Ente Photos vs. Proton Drive Photos

Ente is an end-to-end encrypted (E2EE) photo storage app that provides a secure way to backup your photos. Open-source apps are available for every platform, automatically backing up and syncing your photos across devices with E2EE. These apps focus on complete privacy while ensuring a great user experience for reliving your memories.

Proton Drive is part of Proton's suite of privacy-focused services, offering encrypted cloud storage for all files. It aims to provide a secure alternative to mainstream cloud storage solutions.

Both services prioritize user privacy and security, employing E2EE to ensure that only the user can access their data. However, they differ in their approach, features, and overall user experience. This comparison aims to highlight these differences to help you choose the solution that best fits your needs.

Comparison

July 17, 2024

FeatureEnte PhotosProton Drive Photos
End-to-end encryption (E2EE)✅ Yes✅ Yes
Encryption DetailsArchitecture Document✅ PGP-based encryption, AES-256 for symmetric encryption, RSA for asymmetric encryption
Recovery Options✅ Recovery Key✅ Recovery email, Recovery phone number, Recovery phrase, Device-based recovery
Authentication✅ Multi-step process with one-time tokens and encrypted auth tokens✅ Password-based with optional two-factor authentication
Open Source✅ Built in the open, code available for audit🟡 Client code published, server not open source
Data Center Locations✅ Multiple locations in EU (Amsterdam, Paris, Frankfurt)✅ Switzerland-based
Legal Framework✅ Operates under EU data protection laws (GDPR compliant)✅ Benefits from Swiss privacy laws
Albums✅ Available🔴 Not available
Live Photos✅ Supported🔴 Not supported
Family Plans✅ Available🟡 Available on select plans
Image Editor✅ Available🔴 Not available
Video Editor✅ Available🔴 Not available
Collage Maker✅ Available🔴 Not available
Widgets✅ Available🔴 Not available
Cast✅ Available🔴 Not available
Favorites✅ Available🔴 Not available
Map View✅ Available🔴 Not available
Location Tags✅ Available🔴 Not available
Album Sharing✅ Available, with E2EE✅ Available, with E2EE
Link Sharing✅ Available, with E2EE✅ Available, with E2EE
Collaboration✅ Available, with E2EE🔴 Not available
Collect Photos✅ Available, without an account, E2EE🔴 Not available
AI Features✅ Available🔴 Not available
Album Operations✅ Supports pinning, archiving, locking, sorting🔴 Not available
Ability to free up device space✅ Available🟡 Limited
Ability to detect duplicates✅ Available🔴 Not available
Cross-Platform✅ Available on Android, iOS, web, desktop (Linux, Mac, Windows)🟡 Available on Android, iOS, web, desktop (Mac, Windows)
Discoverability✅ Easy to rediscover your best moments🔴 Not available
Data Durability✅ 3 copies in 3 locations🟡 No published replication strategy
Data Export✅ Easy, with a single click and a dedicated CLI🟡 Not very easy
Data Import✅ One-click import from Google Takeout and other service providers🟡 Basic support for data exported from other service providers
Audit statusCryptography audit report availablePenetration test report available
Bundled services🔴 None, pure focus on Photos✅ Mail, Calendar, Drive, VPN, and more
Free Tier5 GB free storage - Free Trial5 GB free storage - Free Forever
PricingEnte Pricing PageProton Drive Pricing Page
Face Recognition🟡 Work in Progress🔴 Not available
Video Support✅ Yes✅ Yes
Backup Options✅ Continuous, Automatic (everywhere)🟡 Manual, automatic (mobile only)
Two-Factor Authentication✅ Yes✅ Yes

Legend:

  • ✅ Feature available
  • 🟡 Feature partially available or with limitations
  • 🔴 Feature not available

Summary

In comparing Ente Photos and Proton Drive Photos, several key differences and similarities emerge:

  1. Encryption and Security: Both services offer robust end-to-end encryption, but with different implementations:

    • Ente uses a system of Master Keys, Collection Keys, and File Keys, with keys never leaving the device unencrypted.
    • Proton Drive uses a PGP-based encryption model with Share Keys and Node Keys, generated client-side and sent encrypted.
  2. Open Source Approach:

    • Ente is fully open-source, built in the open.
    • Proton Drive has published its client code, but the server remains closed source.
  3. Data Storage and Legal Framework:

    • Ente replicates data across multiple EU locations, operating under EU data protection laws (GDPR compliant).
    • Proton Drive is Switzerland-based, benefiting from Swiss privacy laws.
  4. Feature Set: Ente Photos offers a more comprehensive set of photo-specific features, including AI capabilities, basic image and video editing, collage making, advanced organization tools, and support for formats like Live Photos. In contrast, Proton Drive offers general file backups with fewer photo-specific features.

  5. Platform Availability: Both services are cross-platform, but Ente Photos has broader support, including Linux desktop apps.

  6. Focus: Ente is solely focused on photo storage and management, while Proton Drive Photos is part of a larger ecosystem of privacy-focused services.

  7. Account Recovery and Security:

    • Ente uses a Recovery Key system for account recovery.
    • Proton Drive offers multiple recovery options including recovery email, recovery phone number, recovery phrase, and device-based recovery. This provides users with more flexibility in how they secure and recover their accounts.
    • Both services emphasize the importance of setting up recovery methods to prevent data loss in case of forgotten passwords.

Both services demonstrate a strong commitment to user privacy and data security, with sophisticated encryption models and transparency in their security practices. The choice between them may come down to specific preferences in feature set or integration with other services in their respective ecosystems.


Ready to switch to a better cloud for your photos?

Try Ente now!