Making the Switch: How Ente Photos Became My Primary Photo Backup Solution

Introduction: The Backup Dilemma

Most people only start thinking about backing up their photos and videos after they've lost something irreplaceable. Local storage remains the most secure option—provided files are encrypted and you maintain control over the physical medium. However, local storage falls short when you need to retrieve a file on the go. Being away from home and wanting quick access to a specific image or clip is exactly the scenario it fails to address.

Cloud services from major tech companies like Google Photos and Microsoft OneDrive fill this gap effectively. For a time, OneDrive was my go-to choice. But the relentless push of Microsoft's Copilot features across its product line made me uneasy. I thought, "It won't be long before some new Copilot-powered feature starts tampering with images and videos." That prompted me to seek alternatives.

Why I Decided to Leave OneDrive

The catalyst for my move was Microsoft's aggressive integration of Copilot into its ecosystem. While OneDrive itself is a solid service, my concern centered on future updates that might automatically analyze, modify, or even share my media without clear consent. I wanted a service that respects privacy by design—not one that treats user data as a resource to be mined.

Initially, I considered Proton Drive, but I wanted to explore options outside the Proton ecosystem. That's when I discovered Ente Photos.

What Is Ente Photos?

Ente Photos is an open-source, end-to-end encrypted photo storage service launched in 2020. Its mascot is a duck named Ducky. The team's goal, as they state, is to help people preserve memories with privacy, without relying on platforms that treat your data as a commodity. Beyond photos, Ente also offers Auth, a cross-platform two-factor authentication app that backs up 2FA secrets in encrypted form, and Locker, a secure document storage service.

I had the chance to speak with founder Vishnu Mohandas in 2024 about his vision for a privacy-respecting alternative to Google Photos and iCloud Photos. Since then, I finally tried it—and moved away from yet another Big Tech service.

The Migration Process: From OneDrive to Ente

Before I could do anything, I needed to extract my files from OneDrive. And Microsoft made that painfully slow. Downloading from the web version required zipping folders first, which would then start a multi-hour download process. That wouldn't work for me—I had over 200 GB of photos and videos.

To speed things up, I installed the OneDrive client on Windows 11 and configured it to keep local copies of all files. This approach downloaded everything in a few hours, much faster than the website. I saved the files to an external hard drive, keeping photos and videos separate for the migration to Ente.

With my Ente account already created, I logged in and selected the 200 GB paid plan, which costs ₹4788 annually (Ente charges in USD/EUR globally, so local currency amounts depend on exchange rates and payment method). There's also a free tier offering 10 GB of storage.

Uploading to Ente

The upload process itself was straightforward. I used the Ente desktop app to upload the folders. The end-to-end encryption meant my files were encrypted before leaving my device, giving me peace of mind. The app also preserved original file metadata, which was a nice touch.

Benefits of Switching

Now that I've settled into Ente Photos, several advantages stand out:

• True Privacy: Because all data is end-to-end encrypted, even Ente cannot access my photos or videos.
• Open Source: The code is publicly auditable, so I can verify security claims.
• No AI Tampering: Unlike OneDrive, there's no risk of Copilot-like features analyzing or modifying my media without consent.
• Cross-Platform Access: Apps for iOS, Android, web, and desktop make it easy to retrieve files on the go.

Conclusion: A Satisfying Move

Leaving OneDrive for Ente Photos hasn't been without a few minor inconveniences—the initial download from OneDrive was tedious—but the end result is a private, secure, and reliable photo backup solution. If you're concerned about Big Tech's handling of your personal media, Ente offers a compelling alternative.

For those interested, you can start with the free 10 GB plan to test the waters before committing to a paid subscription.