Ente Photos vs iCloud Backup
Ente Photos
ente.com
iCloud Backup
apple.comSide by side
| Figure | Ente Photos | iCloud Backup |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | $2.49/mo | Free |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Free trial | — | — |
| Open source | Yes | — |
| Web | Yes | Yes |
| Windows | Yes | Yes |
| macOS | Yes | Yes |
| Linux | Yes | — |
| iOS | Yes | Yes |
| Android | Yes | Yes |
| API | — | Yes |
| Self-hosted | Yes | — |
| Plans published | 5 | 9 |
| Spec score · Photo Management Software | 9.4 (#1) | 9.3 (#4) |
| Spec score · Photo Storage Services | 9.4 (#2) | 9.3 (#5) |
| Automatic backup | The apps back up new photos in the background after encrypting them on the device. | iCloud Backup can run automatically when an iPhone or iPad is locked, connected to power and on Wi-Fi. |
| Licence | The main Ente repository is released under the GNU Affero General Public License version 3.0. | Apple's iCloud terms describe the service software as proprietary and owned by Apple or its licensors. |
| What it does | Ente Photos is an end-to-end encrypted cloud photo storage and sharing alternative to Google Photos and Apple Photos. | iCloud stores and synchronizes photos, files, documents, contacts, calendars, mail and other data across Apple devices and iCloud.com. |
Plans
Ente Photos
- FreeFree
- Starter$2.49 a month
- Popular$4.99 a month
- Pro$9.99 a month
- Pro+$19.99 a month
iCloud Backup
- iCloud freeFree
- iCloud 5GBPriced on request
- iCloud 5GBPrice not published
- iCloud+ 50GB$0.99 a month
- iCloud+ 200GB$2.99 a month
- iCloud+ 2TB$9.99 a month
- iCloud+ 6TB$29.99 a month
- iCloud+ 12TB$59.99 a month
- iCloud 5GBFree
In their own words
Ente Photos
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.
iCloud Backup
iCloud Backup is Apple’s iOS service for backing up and synchronizing files and other data across devices. It supports mobile and video backup, file restoration, original-quality storage, face search, shared albums, family sharing, and a desktop app. The free plan includes 5 GB. Paid iCloud+ storage starts at $0.99 a month for 50GB, with monthly tiers of 2.99 USD for 200GB, 9.99 USD for 2TB, 29.99 USD for 6TB, and 59.99 USD for 12TB. The 50GB tier adds iCloud Private Relay, Hide My Email, Custom Email Domain, and HomeKit Secure Video for one camera. The 200GB tier supports five cameras, and 2TB supports unlimited cameras; higher tiers include the preceding features. Computer and server backup are not supported, and ransomware protection is not included. The service is listed for iOS.