The main difference is you can leave Ente anytime, but leaving Amazon Photos is painful. Amazon's web interface limits you to selecting 3000 files at a time with no album selection - for large libraries, this means tedious manual work. The desktop app can download everything, but users often describe feeling like their photos are "held hostage."
Beyond data lock-in, Ente offers end-to-end encryption (Amazon can see all your photos), human support (try getting help from Amazon), and no video limits (Amazon caps videos at 5GB even for Prime members).
Ente Photos is an end-to-end encrypted photo storage service with open-source apps for iOS, Android, web, and desktop platforms. Photos are encrypted on your device before upload, and the encryption keys remain with you. The service has been independently audited by security researchers.
Amazon Photos is a cloud photo storage service offered by Amazon. It provides unlimited full-resolution photo storage for Prime members and 5 GB for non-Prime users, integrated with the Amazon ecosystem.
At a Glance
Choose Ente Photos if:
- Privacy and encryption are important to you
- You want full control over your data with easy export
- You need true cross-platform support including Linux
- You value open-source, auditable security
Choose Amazon Photos if:
- You're already a Prime member and want unlimited photo storage
- Privacy is not a priority
- You're heavily invested in the Amazon ecosystem
- You don't plan to ever switch services
Table of Contents
- Quick Comparison: Pros & Cons
- Privacy & Security
- Storage & Pricing
- Smart Features
- Backup & Data Freedom
- Sharing & Collaboration
- Understanding Key Differences
- Summary
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Related Resources
Quick Comparison: Pros & Cons
Ente Photos
Pros:
- True end-to-end encryption - you hold the keys
- Open source code with independent security audits
- Easy one-click data export
- On-device AI for face recognition and magic search
- Full Linux desktop support
- Human customer support team
Cons:
- No unlimited storage option
Amazon Photos
Pros:
- Unlimited photo storage for Prime members
- Free for existing Prime subscribers
- Basic face recognition and search
Cons:
- No end-to-end encryption - Amazon can access your photos
- No bulk export option - data is locked in
- No Linux desktop app
- AI processing happens on Amazon's servers
- Privacy concerns with Amazon's data practices
Privacy & Security
Ente encrypts your photos before upload; Amazon stores them unencrypted and can access them.
| Ente Photos | Amazon Photos | |
|---|---|---|
| Encryption model | End-to-end encrypted (you hold the keys) | Server-side encrypted (Amazon holds keys) |
| Can the service access photos? | No | Yes |
| Source code | Open source, independently audited | Proprietary |
| AI/ML processing location | On your device | On Amazon's servers |
Storage & Pricing
Amazon offers unlimited photo storage for Prime members. Ente offers transparent pricing with guaranteed data replication.
| Ente Photos | Amazon Photos | |
|---|---|---|
| Free storage | 10 GB forever | 5 GB (non-Prime) |
| Unlimited photos | No (plans up to multiple TB) | Yes (Prime members, photos only) |
| Video storage | Included in plan | 5 GB limit (even for Prime) |
| Family sharing | Up to 6 people total | Amazon Household (limited) |
| Data replication | 3 copies in 3 countries | Amazon's infrastructure |
Smart Features
Both offer AI-powered features, but with very different privacy implications.
| Ente Photos | Amazon Photos | |
|---|---|---|
| Face recognition | Yes (on-device, private) | Yes (cloud-based) |
| Search by description | Yes (magic search, on-device) | Yes (cloud-based) |
| Map view | Yes | Yes |
| Location tags | Yes | Yes |
| Video editing | Yes | No |
Backup & Data Freedom
Ente offers easy export; Amazon has no bulk export option, making it very difficult to leave.
| Ente Photos | Amazon Photos | |
|---|---|---|
| Automatic mobile backup | Yes | Yes |
| Desktop app | Windows, Mac, Linux | Windows, Mac only |
| Export method | One-click in-app export, CLI tools | Limited bulk export (3000 file limit on web) |
| Data portability | Easy to leave anytime | Very difficult to leave |
| Original quality preserved | Yes | Yes |
Sharing & Collaboration
Ente offers encrypted sharing; Amazon focuses on Amazon ecosystem integration.
| Ente Photos | Amazon Photos | |
|---|---|---|
| Share albums via link | Yes (end-to-end encrypted) | Yes (not encrypted) |
| Collect photos from others | Yes (no account needed, encrypted) | No |
| Partner sharing | Yes (encrypted) | No |
| Collaborative albums | Yes (encrypted) | Limited |
Understanding Key Differences
The Data Lock-In Problem
Amazon Photos makes exporting difficult. The web interface limits you to selecting 3000 files at a time and doesn't support album-based selection. While the desktop app can download your full library, the process is far from seamless. Many users describe the experience as feeling like their photos are being held hostage.
Ente provides one-click export from all apps, command-line tools for automated backups, and continuous local sync through the desktop app. Your photos are never locked in.
Privacy and AI Processing
With Ente, your photos are encrypted on your device before upload. All AI features (face recognition, magic search) run entirely on your device - your photos are never processed on Ente's servers.
Amazon Photos processes your photos on their servers for AI features. This means Amazon has access to all your photos and uses them for features and potentially other purposes as outlined in their privacy policy.
The "Free" with Prime Trade-off
Amazon Photos' unlimited storage for Prime members sounds attractive, but comes with significant trade-offs:
- No privacy: Amazon has full access to your photos
- Data lock-in: No way to easily export your library
- Ecosystem dependency: Tied to Prime membership
- Videos not included: Only photos are unlimited; videos count against 5 GB
Ente charges transparently for storage but gives you true privacy and data freedom.
Video Storage
Amazon Photos limits videos to 5 GB - even for Prime members. If you have a lot of videos, you'll hit this limit quickly and need to pay for additional storage anyway.
Ente includes videos in your storage plan with no separate limits. Photos and videos are treated the same.
Support When You Need It
Ente has a human support team. When something goes wrong with your photos, you talk to a real person who can help.
Amazon's support is designed for their retail business. Getting help with Amazon Photos specifically is difficult - you'll often be routed through generic support channels that don't understand the product.
Platform Support
Ente offers full-featured apps for all platforms including Linux. Amazon Photos lacks a Linux desktop app, limiting options for users of that operating system.
Summary
Making Your Decision
Ente Photos is built for people who want their photos private, accessible, and exportable. End-to-end encryption means your photos stay private by design. Easy export means you're never locked in. Cross-platform support means access from any device.
Amazon Photos makes sense for Prime members who want free unlimited photo storage and don't mind the lack of privacy or export options. However, be aware that leaving Amazon Photos is extremely difficult once you've built up a large library.
Why People Choose Ente
People typically switch to Ente when they:
- Try to export and realize how difficult Amazon makes it
- Want their photos private from Amazon's data practices
- Hit the 5 GB video limit and realize "unlimited" has limits
- Need help and can't get Amazon support to understand the problem
- Need Linux desktop support
- Value being able to leave a service easily
Ready to try a photo storage service that respects your data freedom?
Try Ente nowComing from Amazon Photos? Check out our migration guide
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I export my photos from Amazon Photos?
It's difficult. Amazon's web interface limits selections to 3000 files at a time and doesn't allow selecting entire albums. The desktop app can download your full library, but the process is cumbersome compared to services like Ente, which offers true one-click export.
Is Amazon Photos end-to-end encrypted?
No. Amazon Photos uses server-side encryption where Amazon holds the keys. This means Amazon can access your photos for AI processing, compliance, and other purposes. Ente uses true end-to-end encryption where only you hold the keys.
Is Amazon Photos really free for Prime members?
Prime members get unlimited photo storage, but videos are limited to 5 GB. Non-Prime users only get 5 GB total. Keep in mind the cost isn't just financial - you're trading privacy and data freedom for storage.
Does Amazon Photos have face recognition?
Yes, but it processes your photos on Amazon's servers. Ente also has face recognition, but it runs entirely on your device, maintaining your privacy.
Can I migrate from Amazon Photos to Ente?
Yes, though it requires manual effort due to Amazon's lack of export options. You'll need to download photos in batches from Amazon, then import them to Ente. See our complete migration guide.
Does Ente have a Linux app?
Yes. Ente has full-featured desktop apps for Windows, Mac, and Linux. Amazon Photos does not have a Linux app.
Can I share albums with people who don't use Ente?
Yes. Ente allows you to share albums via encrypted links. Recipients don't need an Ente account to view or even add photos. All sharing is end-to-end encrypted.
Does Ente compress my photos?
No. Ente stores your photos in their original quality without compression, just like Amazon Photos.
What happens if I cancel my Prime membership?
If you cancel Prime, your Amazon Photos storage drops to 5 GB. Photos exceeding this limit may be deleted. With Ente, you can always export your photos before canceling, and you have a 30-day grace period after subscription ends.
Which is better for videos?
Ente is better for videos. Amazon Photos limits videos to 5 GB even for Prime members, while Ente includes videos in your storage plan with no separate limits.
Related Resources
Looking for more information about migrating from Amazon Photos?
- Getting Started with Ente - Setup guide for new users
- Migration Guide from Amazon Photos - Complete transfer instructions
- Ente Photos Pricing - Compare all storage plans
Want a photo storage service that lets you leave whenever you want? Ente offers true data freedom with easy export and no lock-in.