Ente

Self-Hosted

Open-source, end-to-end encrypted photo gallery for self-hosting

Overview

Ente is a privacy-first photo and video gallery that uses end-to-end encryption to secure your media—only you hold the keys. It features automatic backups, album organization, on-device facial recognition, and cross-device sync. For self-hosting, Ente supports Docker Compose deployments with minimal resource requirements, making it easy to run on personal servers or cloud instances. It integrates with existing storage solutions, allowing seamless migration while maintaining full security.

Self-Hosting Resources

Find Official Image on Docker Hub View Source & Docs

Below is a reference structure for docker-compose.yml. ⚠️ Do NOT run blindly. Replace placeholders with official values.

docker-compose.template.yml TEMPLATE


version: '3'
services:
  ente:
    image: <OFFICIAL_IMAGE_NAME>:latest
    container_name: ente
    ports:
      - "8080:<APP_INTERNAL_PORT>"
    volumes:
      - ./data:/app/data
    restart: unless-stopped

Key Features

End-to-end encrypted photos and videos
On-device facial recognition & media search
Docker-powered self-hosting setup
Cross-device sync (self-hosted or managed)

Frequently Asked Questions

? Is Ente hard to install?

Ente offers a straightforward Docker Compose setup. Users with basic Docker experience can follow the official step-by-step guide to deploy it on their server, including reverse proxy configuration for public access if needed.

? Is Ente a good alternative to Google Photos?

Yes—Ente provides core features like automatic backups and search but with end-to-end encryption, ensuring your data stays private. Unlike Google Photos, self-hosted Ente lets you own your data without ads or data mining.

? Is Ente completely free?

The self-hosted version of Ente is 100% free and open source (AGPLv3). Ente also offers a managed cloud service with paid tiers, but self-hosting requires no cost beyond your server’s resources.

Top Alternatives

Google Photos Compare

Apple Photos Search Google

Amazon Photos Search Google

Tool Info

Pricing Open Source

Category Photo Galleries

Platform Self-Hosted

Pros

⊕ 100% privacy-focused (no third-party data access)
⊕ Open-source codebase (AGPLv3 license)
⊕ No subscription fees for self-hosting
⊕ Lightweight and resource-efficient

Cons

⊖ Requires basic Docker/self-hosting knowledge
⊖ Sync speed depends on server bandwidth
⊖ Initial facial recognition setup takes time