Why I Switched from OneDrive to Ente Photos: A Privacy-Focused Alternative

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 your files are encrypted and you control access. However, local storage falls short when you need to retrieve a file while away from home. That's where cloud services like Google Photos and Microsoft OneDrive step in, and for a long time, OneDrive was my go-to solution. But as Microsoft aggressively integrated its Copilot AI across its product lineup, I began to worry: it wouldn't be long before Copilot-powered features started meddling with my images and videos. That concern pushed me to explore alternatives, and after some research, I landed on Ente Photos.

The Privacy Concerns That Prompted a Change

OneDrive served me well for years, but Microsoft's push for AI-driven features gave me pause. The idea of my personal photos being processed or analyzed by an AI assistant—even if anonymized—felt invasive. I wanted a service that treated my data as private, not as a resource to be mined. That's when I started looking into end-to-end encrypted options. Proton Drive was an initial contender, but I wanted something outside the Proton ecosystem. Eventually, I discovered Ente Photos.

What Is Ente Photos?

Ente Photos (note: its mascot is a cute duck named Ducky) is an open-source, end-to-end encrypted photo storage service launched in 2020. The team's mission is simple: help people preserve their memories with privacy, without relying on companies that exploit your data. Beyond photos, Ente offers two other services: Auth, a cross-platform two-factor authentication app that backs up your 2FA secrets in encrypted form, and Locker, a secure vault for sensitive documents and files. In 2024, we had the chance to speak with founder Vishnu Mohandas, who shared his vision of building a privacy-respecting alternative to giants like Google Photos and iCloud Photos. Now, months later, I finally decided to make the switch.

The Migration Process: From OneDrive to Ente

Before migrating, I had to extract my files from OneDrive—a task that proved surprisingly cumbersome. Microsoft makes downloading large amounts of data painfully slow. Using the web version, OneDrive zips folders before allowing a download, which wouldn't work for my 200GB of photos and videos.

Downloading 200GB from OneDrive

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 my entire library in a few hours—much faster than the web interface. I then sorted the files, moving photos and videos to a separate folder on an external hard drive, ready for the next step.

Setting Up Ente Photos and Pricing

I already had an Ente account, so I logged in and subscribed to the 200GB paid plan, which costs ₹4,788 annually (note: Ente charges in USD/EUR globally, so local rates vary by conversion and payment method). There's also a free tier offering 10GB of storage, which is enough for light users. The upload process was straightforward: I used the desktop app to sync my photo folder, and the end-to-end encryption gave me peace of mind that only I could view my memories.

The Ente Ecosystem: More Than Just Photos

One of the surprises was discovering Ente's broader suite. After migrating my photos, I also started using Ente Auth to back up my two-factor authentication codes securely. The Locker feature is another bonus for any sensitive documents I want to store away from prying eyes. It's refreshing to find a company that prioritizes privacy across multiple tools.

Conclusion: A Switch I Won't Regret

Moving from OneDrive to Ente Photos required some initial effort—especially extracting files from Microsoft's ecosystem—but the result is a secure, private photo library that I control. The peace of mind that comes with end-to-end encryption and the absence of AI meddling is worth the annual fee. If you're concerned about Big Tech's handling of your personal media, Ente Photos is a compelling alternative. I'm not going back to OneDrive.