Ente Photos vs SPIS
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted photo management options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
Not the right match-up?
Ente Photos
End-to-end encrypted photo storage and backup
VS
SPIS
A simple, lightweight and fast media server with decent mobile support
| Feature | Ente Photos | SPIS |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Photo Management | Photo Management |
| License | AGPL-3.0 | GPL-3.0 |
| Language | Dart | Rust |
| Setup difficulty | Hard | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 1,024 MB | 512 MB |
| Deployment | docker | docker |
| GitHub stars | ★ 28,201 | ★ 210 |
| First released | 2022 | 2026 |
| Replaces | Google Photos, iCloud Photos | — |
Why pick each one
Choose SPIS if…
- Released under the GPL-3.0 license
- First-class Docker support for quick deployment
- Written in Rust
- Lightweight — runs in 512 MB RAM
Frequently asked questions
Is Ente Photos or SPIS better?
Neither is universally better. Ente Photos has the larger community, while SPIS is simpler to set up (medium difficulty). Choose based on the comparison table above and your own setup.
Are Ente Photos and SPIS free and open-source?
Yes. Ente Photos is licensed under AGPL-3.0 and SPIS under GPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Ente Photos and SPIS with Docker?
Ente Photos: yes. SPIS: yes.