Photostick Review

As a photographer, I need reliable media file storage solutions – plus I need to safely store my family videos and photos.

I’m always on the lookout for the best hard drives and backup solutions to secure my work and streamline my workflow. In this Photo Stick review, we take a look at a brilliant solution that frees-up storage space, removes the need for a large hard drive, and provides picture and video backup.

Digital storage solutions, like external hard drives, have two issues – they are expensive and complex to use.

Recently I found a product that made me ask myself, is ThePhotoStick any good? I did a little research only to discover that I may have found the ultimate backup and storage solution.

There’s a range of models intended for use with computers and mobile devices. So the critical question is, which is the best photo stick for you?

Stick with me (pardon the pun) and we’ll discover what it is and how it could make sure you protect your precious photos and videos.

• Related: Mylio Photos Review: Privately Store & Organise Photos & Videos

What is the Photostick?

The Photostick is an image backup device that plugs into your computer and locates and backs-up your photos to its storage drive.

It’s a simple device that looks like a high-end USB thumb drive. But there is a lot more to this handy little device than just being a small-capacity USB flash drive.

You no longer need to navigate menus to find new photos and drag them to a hard drive. This photo backup stick takes all the stress out of reliable image storage and handles it like a pro.

Before we explore this intriguing product, let’s take a look at the storage issues we currently experience.

Hard drives make me nervous as they use mechanical functions to record data to a disk. Moving parts eventually wear out and result in a drive failure – say goodbye to anything meaningful. Flash drives tend to be much more reliable.

I use high-capacity hard drives to store my digital media, but I also need multiple drives to ensure I have a backup copy of everything. Also, I have to remember to perform a backup manually.

My biggest fear is to find that a hard drive housing thousands of pictures from my holidays, family time and work is gone forever.

I don’t particularly appreciate using cloud storage as I find it slow with uploads. And it shames me to admit that I don’t trust the reliability of cloud storage for anything yet.

So let’s take a look at the ThePhotoStick and learn how it efficiently addresses some of those media storage fears.

How to Use the Photo Stick

 

Using the ThePhotoStick is one of the most straightforward setups you can have for automated data storage. As long as you have a USB port, you are ready to use it to backup your photos and videos.

In this review, I’ll walk you through the steps to show you how simple it is.

• Computer System Requirements

This plug and play device doesn’t require anything to be installed on your computer, nor does it require anything to be already installed on your computer. Also, you don’t need to have the latest machine and operating systems for it to work.

If you use Windows, then you can run it on Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 8.1, and Windows 10. If you are a Mac user, then it works on Mac OS X Version 10.7 and later.

What’s more, it’s not a drain on processing power or memory, nor do you need an internet connection.

• Extensions Compatible with the Photo Stick

ThePhotoStick is best suited to backing up JPEG and HEIC files. Plus it works on a range of other media formats for many photos and video files. JPEGs are the most common image files, and HEIC is those created by smartphones.

It also supports different file types including PNG and RAW files such as TIF, CRW, NRW and KDC. RAW files are much larger than JPEG and will fill up storage faster.

It’s great to see support for all the most common RAW file formats, as well as some of the more obscure ones like ARW.

If you work with Adobe Photoshop, it will even back up PSD and PDD formats too!

Aside from photos, it will also work with MOV and MPEG4 video formats. Either way, it will handle the most common files for pictures and videos.

• How to Run the Photo Stick

To run the PhotoStick, simply plug it into an open USB port. As it’s so compact, it takes up no room on your desk.

Here is a quick tutorial on how to run the photo stick whether on Windows or Mac:

• Plug ThePhotoStick (the right way up) into an empty USB port on your computer.
• Your computer will take a moment to recognise the stick.
• A window will appear on your computer screen.
• Double click the icon to start the software.
• Press the green GO button to run the scan.
• Make a cup of tea and let it do its thing.

The photo stick scans your computer files – all of them. While scanning, it looks for the image and video files I described earlier. It will not duplicate any files it has backed up in the past – saving you a lot of space.

If you’ve got thousands of image files, you may wish to let it run overnight.

Pros of ThePhotoStick

I have been using ThePhotoStick for several weeks now on both a laptop and a desktop computer. I am impressed by how it works in terms of performance and efficiency – you’ve probably heard this in other Photo Stick reviews.

It does what it promises and does it without fault. Let’s take a look at the pros and cons to make it a fair review.

• Easy to Use

It’s super easy to use ThePhotoStick to backup your media files. You only need to plug it into your computer, and within moments you are prompted to start the scan and leave it to do its job.

It doesn’t bombard you with confusing questions – it knows what it needs to do and gets it done.

• No Cloud. No Fuss.

The ease of use means there’s no need to understand or use the cloud. Using ThePhotoStick is more straightforward, more tangible and faster than using cloud services.

It’s also free (after you buy it, of course!) i.e. there’s no on-going subscription fee, as is typical with online cloud backup services.

Plus, there’s no need to remember logins and passwords – you simply plug it in and with a single click off it goes.

• Performance

ThePhotoStick is quite fast at performing a scan for media files. It only takes around 60 seconds to perform a scan, but then requires some time to copy the files.

This process depends on the size and type of the files on your computer. If you’re backing up JPEG files, the process will be faster.

If you are backing up RAW or video files it will take a lot longer – my recommendation is to let it run overnight.

• Processing

Fortunately, it’s not computer processor-intensive at all. I ran my Mac’s Activity Monitor while the backup was underway, and so virtually no strain on my CPU.

You can perform a regular backup to the stick and still undertake other processor-intensive tasks. You won’t even notice that it’s doing its job.

• Storage

ThePhotoStick is also a brilliant storage device – it amazes me how much a tiny device can hold. Plus, you don’t need to have a large hard drive with excessive storage capacities cluttering your desk.

The 64GB version stores 30,000 photos and double that for the 128GB version. Just be mindful that these figures are based on single images of 2MB, which is like an 8MB JPEG file. RAW and video files will be much more significant.

• Ongoing Backup

Another benefit of ThePhotStick is that you use it as an ongoing back up device. You can keep PhotoStick plugged into your computer at all times. Once a week open the window and make that one click to backup your media.

• Customer Service

I didn’t actually need to contact product support during my time evaluating the PhotoStick for this review, but according to thephotostick reviews I’ve read, you get a reply from a real person in the United States within 24 hours. The advertisement and press release content also support this.

• Physical Size

It’s great not having a large external drive on my desk to backup photos. At a fraction of the size of even the smallest portable hard drive, you can even attach the PhotoStick on to your keychain.

• Cost

Aside from not having to pay any ongoing subscription fees (like you would for a cloud backup service), the PhotoStick is a refreshingly affordable product.

You’ve no doubt read other Photostick reviews that confirm that this product isn’t a scam – it’s just a very competitively priced device for someone with a tight budget. It’s also a great gift idea for a photographer friend or relative.

Cons of ThePhotoStick

There is not a lot I can say against the Photo Stick, but keep these things in mind.

• Processing Time

While the initial scan only takes a minute or so, the file backup process can take a lot longer – this all depends on the amount and size of the files requiring backup.

However, this is only a minor problem as you can run a backup in the background while you perform other tasks. Or, let it run overnight or while you’re away from your computer during the day.

• Interface

I would like to see an update to include a way to see how much longer your backup has. While the on-screen display shows a percentage of the process, a duration would also help.

While they are tweaking the interface, the ability to pause and continue the scan would improve the process over just cancelling the task and then having to start again.

Photostick Pricing + DISCOUNT

As of 2023, the price of ThePhotoStick is as follows:

• 8GB Model: $34.99 (3,500 photos and videos)
• 64GB Model: $49.99 (30,000 photos and videos)
• 128GB Model: $79.99 (60,000 photos and videos)

You can take advantage of a 40% discount off each additional PhotoStick you order.

There’s also a 60-day money-back guarantee, so you can make sure your chosen stick works perfectly on your computer.

Click the button below to read more real customer Photo Stick reviews and check out the latest pricing.

FAQs

Where Can I Buy a Photostick?

The best place to buy ThePhotoStick is from the official website because you can be sure you’re buying at the best price.

(There are also frequent special offers, which you won’t find at Amazon or other PhotoStick retailers.)

Click the button below to find out the latest offers:

Who is the Photostick for?

ThePhotoStick is the ideal solution for hobbyist and enthusiast photographers and videographers.

It’s the perfect solution to ensure your photos or videos on your computer back up reliably to a separate location.

It also presents a solution to maximise the efficiency of your workflow. Simply let it do its thing and make a backup of your pictures.

What is the difference between a Photo Stick and a Flash Drive?

A Flash Drive or USB stick is the simplest storage devices that will hold a prescribed amount of data. USB flash drives, USB thumb drives and hard drives need directions for what to do – you have to drag and drop your images either onto or from the flash drive.

ThePhotoStick is a smart flash drive that does everything a flash drive does but with brains. It will automatically detect new images and back them up on its internal storage without fuss or loss of data.

How do I view my photos on ThePhotoStick?

Here’s what to do to view photos on PhotoStick:

1. Plug the PhotoStick into your computer through the USB port
2. Once the PhotoStick window appears on your screen, double-click the software icon 3. Click on My Photos/Videos

What is the best photo stick on the market?

There are a few criteria to assess any photo stick, like price, capacity, and compatibility.

That said, the best overall photo stick on the market is the iDiskk Photo Stick. It works for both PCs and smartphones. Plus, it comes with quite a decent price tag.

Is ThePhotoStick legit?

ThePhotoStick is an impressive piece of technology and it’s easy to use. It supports multiple file extensions and doesn’t require an internet connection to operate. Plus, ThePhotoStick it’s worth the price in comparison to the performance it delivers.

PhotoStick Mobile

 

One other device in the lineup that’s worthy of a mention is the PhotoStickMobile

Much like it’s big brother, it’s a super-simple gadget that scans and saves photos and videos, but does it all directly from your smartphone or tablet.

You just plug it into your mobile device, then wait for the software to back everything up for you.

Not only does this give you peace of mind against losing your phone (and all your precious memories), but it can also save you money in the long run – no more iCloud or Google Drive subscription fees!

You can learn more about PhotoStickMobile by clicking the button below:

Final Recommendation

There’s a reason why people say that if your house is on fire, grab your photo albums – you can’t replace your family photos when they’re gone!

The same should also be said of your digital media – especially as we move away from photo albums.

Do yourself a favour and preserve your precious pictures and videos with just one easy to use device. Use a solution like this one to perform a reliable back up and protect them against loss.

Take a look at the range on offer to choose the best photo stick for your photo and video files based on the various storage capacities available.