Ente

Open source alternative to Google Photos, Apple iCloud Photos and Amazon Photos

29.6K stars
AGPL-3.0
Active this week
Last commit today

Last verified Oct 25, 2026

Secure your photos with end-to-end encryption, zero-knowledge AI search, and on-device face recognition. Cross-platform, AGPL-3.0, and self-hostable.

Visit website GitHub29.6K Deploy on Hostinger

Read the full breakdownWho it is for, how it works, trade-offs, the quick start and the FAQ

who it's for

Who Ente is for#

Privacy-conscious individuals leaving Google Photos

If you want to stop Google from scanning your personal photos for ad targeting, Ente replaces Google Photos with end-to-end encryption, on-device face recognition, and zero-knowledge AI search. The migration path includes an import tool for moving existing libraries.

Skip if:

You rely on Google Photos features that require server-side analysis, such as Google Lens integration or Google Assistant queries over your library. Those capabilities cannot be replicated with client-side encryption.

Families sharing albums across mixed device ecosystems

Family plans let multiple people share a subscription and collaborate in shared albums while keeping individual libraries private and encrypted. Because Ente runs on iOS, Android, and web, families with both iPhone and Android devices can all participate without switching platforms.

Skip if:

Your entire family uses Apple devices and already has iCloud Family Sharing with no cross-platform needs. iCloud is more tightly integrated in that specific scenario and requires no additional subscription.

Developers running a self-hosted photo archive

The full server and client source code is in a public monorepo under AGPL-3.0. You can deploy your own Ente instance, modify the code, and audit every data flow through your storage infrastructure. This is the option for developers who want full control over their photo backup stack.

Skip if:

You need a fully managed service with no server maintenance responsibilities. Self-hosting Ente requires ongoing infrastructure work; the managed cloud tier removes that burden if owning the server is not a requirement.

Users consolidating photo backup and 2FA in one encrypted ecosystem

Ente Photos and Ente Auth, the platform's 2FA app, share the same encryption model and account. If you want both your photo library and your authentication codes encrypted without trusting a commercial provider, Ente provides both under one account. Ente Auth is free with no storage cap.

Skip if:

You already have a separate 2FA setup you are satisfied with. Ente Auth and Ente Photos are independent products; you do not need to use both.

the problem

The problem it solves#

Cloud photo services from Google, Apple, and Amazon offer convenient storage but access your photo library in ways most users do not examine closely. Google Photos scans photos for content classification and ad targeting. Apple's iCloud Photos does not encrypt files end-to-end by default, which means Apple can respond to legal requests with your original photos. Amazon Photos is tied to a Prime subscription and is a fully proprietary service with no self-hosting option.

For privacy-conscious users, the alternative has historically been self-hosted tools that require significant server work and offer poor mobile experiences, or encrypted storage that lacks features like face recognition and AI search. There has not been an encrypted photo service that matched the convenience of commercial tools while also providing a credible self-hosting path and third-party audited cryptography.

how Ente solves it

How it solves it#

End-to-End Encryption Before Upload

Every photo and video is encrypted on your device before it is sent to the server. The server stores only ciphertext, so neither Ente employees nor any third party can see your photos. The cryptography has been independently audited by Cure53, Symbolic Software, and Fallible, and the audit results are public.

On-Device Face Recognition

Face detection and grouping runs entirely on your device, not on Ente's servers. Your biometric data stays local. You can label faces and browse photos by person without sending any facial data to the cloud, which is the key difference from Google Photos face grouping.

Zero-Knowledge AI Search

Natural-language search lets you find photos by describing scenes, people, or moments. The AI processing runs locally, so your search queries and photo contents are never transmitted to a server. You can search for 'beach trip' or 'birthday party' without exposing your library contents.

3x Geographic Data Replication

Each uploaded file is stored in three geographically separate locations. If one datacenter has an outage, your photos remain accessible from the other two copies. This replication is built into the service tier and does not require a separate add-on or higher plan.

Cross-Platform Client Apps

Official clients exist for iOS, Android, F-Droid, web, Linux, macOS, and Windows. All platforms share the same encryption model, so you are not forced to use a specific operating system to access your library. The breadth of platform coverage is wider than Apple iCloud Photos or Amazon Photos.

Family Plans with No Extra Per-Member Cost

A single Ente Photos subscription can be shared with family members at no added charge per person. Shared albums let family members collaborate and collect photos together, while each person's private library remains end-to-end encrypted and inaccessible to other family members.

strengths · trade-offs

Strengths and trade-offs#

Strengths

Third-Party Audited CryptographyThe source code and cryptography have been audited by three independent firms: Cure53 (a German cybersecurity firm), Symbolic Software (French cryptography experts), and Fallible (an Indian penetration testing firm). Public audit results mean you can verify the security claims, not just accept the marketing.
Fully Open Source MonorepoThe server, iOS app, Android app, and web client are all published in a single public repository under AGPL-3.0. You can read every line of code that handles your photos, fork it, or run the entire stack yourself. Google Photos and Apple iCloud Photos are both fully proprietary with no equivalent transparency.
No Ads, No Training, No Data SellingEnte does not run ads, does not train AI models on your photos, and does not sell usage data. The business model is subscription-based: you pay for storage and that is the entire product. Client-side encryption makes these claims enforceable: even if policies changed, the server cannot read your files.
Cross-Platform Without Ecosystem Lock-InUnlike Apple iCloud Photos, which requires Apple devices for the best experience, Ente provides a consistent experience on iOS, Android, web, Linux, macOS, and Windows. Switching from Apple to Android or vice versa does not affect access to your library or require migrating to a different service.

Trade-offs

-Self-Hosting Requires Server ConfigurationThe self-hosted path is not a one-click install. Cloning the monorepo and running the server requires configuring a backend, database, and object storage. The repository documentation covers the setup, but it is not suitable for users without server administration experience. Ente's managed cloud service avoids this entirely.
-No Automated Video Compression PreviewsEnte Photos does not automatically generate compressed video previews for fast in-app playback. Full-resolution videos are stored and served, which means previewing long videos requires downloading the full file. A user review from 2026 named this as the most requested missing feature at that time.
-AGPL-3.0 Restricts Offering the Service CommerciallyAGPL-3.0 means you can run Ente for yourself, your family, or your organization's internal use at no cost. You cannot take the code, modify it, and sell it as a hosted photo service to others without sharing your source changes. Offering Ente as a managed service for paying customers requires a commercial license arrangement.

versus alternatives

Ente vs alternatives#

Ente vs Google Photos

Both organize photos with AI-powered features, but on opposite trust models. Google Photos processes your library on Google's servers, which enables Google Lens and Assistant queries but gives Google access to your unencrypted images. Ente encrypts every file on your device before upload, so the server never sees plaintext content.

Feature	Ente	Google Photos
License	AGPL-3.0	Proprietary
Encryption	Client-side E2EE	Server-side only
Self-hosting	Yes	No
Face recognition	On-device	Server-side
Free storage	10 GB	15 GB (shared with Gmail)

Google Photos is the better choice if Google Lens, Google Assistant integration, or a larger free storage tier are the deciding factors. Ente is the better choice when client-side encryption, on-device AI processing, and a self-hosting option are required.

Ente vs Apple iCloud Photos

iCloud Photos syncs effortlessly across iPhone, iPad, and Mac. However, iCloud Photos does not provide end-to-end encryption for the main photo library by default, which means Apple can comply with legal access requests that include your original photos. Ente runs on iOS, Android, web, Linux, macOS, and Windows, covering the same devices without the Apple-only constraint.

Feature	Ente	Apple iCloud Photos
License	AGPL-3.0	Proprietary
Encryption	Client-side E2EE	Server-side only
Platform coverage	iOS, Android, web, desktop	Apple devices + web
Self-hosting	Yes	No
Family sharing	Included in subscription	Requires iCloud+ plan

iCloud Photos is the right choice for users fully committed to the Apple ecosystem who want zero-friction device sync and do not need cross-platform access. Ente suits users who want genuine end-to-end encryption and cross-platform support that includes Android or Windows devices.

install · quick start

Quick start#

bash

Self-hosting Ente starts by cloning the monorepo, which contains both server and client app source code.
```bash
git clone https://github.com/ente/ente
```

tech stack · detected from GitHub

What it's built on#

Languages: DartGoKotlinPythonRustSwiftTypeScript
Frameworks: ElectronFlutterReact

frequently asked

FAQ#

Is Ente Photos free to use?

Ente Photos offers 10 GB of free storage with no time limit. Paid plans add more storage capacity. The self-hosted version is free to run on your own server under the AGPL-3.0 license, though you are responsible for your own hosting costs. Ente Auth, the platform's 2FA app, is fully free with no storage cap.

How does end-to-end encryption work in Ente Photos?

Files are encrypted on your device before upload using keys that never leave your device. The server receives only encrypted ciphertext and cannot decrypt your photos even with full server access. This client-side encryption model has been independently audited by Cure53, Symbolic Software, and Fallible, all of whom published their findings publicly.

Can I self-host Ente Photos?

Yes. The complete server and all client app source code is in a public GitHub repository under AGPL-3.0. You can clone the repository and run your own instance. The setup requires configuring a server, database, and object storage, so it is not a one-click install and assumes some server administration experience.

How does Ente Photos compare to Google Photos for privacy?

Google Photos processes your photos on Google's servers, enabling Google Lens and Assistant features but giving Google access to your unencrypted images for content classification and ad targeting. Ente encrypts every file on your device before upload, so the server stores only ciphertext. Neither Ente nor any third party can read your photos regardless of legal requests or policy changes.

What license does Ente use?

Ente is licensed under AGPL-3.0. You can run it for personal use, family use, or internal organizational use at no cost, including self-hosting. The AGPL-3.0 copyleft restriction applies if you want to offer a modified version as a hosted service to paying customers: you would need to share your source changes or arrange a separate commercial license.

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Self-host Ente on a Hostinger VPS.

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Ente vs Google Photos

Feature	Ente	Google Photos
License	AGPL-3.0	Proprietary
Encryption	Client-side E2EE	Server-side only
Self-hosting	Yes	No
Face recognition	On-device	Server-side
Free storage	10 GB	15 GB (shared with Gmail)

Ente vs Apple iCloud Photos

Feature	Ente	Apple iCloud Photos
License	AGPL-3.0	Proprietary
Encryption	Client-side E2EE	Server-side only
Platform coverage	iOS, Android, web, desktop	Apple devices + web
Self-hosting	Yes	No
Family sharing	Included in subscription	Requires iCloud+ plan