The main difference is Ente Photos works across all platforms and devices, while Apple Photos locks you and your family into Apple's ecosystem forever. If anyone in your family uses Android, Windows, or Linux - or might in the future - Apple Photos becomes a problem.
Beyond platform lock-in, there are three other major differences: privacy by default (Apple requires you to opt-in to Advanced Data Protection - most users never do), data freedom (exporting from Apple Photos is extremely difficult), and human support when you need help.
Ente Photos is an end-to-end encrypted photo storage service with apps for iOS, Android, web, and desktop platforms (Windows, Mac, Linux). Your photos are encrypted on your device before upload, private by default, and easy to export whenever you want. The service has been independently audited by security researchers.
Apple Photos is pre-installed on Apple devices and works seamlessly within that ecosystem - but only within that ecosystem. Your photos, and your family's shared photos, become inaccessible the moment anyone steps outside Apple's walled garden.
At a Glance
Choose Ente Photos if:
- You or anyone in your family uses (or might use) non-Apple devices
- You want privacy by default, not as a complex opt-in setting
- You want to be able to leave easily - your photos should never be held hostage
- You value open-source, auditable security
Choose Apple Photos if:
- You AND your entire family will ONLY use Apple devices forever (iPhones, Macs, Apple TV)
- You're comfortable that Apple can access your photos unless you enable Advanced Data Protection
- You accept that exporting your photo library is extremely difficult
- You're okay being locked into one ecosystem permanently
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:
- Works everywhere - iOS, Android, Windows, Mac, Linux, and web
- Share with family regardless of what devices they use
- End-to-end encryption by default - privacy without configuration
- Easy to leave anytime - one-click export of all your photos
- Open source code with independent security audits
- On-device AI for face recognition and magic search
Cons:
- Smaller ecosystem compared to Apple
Apple Photos
Pros:
- Seamless integration if everyone uses Apple devices
- Advanced AI-powered editing tools
- Pre-installed on Apple devices
Cons:
- Locks you and your family into Apple forever
- Useless if anyone uses Android, Windows, or Linux
- E2E encryption is opt-in, complex, and not available everywhere
- Extremely difficult to export your photos
- Closed source - security claims cannot be verified
Privacy & Security
Ente provides end-to-end encryption by default, while Apple Photos requires opting into "Advanced Data Protection" which is off by default and not available in all regions.
| Ente Photos | Apple Photos | |
|---|---|---|
| Encryption model | End-to-end encrypted by default | Opt-in E2E via Advanced Data Protection |
| Can the service access photos? | No, never | Yes, unless Advanced Data Protection enabled |
| Source code | Open source, independently audited | Proprietary, unverifiable |
| AI/ML processing location | On your device | On your device |
Storage & Pricing
Both services offer paid plans with similar pricing. Ente provides more free storage and guaranteed replication across multiple countries.
| Ente Photos | Apple Photos | |
|---|---|---|
| Free storage | 10 GB | 5 GB (shared with iCloud) |
| Starting paid plan | 50 GB - $2.99/month | 50 GB - $0.99/month |
| Family sharing | Up to 6 people total | Up to 6 people (iCloud+) |
| Data replication | 3 copies in 3 countries | Apple's infrastructure |
| Customer support | Human support team | Apple support |
Smart Features
Both services offer AI-powered features. Ente processes everything on your device with privacy-preserving machine learning.
| Ente Photos | Apple Photos | |
|---|---|---|
| Face recognition | Yes (on-device) | Yes (on-device) |
| Search by description | Yes (magic search) | Yes (Visual Look Up) |
| Auto-organize by date/location | Yes | Yes |
| Map view | Yes | Yes |
| Photo editing | Basic editing tools | Advanced editing tools |
Backup & Data Freedom
Ente offers easy export and works across all platforms. Apple Photos is locked to the Apple ecosystem.
| Ente Photos | Apple Photos | |
|---|---|---|
| Platform support | iOS, Android, Web, Windows, Mac, Linux | Apple devices only, limited web access |
| Desktop sync | All platforms with real-time sync | Mac only |
| Export method | One-click in-app export, CLI tools | Manual export, complex process |
| Data portability | Easy migration, open formats | Locked to Apple ecosystem |
| Live Photos support | Yes | Yes |
Sharing & Collaboration
Both services support sharing, but with different approaches to privacy and account requirements.
| Ente Photos | Apple Photos | |
|---|---|---|
| Share albums via link | Yes (end-to-end encrypted) | Yes (not E2E encrypted) |
| Collect photos from others | Yes (no account needed, encrypted) | No |
| Shared albums | Yes (E2E encrypted) | Yes (not E2E encrypted) |
| Collaborative albums | Yes (E2E encrypted) | Yes (not E2E encrypted) |
Understanding Key Differences
The Family Problem
This is the biggest issue with Apple Photos that most people don't consider until it's too late.
Apple Photos only works properly on Apple devices. The moment anyone in your family - your spouse, your kids, your parents - uses an Android phone, a Windows laptop, or a Linux machine, they're cut off from your shared photos. They can technically access icloud.com, but with severely limited functionality and no real app experience.
Think about your family's future: Will everyone always use iPhones? Will your kids never want an Android? Will no one ever use a Windows PC for work? Apple Photos bets your entire photo library on the answer being "yes" forever.
Ente Photos works identically on every platform. Share albums with family members regardless of what phone or computer they use. Everyone gets the same full-featured experience.
Privacy by Default vs Privacy by Configuration
Ente Photos encrypts your photos on your device before upload, automatically. You don't need to enable anything or configure any settings. Your encryption keys never leave your devices, and even Ente cannot access your photos.
Apple Photos works differently. By default, Apple can access your photos - they're encrypted, but Apple holds the keys. To get actual end-to-end encryption, you must:
- Manually enable "Advanced Data Protection"
- Have iOS 16.2+ or macOS 13.1+ on ALL your devices
- Live in a country where it's available
- Set up account recovery methods
Most Apple Photos users never enable this. Their photos are not truly private.
Easy to Leave vs Locked In
Ente makes it easy to leave. Every app has a one-click export feature. There's a command-line tool for automated backups. The desktop app maintains a continuous local copy. Your photos are yours, and you can take them anywhere.
Apple Photos makes leaving extremely difficult. There's no bulk export that preserves your album structure and metadata. You have to manually select and export photos through the app, piece by piece. For large libraries, this can take days of manual work.
This isn't accidental - it's designed to keep you locked in. Ente is designed to let you leave whenever you want, because we believe you should stay because you want to, not because you can't leave.
Human Support
When something goes wrong with your photos, you want to talk to a human. Ente has a dedicated support team that responds personally to every request.
Apple support exists but is notoriously difficult to navigate for iCloud-specific issues. You'll often end up in loops between different departments or be told to visit a Genius Bar for software problems.
Summary
Making Your Decision
Ente Photos is for people who want their photos to work everywhere, be private by default, and be easy to take with them if they ever want to leave. It works on every platform, encrypts automatically, and treats your photos as yours.
Apple Photos only makes sense if you AND your entire family will exclusively use Apple devices - iPhones, Macs, Apple TV - now and forever. The moment anyone steps outside that ecosystem, the experience breaks down.
Why People Switch to Ente
People typically switch when they:
- Get an Android phone or Windows laptop and realize they can't access their photos
- Want to share photos with family members who don't use Apple
- Try to export their library and discover how difficult Apple makes it
- Learn that their photos aren't actually end-to-end encrypted by default
- Need help and can't get a straight answer from Apple support
- Want to stop being locked into one company's ecosystem
Ready to try a private photo storage service that works everywhere?
Try Ente nowComing from Apple Photos? Check out our migration guide
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Apple Photos end-to-end encrypted?
Not by default. Apple Photos uses standard encryption where Apple holds the keys. End-to-end encryption is only available through "Advanced Data Protection" which must be manually enabled, requires iOS 16.2+ or macOS 13.1+, and isn't available in all regions. Even then, it cannot be independently verified due to closed-source code.
Can I access Apple Photos on Windows or Android?
Access is very limited. You can view photos through icloud.com with reduced functionality, but there's no native app for Windows or Android. You cannot use features like face search or memories. Ente Photos works fully on all platforms including Windows, Linux, and Android.
Which is more secure: Ente or Apple Photos?
Ente is more secure and verifiable. Ente uses end-to-end encryption by default with open-source code that has been independently audited. Apple Photos only offers E2E encryption as an opt-in feature, and claims cannot be verified since the code is closed source.
Can I migrate from Apple Photos to Ente?
Yes. On iOS, the Ente app can directly import from your iCloud library. On desktop, you can export from Apple Photos and import the folder into Ente. See our complete migration guide.
Does Ente have the same AI features as Apple Photos?
Yes, Ente offers face recognition, magic search (natural language search), and automatic organization. The key difference is that Ente's AI runs entirely on your device, maintaining end-to-end encryption. Your photos are never decrypted on Ente's servers.
Can I share albums with non-Ente users?
Yes. Ente allows you to share albums via links that work for anyone, and recipients don't need an Ente account to view or even add photos. All sharing is end-to-end encrypted. Apple's sharing is more limited and not encrypted.
Does Ente work offline?
Yes. Once photos are synced to your device, you can view them offline. Face recognition and search also work offline after the initial indexing is complete.
Does Ente compress my photos?
No. Ente stores your photos in their original quality without compression. Both the photo and video components of Live Photos are preserved.
How does Ente's pricing compare?
Apple offers slightly cheaper entry-level pricing ($0.99/month for 50GB vs $2.99/month). However, Ente offers more free storage (10GB vs 5GB) and includes features like end-to-end encryption, cross-platform access, and human support that Apple charges extra for or doesn't offer.
What happens to my photos if I stop using Ente?
You can export all your photos at any time with one click. If your subscription expires, you have a 30-day grace period to export your data before it's deleted. Your photos are never held hostage.
Related Resources
Looking for more information about switching from Apple Photos?
- Getting Started with Ente - Setup guide for new users
- Migration Guide from Apple Photos - Complete transfer instructions
- Ente Photos Pricing - Compare all storage plans
Want a photo storage service that works everywhere, not just on Apple devices? Ente offers true privacy with end-to-end encryption across all platforms.