If you own an iPhone or Android phone, you will likely use the platform’s automatic photo backup service. For iPhones, it’s iCloud, and for Android devices, it’s Google Drive. I currently own both phones and have used each backup service, but over the past four months, I have been using Proton Drive instead. When the photo auto-backup feature was first launched in 2023, it was only available for Android devices. However, iPhone support came later the following year.

I decided I don’t want my private photos and memories of events to have the potential of being used to train algorithms or be easily accessed by malicious actors. Instead, I want a secure and encrypted solution to back up my pictures and videos automatically. I discovered that solution with Proton Drive. I just load the app on each phone I need, turn off the default backup, and have peace of mind.

5 End-to-end encryption

To secure your photos and keep them private

The main reason to go with Proton Drive (and all its products) is its secure and privacy-oriented architecture. Encryption means that third parties won’t be privy to the photos you back up or share. Proton Drive uses end-to-end encryption to encrypt your photos before leaving your phone, during transfer, and while stored in Drive. Even the Proton staff cannot see the content of your photos or videos. Also, when a new photo enters your camera roll, it is automatically encrypted and securely stored in Proton Drive.

4 No data mining

Your photos are private

Since our phones are cameras, we take shots of weddings, birthdays, pets, friends, family, and other sensitive events. We should do our best to keep those pictures secure and private. Proton Drive does just that. Unlike unsecure cloud storage, Proton does not scan your photos to target ads or utilize different types of monetization of your photo collection. It doesn’t use your photos to train artificial intelligence or algorithms. You can rest assured that your photos and videos are private and secure while in transit and storage.

3 Easy use

Seamless integration on your PC or phone

Using Proton Drive to auto-backup your photos on either phone is straightforward. When you auto-backup your photos from Proton Drive, you can set it and forget it. Download the Proton Drive app to your phone and turn on the automatic backup feature for effortless backups. Since the process is automatic, you will notice that encrypted backups are synced across all your devices and are available via the intuitive Proton Drive app.

It’s also worth noting that an offline feature allows you to view your favorite photos or videos without internet connectivity. However, you must manually select the ones you want to use offline. Also, photos will only be backed up while connected to Wi-Fi, a benefit of most cloud backup services unless you change settings.

2 Secure photo sharing

Proton Drive allows for secure and private photo sharing

One of the benefits of backing up photos (and other files) to Proton Drive is that it will enable you to share your content with others while maintaining security. Sharing photos is as straightforward as sharing other files. Sign in to Proton Drive, select the photo(s) you want to share, and choose a contact. Select permissions and leave a note, and Proton will send a secure link for the other person to click to access the image or video. Just keep in mind that the person you're sharing with also needs a Proton account. They don’t need a premium subscription — a free account will do. You can share your photos from your phone or computer since your photos sync between devices.

1 Storage space

It’s enough for free and premium subscriptions, depending on use

Now, I have a lot of photos (several screenshots that accumulate over time). So, I subscribed to the Proton Unlimited plan, which includes 500GB of storage to accommodate photos and videos from both phones. However, if you aren’t a picture taker or just want to try the service out, you can get a free account, which, among other services, gives you 5GB of space. That is enough for those of you who only have a few photos and videos to back up, or if you want to test out Proton with a limited number of photos.

So, 500GB isn't the amount of storage other services offer, but you can upgrade to Duo or Proton Family to get up to 3TB. It's also important to note that Proton provides an additional 10GB per year as long as your subscription is active. Whatever the case, there is plenty of secure, encrypted storage space for your photos with Proton.

Keep photos on Android or iPhone secure using Proton

Who says encryption needs to be complicated? The auto-backup process to Proton Drive from iPhone or Android is a “set it and forget it” approach. The primary difference is security. Your photos and videos are backed up with end-to-end encryption, securely stored, and securely shared.

It’s also important to note that security is the point of backing up to Proton Drive. For instance, there are no features like object identification, AI editing, slideshows, or other photo-editing functions, which contrasts with iCloud and Google Drive. Still, if you want to keep things essential and have peace of mind knowing your photos are automatically backed up and secure, Proton Drive gets the job done. I made the switch, and you might want to consider doing the same.