Ente Photos vs Hoodik

Ente Photos is an end-to-end encrypted photo service for backing up and accessing images across devices. Its apps encrypt photos and metadata on the device before upload, and can back up new photos in the background. On-device AI recognizes faces and photo elements to support natural-language search. Users can revisit curated memories and share encrypted albums or browser links, with password and expiry options for links. Album owners can allow others to contribute photos, including people without an Ente account. Ente documents imports from Google Photos, Apple Photos, Amazon Photos, and local storage; its desktop app supports incremental export. The Free plan includes 10 GB and one replica. Paid plans start with Starter at $2.49 a month, which includes 50 GB. Paid subscribers can share storage with up to five family members, each with a private space. Ente says it stores three encrypted copies across providers and EU locations. It also says it cannot recover an account or data if a user loses both the password and recovery key while logged out of all devices.

Hoodik is encrypted cloud storage that encrypts files on a device before upload. Starter includes 100 GB and Plus includes 500 GB, and both plans allow unlimited users. Users can share files and folders with view or edit permissions and collaborate on markdown notes with version history. Hoodik hashes filenames and search queries on the device, so the server compares fingerprints rather than the words. Its maker says file keys are wrapped using X25519 and ML-KEM-768 and do not reach its servers. Cloud customers can choose EU or US storage regions; the maker says its object storage is designed for 99.999999999% annual durability. Free native apps are available for iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Android, while Windows and Linux users are directed to the web app. Hoodik can also be run with its Docker guide on a home server, Raspberry Pi, NAS, or Linux machine, using S3-compatible storage such as Backblaze B2, Wasabi, AWS S3, or MinIO. On macOS, a local MCP server offers 13 file and note tools to AI clients including Claude Desktop and Cursor. That feature serves the account active and unlocked in the app. Cloud customers can export an archive with a runnable Hoodik copy and encrypted data. Self-hosting is free; cloud plans start at €9/mo.