Ente
End-to-end encrypted photo backup service and 2FA authenticator app, open source.
Recommended as an end-to-end encrypted replacement for Google and iCloud Photos1234, with polished apps, background sync and automatic export5678, plus a 2FA app with a browser extension and exportable secrets.910 The main caveat is rough edges: one user calls the desktop apps subpar and non-native, and another says leaving iCloud Photos still means accepting compromises.1112
Why people recommend it
Privacy, E2E encryption · 3
Commenters like the end-to-end encryption, control of their keys and keeping photos away from Google.
“I've had a wonderful experience self-hosting Ente photos”
“Moved all my photos over to Ente recently, and I'm very happy to no longer be feeding all of that data into the Google machine.”
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“Ente is worth a look if you want cloud sync without giving up control of your keys.”
Big Tech replacement · 3
Several users moved to it from Google Photos, iCloud Photos or iOS Photos.
“moving half a TB of photos to Ente and canceling our paid Google subscription”
“my move from iCloud Photos to Ente, I’m really still accepting a decent amount of compromises. It’s better in some ways, worse in others.”
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“Ente Photos”
Sync and export · 3
Photos back up in the background and can be continuously exported to a desktop or NAS.
“My photos (I use Ente, not Google or Apple) sync in the background on WiFi”
“Now ente not only backs up to their e2ee cloud but its desktop app keeps those media synced to the OS of my choice on my laptop.”
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“I moved to a cloud photos provider (Ente) with an automated continuous export feature so that everything can go to my NAS.”
Polished apps · 2
The apps and UX are described as high quality and on par with iCloud Photos.
“It's also just got really good apps and UX. On par with iCloud photos for the most part”
“I've had a wonderful experience self-hosting Ente photos”
2FA authenticator · 2
Ente's 2FA app offers a browser extension, exportable secrets and cloud sync with your own keys.
“I now use Ente and it's so nice having 2fa inside a browser extension. I can also export the secrets at will.”
“Ente is worth a look if you want cloud sync without giving up control of your keys.”
On-device features · 1
Face and object search, map view and memories run on-device, even without logging in.
“I use Ente photos [0] without logging in, just as a local gallery.”
Caveats and dissent
Desktop apps · 1
One user calls the desktop apps subpar, non-native and glitchy.
“Now ente not only backs up to their e2ee cloud but its desktop app keeps those media synced to the OS of my choice on my laptop.”
Compromises · 1
A user who switched from iCloud Photos says it is better in some ways and worse in others.
“my move from iCloud Photos to Ente, I’m really still accepting a decent amount of compromises. It’s better in some ways, worse in others.”
Unclear messaging · 1
One commenter finds the marketing ambiguous and predicts Ente will fail.
Often compared with
Who recommends it in their own words
Threads where it came up
- Now Google says it might use your Gmail and Google Photos data to target ads 2 mentions
- How do I permanently disable Google Photos pop-up prompt to backup my photos? 2 mentions
- Immich v3.0.0 Released 2 mentions
- Apple routed a graphite pipe through the iPhone Duo's hinge to dissipate heat 1 mention
- Pixel 11 doesn't yet meet the GrapheneOS security standards and may be skipped 1 mention
- GrapheneOS in 2027 available on high-end Motorola phones 1 mention
Also written as Ente Photos. Data: ente.json. Quotes are verbatim; the verdict and theme labels are written by a model from these comments, and every clause links to its sources.
All comments 18
“Just use Ente.io I have been using it for 2 years now and am happy.”
“It's also just got really good apps and UX. On par with iCloud photos for the most part”
“my move from iCloud Photos to Ente, I’m really still accepting a decent amount of compromises. It’s better in some ways, worse in others.”
“I now use Ente and it's so nice having 2fa inside a browser extension. I can also export the secrets at will.”
“Ente Photos”
“My photos (I use Ente, not Google or Apple) sync in the background on WiFi”
“moving half a TB of photos to Ente and canceling our paid Google subscription”
“I use Ente photos [0] without logging in, just as a local gallery.”
“I predict Ente will fail.”
“I've had a wonderful experience self-hosting Ente photos”
“They seem like a really good company. I love the branding, I love how they keep their servers open”
“I feel like this is the best of all worlds. I get cloud convenience and no real self-hosting burden”
“I use and like Ente Photos a lot”
“Moved all my photos over to Ente recently, and I'm very happy to no longer be feeding all of that data into the Google machine.”
“Ente is worth a look if you want cloud sync without giving up control of your keys.”
“Now ente not only backs up to their e2ee cloud but its desktop app keeps those media synced to the OS of my choice on my laptop.”
“I moved to a cloud photos provider (Ente) with an automated continuous export feature so that everything can go to my NAS.”
“I’ve experimented with both Immich and Ente over the last year”