Ente Photos vs Amazon Photos: Is Amazon Photos Private?
Updated
Ente Photos and Amazon Photos both back up your phone and give you a photo library. With Prime, unlimited full-resolution photos is a very good deal.
Ente encrypts each photo on your device before upload, so only you hold the keys. Amazon encrypts photos too, and says only you and the people you share your password with can view them. But Amazon holds the keys, so it can still access them (Amazon Photos terms).
The short answer
Amazon can see your photos. You can too, and so can anyone you share your Amazon password with. Image recognition is on by default, and the terms let Amazon use, access and retain your files to provide and improve its services. Ente cannot see them: each photo is encrypted on your device before upload, so only you hold the keys.
How Ente compares with Amazon Photos
This table covers privacy, photo features and storage. Prices are further down.
| Feature |  Ente Photos | Amazon Photos |
|---|---|---|
| End-to-end encrypted photos | Available: Yes, on your device | Not available: No, Amazon holds the keys |
| Open source | Available: Yes, apps and server | Not available: No |
| People recognition | Available: Yes, on your device | Available: Yes, on Amazon's servers |
| Search by what's in a photo | Available: Yes, on your device | Available: Yes, on Amazon's servers |
| Map | Available: Yes | Available: Yes |
| Memories | Available: Yes, in the Ente apps | Available: Yes, Memories, This Day, and Stories |
| Automatic phone backup | Available: Yes, iOS and Android | Available: Yes, Auto-Save |
| Download a whole album | Available: Yes, export the library | Not available: No, not whole albums on the web |
| Included storage | Available: Yes, 10 GB free | Available: Yes, 5 GB, unlimited photos with Prime |
| Family sharing | Available: Yes, 6 people on any paid plan | Available: Yes, Family Vault, up to six |
Ente Photos vs. Amazon Photos: Which Is Better for You?
Choose Ente Photos if:
- You want end-to-end encryption for your photos and videos by default.
- You want supported photo-search and face-recognition features to run on your device.
- You prefer open-source software that can be independently inspected.
- You want photos and videos handled within the same storage allowance.
- Easy data export and maintaining control over your library are priorities.
- You use Linux and want an official desktop app.
- You want dedicated encrypted photo-sharing and collaboration features.
Choose Amazon Photos if:
- You're an eligible Prime member and want unlimited photo storage.
- You have a very large photo library and relatively fewer videos.
- You already use Amazon's ecosystem.
- You want a dedicated photo storage service without paying separately for photo storage as an eligible Prime member.
- Amazon's family photo-sharing features fit your needs.
Storage & pricing
Current Ente Photos plans are on the pricing page.
Ente Photos
10 GB free
- Extra 10 GB with a referral code for new users.
- Earn 10 GB when a friend upgrades to a paid plan.
50 GB for $2.99/month
Billed monthly
Amazon Photos
5 GB free
Prime includes unlimited full-resolution photos and 5 GB for video.
50 GB for $0.99/month
Billed monthly
Prices are in USD unless otherwise indicated. Local prices and taxes may differ.
Move your photos from Amazon Photos to Ente
The full walkthrough is in the Amazon Photos migration guide.
- 1
Download your photos in batches.
On the web, select the photos you want. Amazon says it is not possible to download entire albums, so plan on more than one batch for a large library.
- 2
Upload the folders to Ente.
In the Ente desktop app, click Upload → Folder, choose Separate albums to turn each folder into an album, review the counts and click Start upload.
- 3
Turn off Auto-Save.
Turn on backup in Ente Photos, then turn off Auto-Save in Amazon Photos so new photos don't go to both.
Try Ente alongside Amazon Photos. Uploading to Ente doesn't delete anything from Amazon Photos. Check your albums and dates before you clean anything up.
Frequently asked questions
Is Amazon Photos private?
Amazon can see your photos. Amazon says they are encrypted and that only you, and people you share your password with, can view them. Amazon's terms also let it analyze photos with image recognition, store face records, and use, access and retain files to provide and improve its services. Ente cannot see them, because the photos are encrypted on your device.
Is Amazon Photos safe?
It is protected against outsiders: Amazon encrypts photos, and access is tied to your Amazon account. Safety from Amazon itself is a different question. Image recognition is on by default, and Amazon holds the ability to access your files.
Is Amazon Photos end-to-end encrypted?
No. Encryption that Amazon can undo is not end-to-end encryption. Ente encrypts each photo before upload, and only your devices hold the keys.
Is Amazon Photos free with Prime?
Prime members get unlimited full-resolution photo storage and 5 GB for video. Standalone Alexa+ subscribers get the same unlimited-photos benefit. Without Prime, Amazon Photos includes 5 GB. Extra storage starts at 50 GB for $0.99/month, with 100 GB for $1.99, 1 TB for $6.99 and 2 TB for $11.99. Amazon describes those paid plans as more video storage. If you lose Prime, storage falls back to 5 GB combined.
Does Amazon Photos have face recognition?
Yes. Amazon calls it image recognition. It is on by default, and Tag Specific People collects, stores and uses records of individual faces. You can turn it off. In a Family Vault, the owner controls tagging for every member's photos. Ente's face recognition runs on your device.
Start with 10 GB free
