The main difference is Ente is built for photos while OneDrive just stores files. OneDrive can technically store photos, but it treats them as files - no real photo management, no privacy, and a second-class experience if you're not on Windows.
Beyond being photo-first, Ente offers end-to-end encryption (Microsoft can access your files), full platform support including Linux (OneDrive has no Linux app), and human support when you need help. Ente is a proper photo app with albums, memories, face recognition, and privacy by design.
Ente Photos is an end-to-end encrypted photo storage service with open-source apps for iOS, Android, web, and desktop platforms (Windows, Mac, Linux). Photos are encrypted on your device before upload, and the encryption keys remain with you. The service has been independently audited by security researchers.
OneDrive Photos is Microsoft's photo storage solution integrated with OneDrive cloud storage. It offers seamless integration with Windows devices and the Microsoft 365 ecosystem, providing cloud storage and photo organization features.
At a Glance
Choose Ente Photos if:
- Privacy and end-to-end encryption are priorities
- You need a photo-focused experience with smart features
- You use multiple platforms including Linux
- You value open-source, auditable security
Choose OneDrive Photos if:
- You're heavily invested in Microsoft 365
- You primarily use Windows devices
- You need general file storage alongside photos
- Privacy is not a priority
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:
- True end-to-end encryption - you hold the keys
- Open source code with independent security audits
- Purpose-built for photos with smart albums and memories
- On-device AI for face recognition and magic search
- Full Linux desktop support
- Human customer support team
Cons:
- Focused on photos/videos only, not general file storage
- No Microsoft 365 integration
OneDrive Photos
Pros:
- Integrated with Microsoft 365 suite
- Bundled with Windows and Office subscriptions
- General file storage for all file types
- AI-powered features
Cons:
- No end-to-end encryption - Microsoft can access your files
- Photo features are secondary to file storage
- Limited photo-specific features compared to dedicated apps
- Primary focus on Windows ecosystem
- No Linux desktop app
Privacy & Security
Ente encrypts your photos before upload; OneDrive uses server-side encryption and Microsoft can access your files.
| Ente Photos | OneDrive Photos | |
|---|---|---|
| Encryption model | End-to-end encrypted (you hold the keys) | Server-side encrypted (Microsoft holds keys) |
| Can the service access photos? | No | Yes |
| Source code | Open source, independently audited | Proprietary |
| AI/ML processing location | On your device | On Microsoft's servers |
Storage & Pricing
OneDrive offers bundled storage with Microsoft 365. Ente offers dedicated photo storage with guaranteed replication.
| Ente Photos | OneDrive Photos | |
|---|---|---|
| Free storage | 10 GB | 5 GB (shared with all files) |
| Starting paid plan | 50 GB - $2.99/month | 100 GB - $1.99/month |
| Bundled options | Standalone photo storage | Included with Microsoft 365 |
| Family sharing | Up to 6 people total | Microsoft 365 Family |
| Data replication | 3 copies in 3 countries | Microsoft's infrastructure |
Smart Features
Ente offers privacy-preserving on-device AI; OneDrive has AI features but processes on Microsoft's servers.
| Ente Photos | OneDrive Photos | |
|---|---|---|
| Face recognition | Yes (on-device, private) | Yes (cloud-based) |
| Search by description | Yes (magic search, on-device) | Yes (cloud-based) |
| Memories feature | Yes | Yes ("On this day") |
| Map view | Yes | Limited |
| Video editing | Yes (in-app) | Separate app required |
Backup & Data Freedom
Ente works across all platforms with easy export; OneDrive is optimized for Windows.
| Ente Photos | OneDrive Photos | |
|---|---|---|
| Automatic mobile backup | Yes (all platforms) | Yes (all platforms) |
| Desktop app | Windows, Mac, Linux | Windows, Mac (no Linux) |
| Desktop sync | Continuous real-time sync | Windows-optimized, limited on Mac |
| Export method | One-click in-app export, CLI tools | Download through OneDrive |
| Offline access | Yes (desktop apps) | Yes (OneDrive sync) |
Sharing & Collaboration
Ente offers encrypted photo sharing; OneDrive focuses on Microsoft ecosystem integration.
| Ente Photos | OneDrive Photos | |
|---|---|---|
| Share albums via link | Yes (end-to-end encrypted) | Yes (not encrypted) |
| Collect photos from others | Yes (no account needed, encrypted) | No |
| Partner sharing | Yes (encrypted) | No |
| Collaborative albums | Yes (encrypted) | Shared folders only |
Understanding Key Differences
Photo-First vs File-First
Ente Photos is designed specifically for photo and video storage. Every feature is optimized for managing, viewing, and sharing photos - from the gallery interface to smart albums, memories, and face recognition.
OneDrive Photos is a feature within Microsoft's general-purpose file storage service. While it has photo-viewing capabilities, photos are treated as files first. The experience is geared toward file management rather than photo management.
Privacy Model
With Ente, your photos are encrypted on your device before upload. The encryption keys stay with you, meaning even Ente cannot access your photos. This is verified through open-source code that anyone can audit.
OneDrive uses server-side encryption where Microsoft holds the keys. This means Microsoft can access your photos for AI processing, compliance scanning, and other purposes. While Microsoft offers a "Personal Vault" feature, it doesn't provide true end-to-end encryption for photos.
Platform Experience
Ente offers consistent, full-featured apps across all platforms including Linux. The experience is the same whether you're on iOS, Android, Windows, Mac, or Linux.
OneDrive is optimized for Windows, with the best experience on Windows devices. The Mac app is more limited, and there's no Linux desktop app at all. Non-Windows users often have a second-class experience.
Photo-Specific Features
Ente offers features you'd expect from a modern photo app:
- Face recognition running on your device for privacy
- Magic search to find photos by describing them
- Memories that surface photos from years past
- Map view to see where photos were taken
- Collaborative albums for family photo sharing
OneDrive has some photo features, but they're less developed than dedicated photo apps and require sending data to Microsoft's servers.
Support When You Need It
Ente has a human support team. When something goes wrong with your photos, you talk to a real person who can help.
Microsoft support exists but is spread across many products. Getting help specifically for OneDrive photo issues often means navigating through layers of support tiers and different teams.
Summary
Making Your Decision
Ente Photos is the right choice if you want a privacy-focused, photo-first experience. End-to-end encryption means your photos stay private. Purpose-built features make organizing and sharing photos easy. Full platform support means you can use it anywhere.
OneDrive Photos makes sense if you're already paying for Microsoft 365 and primarily use Windows. It's convenient if you need general file storage alongside photo storage and don't prioritize privacy.
Why People Choose Ente
People typically switch to Ente when they:
- Want their photos encrypted and private from Microsoft
- Need a better photo experience than what file storage offers
- Use Linux or want consistent cross-platform support
- Want photo-specific features like encrypted sharing and collect
- Need help and want to talk to a human, not navigate Microsoft's support maze
Ready to try a photo storage service built for photos?
Try Ente nowNew to Ente? Check out this setup guide
Frequently Asked Questions
Is OneDrive end-to-end encrypted?
No. OneDrive uses server-side encryption where Microsoft holds the encryption keys. This means Microsoft can access your files for AI processing, compliance, and other purposes. Ente Photos uses true end-to-end encryption where only you hold the keys.
Does OneDrive have a Linux app?
No. OneDrive does not have a Linux desktop app. Ente has full-featured desktop apps for Windows, Mac, and Linux.
Is OneDrive good for photos?
OneDrive can store photos, but it's primarily a file storage service. It lacks the photo-specific features found in dedicated photo apps like face recognition with privacy, collaborative albums, and the collect feature. Ente is purpose-built for photos with these features included.
Which has more free storage: Ente or OneDrive?
Ente offers 10 GB free compared to OneDrive's 5 GB. OneDrive's free storage is also shared with all files, while Ente's is dedicated to photos and videos.
Can I use OneDrive just for photos?
Yes, but you'll be using a file storage service for photo management. OneDrive doesn't have the same photo-focused features as Ente, like encrypted sharing, collaborative albums, or the collect feature for gathering photos from others.
Does Ente have Microsoft 365 integration?
No. Ente is a standalone photo storage service focused on privacy and photo management. If you need Microsoft 365 integration, OneDrive is better suited. But for photos specifically, Ente offers a better experience.
Can I share albums with people who don't use Ente?
Yes. Ente allows you to share albums via encrypted links. Recipients don't need an Ente account to view the photos. They can even add photos to your albums without creating an account.
Does OneDrive have face recognition?
Yes, but it processes your photos on Microsoft's servers. Ente also has face recognition, but it runs entirely on your device, maintaining your privacy.
Does Ente compress my photos?
No. Ente stores your photos in their original quality without compression. All photo metadata (EXIF, dates, location) is preserved.
What happens to my photos if I cancel my subscription?
With Ente, you can export all your photos with one click before canceling. After cancellation, you have a 30-day grace period before data is deleted. With OneDrive, canceling Microsoft 365 reduces your storage to the free tier, and excess files may be locked or deleted.
Related Resources
Looking for more information about photo storage?
- Getting Started with Ente - Setup guide for new users
- Ente Photos Features - Explore all features
- Ente Photos Pricing - Compare all storage plans
Want a photo storage service that's actually built for photos? Ente offers true privacy and photo-focused features that OneDrive lacks.