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FOREVER alternatives: 4 apps ranked by verified data

Facts checked Oct 25, 2026AppBreakup editorialHow we rank

Common reasons people leave FOREVER: high cost per gigabyte, and long-term promise cannot be verified. We ranked 4 alternatives by how directly each one replaces FOREVER, then by reviews, real visits and how recently each app's facts were checked against its own website. Google Photos currently ranks first.

Quick comparison

#AppPricingOpen sourcePlatformsVerified factsScore
1Ente Photos logoEnte PhotosFree plan + paidYesWeb, Windows, macOS +44 of 459.6
  1. Ente Photos logo

    1. Ente PhotosTop pick

    Best for: Privacy-minded families wanting a Google Photos-style app with encryption

    Free plan + paidOpen sourceSelf-hostableWeb, Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android, Self-hosted

    59.6

    score / 100

    Why switch from FOREVER

    Encrypted backup with copies in three locations.

    Pros

    • End-to-end encrypted with on-device face and text search
    • Open source, audited and self-hostable
    • Three-location replication of every file

    Cons

    • On-device indexing of large libraries is slow
    • Editing tools are basic
    • Smaller company than the big-tech options
    Visit Ente Photos Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.377
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.1585
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is Ente Photos a good FOREVER alternative?

    Verified facts

    4 of 4 verified
    Free plan
    10 GB, free forever
    Checked Oct 25, 2026ente.io(opens source in a new tab)
    Replication
    Stored in 3 locations
    Checked Oct 25, 2026ente.io(opens source in a new tab)
    Open source
    Yes, audited and self-hostable
    Checked Oct 25, 2026ente.io(opens source in a new tab)
    Founded
    2020
    Checked Oct 25, 2026ente.io(opens source in a new tab)

The best FOREVER alternative for…

The highest-ranked app in this list for each need.

Google Photos logo

Best FOREVER alternative for most people

Google Photos

Cheaper storage with stronger search and sharing.

Amazon Photos logo

Best FOREVER alternative for a free plan you can upgrade

Amazon Photos

Unlimited photo storage included with Prime.

Ente Photos logo

Best FOREVER alternative for open source

Ente Photos

Encrypted backup with copies in three locations.

Ente Photos logo

Best FOREVER alternative for self-hosting

Ente Photos

Encrypted backup with copies in three locations.

Amazon Photos logo

Best FOREVER alternative for Mac

Amazon Photos

Unlimited photo storage included with Prime.

Amazon Photos logo

Best FOREVER alternative for Windows

Amazon Photos

Unlimited photo storage included with Prime.

Ente Photos logo

Best FOREVER alternative for Linux

Ente Photos

Encrypted backup with copies in three locations.

SmugMug logo

Best FOREVER alternative for iPhone and Android

SmugMug

Unlimited storage and printing for photo-heavy families.

Google Photos logo

Best FOREVER alternative for working in the browser

Google Photos

Cheaper storage with stronger search and sharing.

FOREVER alternatives: common questions

What is the best alternative to FOREVER?

Google Photos ranks first right now. Cheaper storage with stronger search and sharing. Amazon Photos and Ente Photos follow it in our ranking.

Is there a free alternative to FOREVER?

Yes. Google Photos (free plan + paid), Amazon Photos (free plan + paid) and Ente Photos (free plan + paid) have a free option. Check each app's verified facts for current plan limits.

Is there an open-source alternative to FOREVER?

Yes: Ente Photos. Ente Photos can also be self-hosted.

Which FOREVER alternatives work on Linux?

Ente Photos runs on Linux.

Why do people switch from FOREVER?

The complaints we hear most: high cost per gigabyte; long-term promise cannot be verified; fewer organisation tools than mainstream services.

How is this list ranked?

Every app is scored with the same published formula: how directly it replaces FOREVER, reviews (weighted by verification), visits from AppBreakup, how recently its facts were checked against its own website, and reader votes.