands and well known photographers like Phil Penman using the app.
We didn’t build Irys because we wanted to be in the tech game — we built this app because we couldn’t find the answers to many of the challenges the photography community is facing.
Social media plays a powerful role in the creative world, but in recent years, the pressure to stay visible and the shift away from still photography have left many image-makers feeling overlooked and worn out.
High-Resolution: Masonry Grid
With a premium account (more on this below), you can upload full-size, glorious high-res photos (up to 50 MB). Nice! None of the other social media platforms that I use are oferring this. Highly appealing for any photographer, I’d imagine. Your images are non-downloadable, so you don’t need to worry about anyone getting hold of your files.
One thing that infuriated me on Instagram was the grid’s rigidity. On Irys, your landscape, portrait and square images all slot together perfectly in a masonry layout. This instantly satisfies my OCD.
Having tried literally all the Instagram alternatives, Irys stands leaps and bounds ahead for me. It might have some teething issues and lack a bit of functionality, but they’re moving fast and the community is engaged. I really enjoy using the product, I’m getting engagement (likes and comments) which is what I want out of a platform where I’m showcasing my work.
Engagement
Engagement is downplayed on Irys compared to Instagram. As mentioned, both follower counts and image likes aren’t visible. This leaves your work front and centre to do all of the talking.
That said, in only a few days, I’ve received plenty of interactions. Nothing overwhelming, which is always welcome. There’s a calm, composed vibe, not too dissimilar to Mastodon.
As with any platform, you get out what you put in. I’ve been hopping around various profiles and groups, finding photographers to follow. This quickly gives you a chronological feed of sweet, sweet inspo.
I particularly like the ability to join specific groups and feel like part of a community. Rather than just the simple ‘like’ button, you also have buttons to praise a person’s exposure, composition. You can also see the EXIF data of images which is reassuring that you’re looking at a proper real-world photo rather than an AI generated one.
Groups
If anything, groups are what I’m most excited for. For a while now, I’ve been keeping an eye out for an iPhone photography group or two. Definitely didn’t want to sign up to Facebook again. Within minutes on the Iris app, I found my people. Yes!
You can join up to five groups with a free account, and it’s unlimited with a premium membership. Black and white photography is extremely popular. Again, my people! These are some of the most popular communities, but there’s basically something for every sub-genre of photography you could ever imagine.
On the off chance that you can’t find what you’re looking for, you can also create your own group. This is available with paid memberships only.
In a world where the photograph has been reduced to a thumbnail between videos, Irys feels like a cool place to hang with like-minded photographers. A place to slow down, look harder and remember why we pick up a camera in the first place.
Competitions
Premium members have access to ongoing photography (Spotlight) competitions. This is a lovely addition. While I haven’t entered anything yet, once I’ve found my feet and settled in, I’ll submit to any relevant opportunities.
Full access to Spotlight Groups, where we team up with key industry names for exciting competitions. Get featured, get noticed, and maybe even win some great prizes.
More Than Just A Social Platform
The plans for Irys are pretty wild and inspiring. It will expand out to include a magazine, book publishing house, agency and gallery network. This is particularly innovative, as it fuses the online world with actual real world media and networking. Love it!
Irys is a place to connect but also as a place to be discovered. We’ll be actively scouting talent and partnering with industry leaders to create opportunities for the Irys community.
That is why we are building Irys not only as a social media platform but as an ecosystem with an in-house magazine (coming in 2026), a book publishing house, an agency and a gallery network.
Free vs Paid
Lastly, a quick note on the premium upgrade. Is it worth it? Yes. Should social media ever even be free? Rarely. Even as someone who truly detests subscriptions, I’m keeping an open mind to this one.
While you can get by with a free account, if you plan on using it long-term, you’ll likely want the premium membership. It costs £4.99 per month or £49.99 per year. For what’s included, this seems more than reasonable:
- Enter spotlight competitions
- Even higher res uploads
- Post as much as you like
- Create unlimited collections
- Join all the groups you want
- Start and lead your own groups
Initial Thoughts
In its relatively short existence, Irys has laid the foundations for something pretty special. It launched on 30th September 2025 with a clear focus on still photography. Do one thing, and do it right.
The feed doesn’t seem to refresh unless you do it manually, and I had an issue with my groups not loading. Other than that, though, I really rather like it. The groups and competitions are a solid addition.
I don’t normally use social media on my phone. As it stands, that’s the only option with Irys. Desktop uploads are on the roadmap. I’m hoping this means a full browser based version of the app.
EXIF data is also available if the photographer has enabled it. Another nice touch. All in all, there’s a lot to love here. Especially for photographers who actually want to focus on photograhy.