Ente Photos vs Shotwell Server
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted photo management options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
Ente Photos
End-to-end encrypted photo storage and backup
VS
Shotwell Server
Digital photo organizer with tagging and event grouping
| Feature | Ente Photos | Shotwell Server |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Under-an-hour setup | Read-the-docs project |
| Category | Photo Management | Photo Management |
| License | AGPL-3.0 | LGPL-2.1 |
| Language | Dart | Vala |
| Setup difficulty | Hard | Easy |
| Min. RAM | 1,024 MB | 256 MB |
| Deployment | docker | bare-metal, binary |
| GitHub stars | ★ 29,050 | ★ 400 |
| First released | 2022 | 2009 |
| Replaces | Google Photos, iCloud Photos | Google Photos, Apple Photos |
What are Ente Photos and Shotwell Server?
Ente Photos
Ente is an end-to-end encrypted photo storage and backup service with apps across platforms and a self-hostable server. It targets privacy-focused users wanting encrypted photo backup. It is deployed via Docker.
- End-to-end encryption
- Apps for all platforms
- Self-hostable server
- Family sharing
Shotwell Server
Shotwell is a digital photo organizer that imports, tags, rates, and lightly edits photos, grouping them automatically by event. While desktop-focused, its library folders can be shared and backed up centrally.
- Event-based grouping
- Tagging and ratings
- Basic editing tools
- Direct import from cameras
Ente Photos vs Shotwell Server: key differences
Ente Photos is written in Dart, while Shotwell Server is built with Vala. Licensing differs — AGPL-3.0 for Ente Photos versus LGPL-2.1 for Shotwell Server. Shotwell Server is the lighter option, starting around 256 MB of RAM against 1,024 MB for Ente Photos. Shotwell Server is the more established project (first released 2009), while Ente Photos arrived in 2022. Ente Photos has the considerably larger community, at 29,050 GitHub stars versus 400. Ente Photos lists first-class Docker deployment; Shotwell Server does not.
Why pick each one
Choose Ente Photos if…
- Strong encryption
- Polished apps
- Privacy-first
Watch out for
- Self-hosting is advanced
- Server setup nontrivial
Choose Shotwell Server if…
- Fast and stable
- No accounts
Watch out for
- Desktop only
- No web interface
Frequently asked questions
Is Ente Photos or Shotwell Server better?
Neither is universally better. Ente Photos has the larger community, while Shotwell Server is simpler to set up (easy difficulty). Choose based on the comparison table above and your own setup.
Are Ente Photos and Shotwell Server free and open-source?
Yes. Ente Photos is licensed under AGPL-3.0 and Shotwell Server under LGPL-2.1. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Ente Photos and Shotwell Server with Docker?
Ente Photos: yes. Shotwell Server: check the project docs for container support.
Which is lighter on resources, Ente Photos or Shotwell Server?
Shotwell Server has the smaller minimum footprint at 256 MB of RAM, compared to about 1,024 MB for Ente Photos. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.