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February 03, 2025 2 mins read
#photo-backup #immich #ente

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.

Self-Hosted Photo Backup: Immich vs Ente Photos

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).