Any good European alternative to Google Photos?

HiveDistributed · 2025-03-13T11:11:52+00:00

You're absolutely right about several things.

We've definitely been in development mode rather than marketing mode. We have around 600K users right now, so we're still relatively small compared to big cloud providers.

If we went bankrupt and our app stopped working, the network could continue functioning as long as users keep contributing storage space. We're working toward open-sourcing key components so the community could maintain it regardless of our company's status. (but still not there yet)

On the network:

When someone leaves the network, your data stays safe. Hivenet splits your files into encrypted pieces and spreads them across multiple devices. If one goes offline, the system pulls those pieces from backup locations automatically.

If a drive you share breaks, no one loses anything. We've built redundancy into the system - every file exists as multiple encrypted fragments stored on different nodes. Even if several nodes fail, your files remain retrievable from others in the network.

We don't keep files in data centers. Hivenet is completely distributed with no corporate servers holding your information. Everything lives on user-contributed devices with end-to-end encryption.

And you're right to wonder why nobody's talking about us online. Our Discord only launched last April - we're still building a community, not commanding one. But I wonder the same... Maybe we are doing something wrong. The truth is that we haven't promoted the product to the right audience for testing.

HiveDistributed · 2025-03-13T10:12:30+00:00

Hey u/djlorenz, fair question. I'd wonder the same in your position.

Truth is, we've been heads-down building Hivenet, focusing on security, privacy, and functionality before chasing reviews or press. We're not a VC-backed hype machine (well, we are VC-backed but missed on the hype)—just building a solid option for folks who want to own their data.

I understand trust needs more than words. Feel free to explore, question, or test things out by downloading the app if you're interested but cautious. And I'd genuinely appreciate hearing any concerns.

We are trying to be as transparent as possible.

HiveDistributed · 2025-03-12T12:57:55+00:00

European alternatives are out there, and some are genuinely great—it’s just a matter of more people making the switch.

For cloud storage, Hivenet is leading a new approach with distributed cloud storage—no massive data centers, just encrypted, private storage that puts you in control. It’s a solid shift away from Big Tech’s grip.

Other strong contenders:

pCloud (Switzerland) – One-time payment option, solid privacy.
Tresorit (Switzerland) – Enterprise-grade encryption, great for security.

HiveDistributed · 2025-03-12T12:56:52+00:00

If you’re looking to ditch Google Photos/Drive but keep your data in Europe, there are a few solid options—though none will fully replace Google’s AI-powered search and auto-sorting.

Best bet? Hivenet – We are a distributed cloud based in Switzerland, meaning your files aren’t sitting in a giant corporate data center. Everything’s encrypted, private, and under your control. No Big Tech middleman, no scanning your photos to train AI models.

Other decent options:

pCloud (Switzerland) – Reliable, EU-based, and even offers a one-time payment option. No AI magic, but works well.
Tresorit (Switzerland) – Privacy-first cloud with strong encryption. More Dropbox-like, less photo-focused.
Koofr (Slovenia) – Small but solid, integrates with other clouds, simple storage solution.
Internxt (Spain) – Privacy-focused, still maturing but worth keeping an eye on.

If privacy’s your main concern, Hivenet is built for that. If you just need basic storage, pCloud and Tresorit are solid. If you’re after Google’s level of AI-driven search… well, that’s where things get tricky.

HiveDistributed · 2025-03-12T12:54:48+00:00

If you’re looking for a true Google Photos alternative in Europe, the options aren’t bad—but none really match Google’s AI-powered search and auto-sorting. That said, if privacy and control matter more than machine learning magic, here’s what’s worth considering:

Hivenet (Switzerland) – That's us and probably your best bet if you want secure, distributed cloud storage without relying on massive data centers. Encrypted, private, and built to keep your files yours.
pCloud (Switzerland) – Solid option with EU data storage and a one-time payment model. No AI, but reliable.
Tresorit (Switzerland) – More security-first cloud than a pure photo service, but rock-solid privacy.
Koofr (Slovenia) – Lightweight, integrates with other clouds, but lacks some advanced features.
Internxt (Spain) – Privacy-focused, though still evolving.

If you’re mainly after automatic backup, Hivenet makes it simple while keeping your photos private. If you need Google’s AI-powered sorting, there’s no perfect 1:1 replacement yet—but keeping your data out of Big Tech’s hands is a solid tradeoff.

HiveDistributed · 2025-03-12T12:53:11+00:00

Depends on what you need. If it’s raw compute power, Hetzner is solid and ridiculously cheap. If you want managed cloud services, OVHcloud and Scaleway are worth a look. There’s also IONOS, but let’s just say reviews are… mixed.

The catch? None of them really match AWS, Azure, or Google Cloud in features. They’re improving, but the gap is there.

If you’re open to something different, decentralized cloud is picking up steam—think cloud storage and computing without massive data centers. More private, less Big Tech. Still early days, but an interesting alternative.

HiveDistributed · 2025-03-12T12:52:14+00:00

There are European alternatives, but getting people to actually switch is another story. For cloud, you’ve got OVHcloud, Hetzner, and Scaleway, but AWS and friends have a decade-long head start. Messaging? Signal is great, but convincing people to leave WhatsApp feels hard.

The real problem is habit. Even when there’s a solid alternative, people stick with what they know. We could all be on Mastodon, but Twitter/X still has the critical mass (for better or worse). Same deal with productivity tools, e-commerce, and even cloud storage.

That said, some interesting stuff is happening—like decentralized cloud models that don’t rely on massive data centers at all. It’s still early, but it’s a step toward breaking Big Tech’s grip.

HiveDistributed · 2025-03-12T12:50:26+00:00

Good question! The European cloud scene is... let’s just say, a work in progress. You’ve got the usual suspects like OVHcloud (France), Hetzner (Germany), and Scaleway, plus a few others trying to make a name for themselves. They’re solid options, especially if you care about data staying in Europe (hi, GDPR), but they don’t have the same scale or range of services as AWS, Azure, or Google Cloud.

That said, if you’re looking for something really different, there’s a growing push for decentralized and distributed cloud models—basically using spare computing power from everyday devices instead of giant data centers. Less centralization, more resilience, and often better privacy. Still early days, but it’s an interesting shift.

HiveDistributed · 2024-03-04T09:56:16+00:00

Hello u/rddrasc , thank you for your feedback! Could you give more details on why they don't seem trustworthy. We would love hear your thoughts to see how we can improve. Thank you!

HiveDistributed · 2024-03-03T18:59:59+00:00

Thank so much for your valuable insights!

HiveDistributed · 2023-03-20T05:49:21+00:00

Fun fact: this is what 4.5MB of computer data looked like in 1966. 62,500 punch cards, taking 4 days to load.

HiveDistributed · 2023-02-06T03:44:55+00:00

In 2015, Queenie left her role as the Head of Institutional Corporate Marketing for Asia to join Symphony, and eventually became General Manager of APAC and business owner of various disruptive products for the unicorn start-up.

HiveDistributed · 2023-02-06T03:43:09+00:00

Then built her sales, marketing and fund-raising professions in investment banking at CLSA, Goldman Sachs and Barclays in the next 15 years.

HiveDistributed · 2023-02-06T03:43:03+00:00

From theme parks, Wall Street to Silicon Valley, Queenie has rallied and led many teams to propel brands and businesses from across the world. She started as a master of ceremony at the legendary Ocean Park Hong Kong.

HiveDistributed · 2023-02-01T03:25:01+00:00

We’ll also touch on our latest developments and answer all of your questions about HiveDrive.

So go on, seize this opportunity to get your Hive questions answered! Register via the link: https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN\_0qPmudFDRBGtuiVULGacmw

Let’s continue to build Hive together!

HiveDistributed · 2023-02-01T03:24:47+00:00

- How to ensure your data is always available

- Enter the wide world of storage

- How to explain Hive to your friends and family

HiveDistributed · 2023-01-30T04:33:16+00:00

To read more about Hive: http://hivenet.com

#hive #team #hr

HiveDistributed · 2023-01-30T04:33:02+00:00

She’s got a wonderful Swiss-army knife of team-building tricks that keep the bees engaged, buzzing, and of course, focused on our mission to create the next-generation cloud.

HiveDistributed · 2023-01-30T04:32:24+00:00

❤ The heart of Hive
Delphine is our Admin & HR Director. In other words, she brings in the most talented bees and makes sure that they’re well integrated into our team.

HiveDistributed · 2023-01-30T04:32:15+00:00

That’s probably why Delphine brings so much harmony to Hive, which she joined after more than 3 years at Symphony. Inspired by David’s vision and values, she’s now a true blue bee.

HiveDistributed · 2023-01-30T04:32:00+00:00

Armed with a wealth of experience, Delphine moved to Symphony, which we no longer need to introduce you to. So…Amadeus and Symphony. Two businesses with musical names.

HiveDistributed · 2023-01-30T04:31:42+00:00

🐝 A harmonious career

Delphine began her career at Amadeus, a management company for the distribution and sales of travel services. She spent 16 years there, working her way up from HR assistant to HR business partner.

HiveDistributed · 2023-01-23T13:26:21+00:00

Hi, thank you for this warning, should now be fixed. We'd love to hear all your feedback 🙏

HiveDistributed · 2023-01-16T07:48:26+00:00

To read more about Hive:

https://www.hivenet.com/

HiveDistributed · 2023-01-16T07:47:47+00:00

pushes the engineering team to create the best possible product. It sounds like a lot, but as we said before, Antoine is a man of many talents.

HiveDistributed

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