Introduction: The Wake-Up Call for Photo Backup

Most people don't think about backing up their photos and videos until they lose something irreplaceable. Local storage remains the most secure option—provided files are encrypted and you control access. But local storage fails when you need to retrieve a file on the go. That's where cloud services from big tech firms like Google Photos and Microsoft OneDrive step in. For a while, OneDrive was my go-to solution. However, after witnessing Microsoft's aggressive push of its Copilot AI across its product lineup, I grew uneasy. The thought that a future Copilot-powered feature might tamper with my images and videos pushed me to look for alternatives.

The Motivation to Move: Privacy Concerns with Big Tech

Microsoft's integration of Copilot into services like OneDrive felt like a step toward treating user data as a resource to be mined. While they assure encryption and privacy, the potential for automated analysis of personal photos is unsettling. I wanted a service that prioritizes end-to-end encryption and does not rely on data harvesting for AI training. That search led me away from the usual suspects.

Discovering Ente Photos: What Is It?

Ente Photos, whose mascot is a duck named Ducky, is an open-source, end-to-end encrypted photo storage service launched in 2020. The team's mission is to help people preserve memories with privacy, without depending on platforms that treat your data as a commodity. Beyond photos, Ente offers Auth, a cross-platform two-factor authentication app that backs up your 2FA secrets in encrypted form, and Locker, for storing sensitive documents securely.

I had the opportunity to speak with Vishnu Mohandas, Ente's founder, in 2024. He shared his vision of building a privacy-respecting alternative to Google Photos and iCloud Photos. That conversation stayed with me, and eventually, I decided to put Ente to the test.

The Migration Process: From OneDrive to Ente

Downloading from OneDrive: A Painful Start

The first hurdle was getting my files out of OneDrive. With over 200 GB of photos and videos, the web version's download process was painfully slow. It would zip folders first, then begin the transfer. That wouldn't cut it. To speed things up, I installed the OneDrive client on Windows 11 and configured it to keep local copies of my files. This method was much faster, and the download completed in a few hours.

I then sorted the files—keeping photos and videos separate from other documents—and stored them on an external hard drive before moving them to Ente.

Signing Up and Choosing a Plan

I already had an Ente account, so I logged in and selected the 200 GB paid plan. The annual cost was ₹4,788 (note: Ente charges in USD/EUR globally, so your local currency cost depends on exchange rates and payment method). There's also a free tier offering 10 GB of storage, which is great for testing the waters.

Uploading to Ente was straightforward. The app handled the files smoothly, and the end-to-end encryption meant my data was never exposed on their servers.

Why Ente Stands Out

Privacy by Design

Unlike big-tech services, Ente uses client-side encryption so that even they cannot access your photos. Your data remains yours. This is a fundamental shift from the model where your images are analyzed for AI training or advertising.

Open Source and Transparent

Ente's code is open source, allowing independent security audits. This transparency builds trust that proprietary solutions lack.

Cross-Platform and Feature-Rich

Ente Photos works on Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, and Android. The additional tools—Auth and Locker—extend its utility beyond photos.

Final Thoughts: Not Going Back

After a few weeks with Ente, I'm confident in my decision. The peace of mind that comes with knowing my photos are encrypted end-to-end, with no risk of AI meddling, is worth the switch. OneDrive was convenient, but convenience shouldn't come at the cost of privacy. If you're considering leaving a big-tech photo service, give Ente Photos a try. It might just be the secure haven your memories deserve.