What’s a secure, ethical, and affordable way to store photos from an Android phone?

Proton Drive is worth looking at if privacy is your main concern, and iDrive is another relatively affordable option. Before choosing, check how much storage you get, whether automatic photo backup works on Android, and whether the service offers an easy way to export your files later.

A personal storage appliance from a company such as Western Digital can let you manage your own files and access them remotely. However, you’d still need to purchase the device and configure it, and it’s much easier to manage with a computer. Also, don’t treat one device or a single SD card as a complete backup—keep at least two copies in separate places.

A storage provider using Nextcloud, such as Hetzner’s storage options, may be a good middle ground. You get a hosted service without relying on the biggest technology companies, and Nextcloud makes your files relatively portable. Just verify that its Android app supports the photo-upload workflow you want.

Physical storage cards are inexpensive, but they can fail, get lost, or be damaged. They’re best used as one extra copy rather than the only place your photos live. For an Android-only setup, an automatic cloud backup plus a second offline copy is a safer approach.

You could use a self-hosted setup, such as a network-attached storage device or a small personal server. That gives you more control and avoids an ongoing subscription, but it requires hardware, setup, maintenance, and a reliable internet connection. It’s probably not the easiest route if you currently only have a phone.