Ente
Open-source, end-to-end encrypted cloud for photos, videos, and 2FA secrets — a privacy-first Google Photos and iCloud Photos alternative.
Open source alternative to:
Ente is an open-source, end-to-end encrypted cloud platform for storing photos, videos, and two-factor authentication secrets. Data is encrypted on the client before it leaves the device, meaning Ente itself cannot access user content — a property verified through independent audits by Cure53, Symbolic Software, and Fallible. The platform is licensed under AGPL-3.0, with the entire stack including the server open-sourced since 2024.
Ente Photos is a privacy-first alternative to Google Photos and iCloud Photos, offering encrypted backups, on-device machine learning for face detection and semantic search, smart albums, collaborative sharing, and family plans. Ente Auth is a cross-platform 2FA authenticator with encrypted backup and sync, designed to replace Google Authenticator and Authy without sacrificing multi-device convenience.
Available on iOS, Android, F-Droid, web, Linux, macOS, and Windows, Ente is suitable for privacy-conscious users who want a credible long-term alternative to mainstream cloud photo services. The project is self-hostable via Docker with S3-compatible storage, and has grown to over 28k stars on GitHub with active development.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does Ente protect photos and why can I trust it?
Ente encrypts data on the client before anything leaves the device, so Ente itself cannot read your content. This zero-knowledge design has been independently verified through audits by Cure53, Symbolic Software, and Fallible. The entire stack, including the server, has been open sourced since 2024 under AGPL-3.0.
Can I self-host Ente, and what does it require?
Yes, Ente can be self-hosted via Docker with S3-compatible storage, which gives you full ownership of your encrypted photo library. The hosted service at ente.io is also an option and still cannot access your data because decryption happens on your devices. Both routes are supported by the same open-source codebase.
Is Ente only a photo backup service?
No. Ente Photos is a privacy-first alternative to Google Photos and iCloud Photos with encrypted backups, on-device machine learning for face detection and semantic search, smart albums, collaborative sharing, and family plans. Ente Auth is a cross-platform 2FA authenticator with encrypted backup and sync designed to replace Google Authenticator or Authy. Both apps run on iOS, Android, F-Droid, web, Linux, macOS, and Windows.
Repository details
Updated 8/12/2026, 11:00:19 PM
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