Comparison
Pixel Gallery vs Ente Photos
Ente is an encrypted cloud photo service with apps on every platform. Pixel Gallery is a local gallery for Android that never uploads anything. They solve different problems and overlap on on-device AI.
Data as of March 1, 2026. Ente Photos website
| Capability | Pixel Gallery | Ente Photos |
|---|---|---|
| No cloud required | Yes | No |
| End-to-end encrypted cloud backup | No | Yes |
| On-device AI only | Yes | Yes |
| Face grouping | Yes | Yes |
| Link people to contacts | Yes | No |
| Natural-language search | Yes | Yes |
| Auto labels | Yes | No |
| AI captions | Yes | No |
| Text recognition | Yes | Yes |
| QR and barcode detection | Yes | No |
| Map view | Yes | No |
| Memories | Yes | Yes |
| Duplicate cleanup | Yes | In development |
| Statistics | Yes | No |
| Slideshow | Yes | No |
| Family sharing | No | Yes |
| iOS | No | Yes |
| Open source | No | Yes |
| Third-party security audit | No | Yes |
| Pricing model Pixel Gallery: free with one-time Premium. Ente: free tier, then storage subscription. | Yes | Partial |
Different problems
Ente exists so your photos survive a lost phone without anyone, including Ente, being able to read them. Pixel Gallery exists so your photos on the phone are organized and searchable without anyone else being involved. If you need backup, Ente is one of the strongest options. If you need a gallery, Ente’s gallery is functional and Pixel Gallery’s is the product.
Where they overlap
Both run AI on the device: face grouping and natural-language search in both, text recognition in both. Pixel Gallery adds labels, captions, QR detection, a map, cleanup and statistics.
Where Ente is ahead
- End-to-end encrypted cloud backup, audited by a third party.
- Open source, on every platform, with family sharing.
Where Pixel Gallery is ahead
- No account and no upload anywhere.
- A broader on-device pipeline and a full gallery: editors, collages, widgets, Home-View on the local network.
- Free with a one-time Premium instead of a storage subscription.
Who should pick which
Pick Ente if encrypted backup and cross-platform access are the requirement. Pick Pixel Gallery if the phone is the library and you want it smart and private. Using both is a sensible setup.
Questions
Can I use both?
Yes. Ente backs up to its encrypted cloud; Pixel Gallery indexes the local files on the phone. They do not conflict.
Which one is more private?
They protect against different things. Ente protects your backup from the server operator with end-to-end encryption. Pixel Gallery avoids having a server at all, and encrypts its local metadata database. Neither claim covers the other.
Free on Google Play
Requires Android 13 or newer. No account. Optional one-time Premium upgrade.