Self-Hosted Photo Backup: Immich vs Ente Photos
Compare Immich and Ente Photos for private photo backup. Learn which service best protects your photos with encryption and self-hosting options.
Summary
Immich is self-hosted photo management with full control. Ente Photos offers encrypted cloud backup with zero-knowledge. Choose Immich for self-hosting and control, Ente for encrypted cloud convenience.
Why Private Photo Backup Matters
Photo backup services can: - Access your photos - Scan for facial recognition - Use photos for advertising - Share with third parties - Be compromised by hackers
Private photo backup prevents this with encryption and self-hosting.
Detailed Comparison
Immich
Type: Self-hosted photo management
Features: - Self-hosted (your server) - Full control - Automatic backup - Face recognition - Album management - Mobile apps
Privacy: - Your server, your data - No third-party access - Complete control - Can be air-gapped
Pricing: Free (self-hosted, server costs)
Pros: - Complete control - No third-party trust - Free software - Full features - Privacy-focused
Cons: - Requires self-hosting - Technical setup - Maintenance required - Server costs
Ente Photos
Type: Encrypted cloud backup
Features: - Zero-knowledge encryption - Automatic backup - Face recognition (on-device) - Album management - Mobile and web apps
Privacy: - Zero-knowledge encryption - Cannot access photos - Privacy-focused - End-to-end encrypted
Pricing: Free (1GB), Paid from $5/month
Pros: - Easy setup - Zero-knowledge encryption - Good privacy - Cloud convenience - Free tier
Cons: - Cloud-based (trust required) - Smaller free tier - Less control than self-hosted
Which Should You Choose?
Choose Immich If:
- You can self-host
- You want maximum control
- You prefer no third-party trust
- You have technical knowledge
- You want full features
Choose Ente Photos If:
- You want cloud convenience
- You prefer zero-knowledge encryption
- You want easy setup
- You’re okay with cloud service
- You want good privacy
Conclusion
Immich offers maximum control through self-hosting. Ente Photos provides encrypted cloud convenience. Choose based on your needs: self-hosting (Immich) or encrypted cloud (Ente).