Ente Photos vs OneDrive: Is OneDrive Safe for Photos?
Updated
Ente Photos and OneDrive can both back up your phone's photos and keep them on your other devices. OneDrive does it as part of general file storage, with Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook on the Personal and Family plans. Ente does it as a dedicated photo library.
Ente encrypts each photo on your device before upload, so only you hold the keys. OneDrive encrypts each file with its own AES-256 key, but Microsoft holds the keys, so it can still access them (Microsoft).
The short answer
OneDrive encrypts each file at rest with its own AES-256 key. The master keys are in Azure Key Vault, and files travel over TLS. Microsoft holds the keys, so this is not end-to-end encryption. Face grouping collects, uses and stores facial scans, and Microsoft is still rolling it out. Personal Vault adds a second check before those files open. It isn't end-to-end encrypted either. OneDrive also stores your other files, and the Personal and Family plans include Office. Ente encrypts photos on your device.
How Ente compares with OneDrive
This table covers privacy, photo features and platforms. Prices are further down.
| Feature |  Ente Photos | OneDrive |
|---|---|---|
| End-to-end encrypted photos | Available: Yes, on your device | Not available: No, Microsoft holds the keys |
| Search by what's in a photo | Available: Yes, on your device | Available: Yes, on Microsoft's servers |
| Face grouping | Available: Yes, on your device | Available: Yes, on Microsoft's servers |
| Shared albums | Available: Yes | Available: Yes, albums you can share |
| Automatic phone backup | Available: Yes, iOS and Android | Available: Yes, Camera backup and Camera Upload |
| Keep a local copy | Available: Yes | Available: Yes, Always keep on this device |
| Linux desktop app | Available: Yes, official app | Not available: No, Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android |
| Free storage | Available: Yes, 10 GB | Available: Yes, 5 GB |
| Family plan | Available: Yes, 6 people, any paid plan | Available: Yes, up to 6 people, 2 TB shared |
| Office apps included | Not available: No, not an office suite | Available: Yes, Personal and Family plans |
Is OneDrive safe for photos?
Against someone intercepting the connection, or reading a disk in a data center, OneDrive's own description is strong: TLS in transit, AES-256 per file, master keys in Azure Key Vault. Personal Vault adds extra protection, with a second identity check before those files open, but it isn't end-to-end encrypted (Microsoft).
That is not the same as end-to-end encryption. Microsoft manages the keys, which is what lets OneDrive search your photos and group faces. Face grouping is processed by Microsoft. It is rolling out gradually, only you see the groups, and Microsoft says the scans are not used for training. Turn it off and Microsoft says the data is deleted within 30 days.
Ente's face recognition and search run on your device. Here's how Ente's encryption works, and why on-device AI works differently.
Ente Photos vs. OneDrive: Which Is Better for You?
Choose Ente Photos if:
- You want end-to-end encryption enabled by default.
- You want a service designed specifically around a photo library.
- You or your household use a mix of Windows, Mac, or Linux devices.
- You prefer open-source software that can be independently inspected.
- You want face recognition and search with on-device processing.
- You value access to human support.
Choose OneDrive if:
- You're already invested in Microsoft 365 and want photos bundled with it.
- You need general-purpose file storage for documents, not just photos.
- You primarily use Windows.
- Lower-cost entry storage matters more than end-to-end encryption.
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
OneDrive
5 GB free
Shared across OneDrive, Outlook.com, and Microsoft 365 apps.
100 GB for $1.99/month
or $19.99/year
Prices are in USD unless otherwise indicated. Local prices and taxes may differ.
Move your photos from OneDrive to Ente
The full walkthrough is in the upload guide.
- 1
Keep the photos on this device.
On Windows, set the photo folders to "Always keep on this device". On a Mac, the Finder label is "Always Keep on This Device". You can also download a ZIP from the web, within Microsoft's 250 GB and 10,000-file limits.
- 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
Switch your phone's backup.
Turn on backup in Ente Photos, then turn off Camera backup or Camera Upload in OneDrive so new photos don't go to both.
Try Ente alongside OneDrive. Uploading to Ente doesn't delete anything from OneDrive. Check your albums and dates before you clean anything up.
Frequently asked questions
Is OneDrive safe for photos?
It is safe from outsiders in the way Microsoft documents: TLS in transit, AES-256 at rest, keys managed in Azure Key Vault. It is not end-to-end encrypted. Microsoft can decrypt files, and face grouping collects and stores facial scans. Ente encrypts photos before upload.
Is OneDrive end-to-end encrypted?
No. Microsoft encrypts each file with AES-256 and holds the master keys in Azure Key Vault. Personal Vault adds extra protection, but it isn't end-to-end encrypted.
Does OneDrive run on Linux?
Not as a desktop app. Microsoft's system requirements list Windows, macOS, iOS and Android. Ente has an official Linux app.
Is Microsoft 365 Family still 6 TB?
No. Microsoft says new subscriptions from 8 October 2026 get 2 TB shared by up to six people. Existing subscriptions move to that shared pool at the first renewal on or after 2 May 2027.
Start with 10 GB free
