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Stingle Photos

stingle.org

From $2.49/mo Free plan Open source WebWindowsmacOSLinuxiOSAndroid
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Spec score 8.7 #9 of 71 in Photo Storage Services

What it is

Stingle Photos is a gallery and camera app for backing up and syncing photos and videos across devices using the same account. It backs up files in the background and supports video recording and playback. Files are encrypted locally before they are sent to cloud storage. Stingle names XChaCha20 with Poly1305 for file data, X25519 for public-key cryptography and Argon2 for key derivation; it says sensitive photo and video metadata is encrypted in the file header. Albums can be shared with other Stingle users using encrypted album keys. The product is open source under GPLv3, and listed platforms include Android, iOS, Linux, macOS, Windows, API access and self-hosting. The free plan includes 1 GB. Paid storage starts at $2.99 a month for 100 GB; other listed plans include monthly and yearly capacities up to multiple terabytes. Users can host their own API server, with Linux, S3-compatible storage, a domain name and Git among the prerequisites. The hosted service uses DigitalOcean and Wasabi hot cloud storage. The provider cannot recover or change a forgotten password, so users should save the recovery phrase. The maker’s August 2026 post says the iOS app is available on the App Store and includes a built-in camera; a web version is planned.

Spec sheet

Product
Stingle Photos combines an encrypted gallery and camera with cloud backup and synchronization for photos and videos.Read 15 Oct 2026 · stingle.org
Platforms
The download page lists native desktop apps for Windows, macOS, and Linux, and links to an Android APK.Read 7 Oct 2026 · stingle.org
Support
The contact page directs users who need faster support to Telegram.Read 7 Oct 2026 · stingle.org
Account recovery
The FAQ says the provider cannot recover or change a forgotten password and recommends saving the recovery phrase.Read 7 Oct 2026 · stingle.org
Albums
Albums use separate encryption keys so collections can be shared without reuploading the underlying files.Read 15 Oct 2026 · stingle.org
Albums and sharing
Albums can be shared with other Stingle users using encrypted album keys.Read 7 Oct 2026 · stingle.org
Algorithms
Its security page names XChaCha20 with Poly1305 for file data, X25519 for public-key cryptography, and Argon2 for key derivation.Read 7 Oct 2026 · stingle.org
API extensibility
The API server supports addons that can add packages, configuration, controllers, views and scheduled jobs without changing core code.Read 15 Oct 2026 · github.com
API licence
The public Stingle API server repository is licensed under AGPL-3.0.Read 15 Oct 2026 · github.com
Background backup
Photos and videos can upload in the background and synchronize to other devices on the same account.Read 15 Oct 2026 · stingle.org
Browser client
The public web repository describes a browser client that can browse galleries, albums and trash and upload encrypted media.Read 15 Oct 2026 · github.com
Client licence
The Android client repository identifies GPL-3.0 as its licence.Read 15 Oct 2026 · github.com
Company profile
LinkedIn lists Stingle Inc. as a privately held software company headquartered in Middletown, Delaware, founded in 2020, with 2–10 employees.Read 15 Oct 2026 · linkedin.com
Cryptography
The security design uses Libsodium, XChaCha20-Poly1305, X25519 and Argon2.Read 15 Oct 2026 · stingle.org
Desktop downloads
Native desktop packages are offered for Windows, macOS and Linux; the listed desktop version is 0.1.8.Read 15 Oct 2026 · stingle.org
Encryption
Files are encrypted on the device before storage or transmission, including their cloud copies.Read 15 Oct 2026 · stingle.org
Hosting
The FAQ identifies DigitalOcean for hosting and Wasabi for encrypted-file storage.Read 15 Oct 2026 · stingle.org
Independent review
Ars Technica characterized Stingle as a minimalist FOSS mobile app that encrypts media before uploading and offers a simple album-like experience.Read 15 Oct 2026 · arstechnica.com
iOS
The maker’s August 2026 blog post says the iOS app is available on the App Store and has a built-in camera.Read 7 Oct 2026 · blog.stingle.org
Limit: Apple reviews
The US App Store review page shows complaints about unstable syncing, failed downloads or decryption, lack of a web interface and lost photos.Read 15 Oct 2026 · apps.apple.com
Limit: Google Play organization
A reviewer noted the absence of keyword-based AI search and asked for more free storage, while viewing the lack of AI positively for privacy.Read 15 Oct 2026 · play.google.com
Limit: Google Play upload speed
A reviewer reported that video uploads were extremely slow even on fast Wi-Fi and requested a way to exclude videos from automatic upload.Read 15 Oct 2026 · play.google.com
Limit: Google Play usability
Another reviewer described settings navigation as buggy and said encrypted files were difficult to access for editing on another computer.Read 15 Oct 2026 · play.google.com
Local-only mode
Backup can be disabled so the app stores encrypted media locally, limited by device capacity.Read 15 Oct 2026 · stingle.org
Metadata
Stingle says sensitive photo and video metadata is encrypted in the file header.Read 7 Oct 2026 · stingle.org
Metadata privacy
Sensitive metadata such as file type, filename and original size is kept inside encrypted headers.Read 15 Oct 2026 · stingle.org
Mobile distribution
The download page links an Android APK, while iOS distribution is through Apple's App Store.Read 15 Oct 2026 · stingle.org
Notable news: desktop launch
An August 7, 2026 company post announced new Windows, macOS and Linux desktop apps and major mobile updates after a period of slower development.Read 15 Oct 2026 · blog.stingle.org
Notable news: donations
An October 11, 2025 post announced GitHub Sponsors donations and said the project intended to remain independent of venture capital.Read 15 Oct 2026 · blog.stingle.org
Open source
The product is open source under the GPLv3 license.Read 7 Oct 2026 · stingle.org
Original quality
Import preserves files bit for bit rather than recompressing them.Read 15 Oct 2026 · stingle.org
Password recovery
The provider cannot reset a forgotten password; recovery depends on the user's recovery phrase or key backup.Read 15 Oct 2026 · stingle.org
Praise: Google Play privacy
A reviewer praised the privacy, intuitive interface, reliable operation and ability to delete local copies after upload.Read 15 Oct 2026 · play.google.com
Privacy policy
The company says it does not sell personal information, uses minimum collection and stores only encrypted media blobs it cannot decrypt.Read 15 Oct 2026 · stingle.org
Provider visibility
The service says it retains account email, dates, plan, storage usage, file counts, album counts, encrypted sizes and logged-in device counts, but no IP logs or analytics.Read 15 Oct 2026 · stingle.org
Rating on Apple App Store
4.0 out of 5 from 2 ratings.Read 15 Oct 2026 · apps.apple.com
Rating on Google Play
3.6 out of 5 from 167 reviews.Read 15 Oct 2026 · play.google.com
Security program
The privacy policy describes a written security program with safeguards, incident response and breach-notification processes.Read 15 Oct 2026 · stingle.org
Self-hosting
A user can run a Stingle API server with Linux, a domain, Git and S3-compatible storage using the published Docker setup.Read 15 Oct 2026 · stingle.org
Sharing
Users can share albums and media with other users through end-to-end encrypted key exchange.Read 15 Oct 2026 · stingle.org
Sync
Photos and videos are backed up in the background and synced to devices using the same account.Read 7 Oct 2026 · stingle.org
Video
The apps support encrypted video recording, playback and seeking within independently encrypted chunks.Read 15 Oct 2026 · stingle.org
Web app
The maker’s August 2026 blog post lists a web version as a planned feature.Read 7 Oct 2026 · blog.stingle.org

Plans and prices

1 GB Free 1 GB cloud storage Read 15 Oct 2026 · stingle.org
100 GB monthly $2.99 a month $2.99/month 100 GB cloud storage Read 15 Oct 2026 · stingle.org
300 GB monthly $4.99 a month $4.99/month 300 GB cloud storage Read 15 Oct 2026 · stingle.org
1 TB monthly $11.99 a month $11.99/month 1 TB cloud storage Read 15 Oct 2026 · stingle.org
100 GB yearly $29.90 a year $29.90/year (save $5.98) 100 GB cloud storage Read 15 Oct 2026 · stingle.org
3 TB monthly $35.99 a month $35.99/month 3 TB cloud storage Read 15 Oct 2026 · stingle.org
300 GB yearly $49.99 a year $49.99/year (save $9.89) 300 GB cloud storage Read 15 Oct 2026 · stingle.org
5 TB monthly $59.99 a month $59.99/month 5 TB cloud storage Read 15 Oct 2026 · stingle.org
1 TB yearly $111.99 a year $111.99/year (save $23.89) 1 TB cloud storage Read 15 Oct 2026 · stingle.org
3 TB yearly $359.99 a year $359.99/year (save $71.89) 3 TB cloud storage Read 15 Oct 2026 · stingle.org

Every Stingle Photos plan and price →

Strong points and limits

Strong points

  • Free plan includes 1 GB storage.
  • Files are encrypted locally before cloud upload.
  • Shared albums use encrypted album keys.
  • Open source under GPLv3.
  • Supports video backup, recording and playback.

Limits

  • Provider cannot recover or change a forgotten password.
  • Self-hosting requires Linux, S3-compatible storage, a domain and Git.
  • Web version is listed as planned, not available.
  • Paid plans start at $2.99 a month.

Who it suits

Stingle Photos suits people seeking encrypted photo and video backup, syncing and sharing across their devices. Self-hosting is an option for users able to meet its listed server prerequisites.

Verdict

Stingle Photos gives specific encryption, storage and self-hosting details, alongside a free 1 GB plan. Save the recovery phrase: the provider says it cannot restore access by changing a forgotten password.

Where Specifiction places it

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