Do you link to photos hosted on Flickr? Do you want to spend a bunch of time on this or something else?
Do you like Flickr as a platform or use their forums & social groups?
Yes, there are other platforms, but there's a trade off. $5/month is a pretty basic rate, and honestly I'd be worried about the longevity of a platform that charges less. At some point you'll be the product, not the customer.