What does end-to-end encryption mean?

We describe the whole process in detail here. End-to-end encryption is a method of securing communication where the data is encrypted before being sent by the sender and only decrypted when it reaches the intended recipient. This means that the data is protected throughout its entire transmission path, so neither the service provider nor any other third parties who may have access to the transmission can read the content of the messages.

What does zeitkapsl mean?

It comes from the german word "zeitkapsel", which means "time capsule". It's a playful way to describe the idea of storing data securely for a long time and preserving it for future generations. In Austria the german language is sometimes a bit different and we tend to leave out letters. That is why it is called "zeitkapsl", and because the domain names were available of course 😅.

We’re aware that the name can be hard to pronounce and spell for non-German speakers. That’s why we also registered simpler, easier-to-remember domain names like kapsl.eu and kpsl.eu.

Can zeitkapsl see my photos and videos?

No. Your files are encrypted with a key before they are uploaded to our servers. Only your password can unlock this key. Since only you know the password, only you can decrypt your files.

Where is my data stored?

Your data is stored with two cloud storage providers: Hetzner in Falkenstein, Germany, and Backblaze in Amsterdam, Netherlands. Your photos and videos are always end-to-end encrypted. For more details, refer to our Privacy Policy.

How can I migrate from Google Photos?

We described the process here.

How can I migrate from iCloud?

Download the iOS app, enable access to your iCloud library, start uploading. That's it!

Apple albums are enabled by default. Their non-empty folder hierarchy is imported, and media in several enabled albums is added to each one. Album syncing is additive: disabling an album is non-destructive, re-enabling it performs a targeted scan, and Apple album renames, moves, or removals do not change albums already in zeitkapsl. Empty folders and smart albums are not imported.

Readable iCloud Shared Album media is placed below Shared Albums. Shared Album entries without a usable original photo or video resource are skipped. Apple does not publicly distinguish Shared Photo Library assets reliably, so they are treated as ordinary library media.

How can I migrate from my NAS / External drive?

Download the Desktop app. Place your photos in a folder and select it it in the app. Each subfolder will be uploaded as its own album, preserving your existing structure and organization.

Is there a free tier / free account?

No, but you’re welcome to try our demo (read-only). Our most affordable plan starts at just €2 per month, and you have a 21-day full money-back guarantee.

Why isn’t there a free tier / free account?

Our goal is to offer a fair service to all users. There is also storage and server infrastructure costs. We don't want to fund ourselves through ads or by selling user data. We believe it's fair to pay for a service that keeps your data secure and private. Our product is zeitkapsl, not your data.

Read more about this topic here.

Do you offer a lifetime plan?

We’ve looked closely at this model and decided against offering lifetime deals, and for good reason.

Lifetime plans often sound appealing at first, but they’re rarely sustainable. Either customers end up overpaying for storage or services they’ll never fully use, or the company takes on long-term costs that far exceed the one-time payment. In many cases, that leads to degraded service, hidden limitations, or even the company going out of business, which would mean losing access entirely.

Our approach is to keep pricing transparent and sustainable so that we can continue improving zeitkapsl and offering reliable, secure service for the long term.

What payment methods do you offer?

We currently accept

• Credit and debit card payments
• SEPA

We plan to evaluate integration with wero, but at the moment none of our bank accounts does not support that.

Why not Paypal or Klarna?

PayPal is a frequent request. However, we've decided not to support PayPal due to its historical association with Elon Musk and Peter Thiel. Also it would pull in another avoidable dependency to US tech companies, which we try to avoid as much as possible.

We’ve also chosen not to support Klarna, as we’re critical of their business model, particularly with regard to young users and the risk of debt.

That said, we're open to alternatives! Feel free to reach out to us at support@zeitkapsl.eu.

What happens to my photos if zeitkapsl goes bankrupt?

If that ever happens, we’ll give you plenty of notice in advance. With zeitkapsl, your data is always yours. You can download everything in original quality, including all metadata, at any time. We also provide a simple way to export your entire library in one go, so you're never locked in.

Does zeitkapsl work offline?

Yes. You do not need a permanent internet connection to use zeitkapsl. While zeitkapsl communicates with the cloud, a local copy is stored on your device for faster access. Thus, you can also use zeitkapsl offline. When you use zeitkapsl without an internet connection, your data will be updated as soon as you are back online.

Can I share my account with others?

Yes. You can share your account with others. Go to the Account Settings to send invitations.

Will I get my photos and videos back in original quality?

Yes. You will receive your data exactly as you uploaded it, including EXIF metadata and in its original quality.

What file formats does zeitkapsl support?

• Photos: JPEG, WEBP, PNG, HEIC and HEIF. We also support motion photos (Android) and live photos (iOS).
• Videos: MOV, MP4 with H.264/AVC or HEVC/HEIV.
• The Desktop app also supports TIFF, a lot more video formats including MKV, MPG, AVI.

If you use Safari (mobile) for uploading photos/videos they will be automatically converted to JPG/MP4. When using the native iOS app, your photos/videos will stay in the native file format.

Is there a file size limit?

Yes, we do not support individual files larger than 200 MB. This does not apply to videos, because these are chunked automatically into 50 MB.

Are the metadata of my photos and videos encrypted?

Yes, except for the timestamp, which we are working on removing as well. All other metadata is stored with end-to-end encryption.

On which devices does zeitkapsl work?

Currently, it works on all major browsers (Firefox, Chrome, Safari, Edge). Android version 10 and above are supported, so we also support older devices. iPhones are supported from iOS 17.0 onwards.

What happens if I exceed my storage capacity?

You will no longer be able to back up additional photos and videos, but you will still have access to all the photos you have previously stored in zeitkapsl. We will notify you in advance when your storage capacity is running low.

What happens if I cancel my subscription?

Ordinary cancellation keeps your subscription active until the end of the paid period. After that, access ends and your data is retained for 14 days before permanent deletion. You can reactivate during that recovery period, but it is not an extension of access to your library: export your photos and videos before the paid period ends. Withdrawals are effective immediately, after submitting your withdrawal request, you will lose access to your account immediately.

When can I cancel my subscription?

You can schedule ordinary cancellation at any time in the web app under Settings → Cancel subscription. It takes effect at the end of your monthly or yearly paid period without a refund. During the first 21 days of the paid contract, you can instead withdraw for a full refund.

How do I withdraw and get a refund?

As the subscription owner, open Settings in the web app, choose Withdraw from contract, and then confirm with Withdraw from contract. This option is available within 21 days of the paid contract's start, including if you already scheduled ordinary cancellation. Renewals and plan changes do not restart the period. You do not need to give a reason. You can also send an unambiguous withdrawal declaration identifying your account or contract to support@zeitkapsl.eu.

Withdrawal is accepted immediately. Payments under that contract are refunded in full to their original payment methods, excluding amounts already refunded. Your account and its members are scheduled for immediate cancellation. The 14-day data recovery period starts at account cancellation. If you prefer to keep access until the paid period ends without a refund, choose Cancel at end of period instead. Return without cancellation makes no changes.

You receive one acknowledgement email recording your declaration and when it was received. Refunds are made without undue delay, but your bank may take time to show the credit.

See the withdrawal guide for details. The 21-day offer does not limit statutory withdrawal rights or longer statutory periods.

How does sharing pictures and videos work?

It's simple: select the photos and videos or entire albums you want to share, click "Share," and send the secure link or QR code to friends and family.

Does zeitkapsl recognize duplicates of photos and videos?

Yes, zeitkapsl ensures that no photos or videos are uploaded multiple times, saving storage space. Duplicates are detected based on a bit-by-bit comparison. This means that only identical files, with exactly the same content, are recognized as duplicates. If a file is modified even slightly (for example, by a different thumbnail or camera information), our system treats it as a new file.

The detection is based on a SHA-1 hash comparison. Only exact duplicates will be prevented from being uploaded again.

What happens if I forget my password?

When you create your account, you’ll receive a Recovery Kit (PDF download). This kit allows you to reset your password at any time, even if you lose access to your device.

⚠️ Without the Recovery Kit, we cannot restore your data, as it is end-to-end encrypted and we have no access to it.

Please store your Recovery Kit securely, just like you would with important documents such as your birth certificate.

To reset your password, go to the Forgot Password page from the login screen and follow the instructions.

I lost my Recovery Kit, where can I get it back?

If you still know your current password, you can generate and save a new Recovery Kit anytime in your Account Settings.

Does zeitkapsl support 2FA (Two-Factor Authentication) or MFA?

Yes, zeitkapsl supports Two-Factor Authentication (2FA) using TOTP (Time-based One-Time Passwords), following the RFC 6238 standard. You can enable 2FA at any time in your account settings.

What if I lose access to my 2FA device or recovery key?

If you lose access to your 2FA device, follow the account recovery process, just like with a forgotten password. To start, visit the Forgot password page and follow the instructions. If you're unable to recover access, please contact our support team for further assistance.

How much is 200 GB of storage with you?

200 x 1024 x 1024 x 1024 bytes = 200 GiBs

The storage usage on zeitkapsl is a bit higher than expected

This is expected, zeitkapsl stores extra preview and streaming versions alongside your originals. See storage overhead of backed-up media for the breakdown.

If I want to share photos, do others need a zeitkapsl account?

No, accessing the shared link is sufficient. However, if your friends and family have their own accounts, they can also save the link in their account and receive notifications when new photos and videos are added.

I would like to conduct a security review. Is that possible?

Contact us at "security@zeitkapsl.eu"

I accidentally added the wrong folder on the desktop app, how can i clear the upload queue?

Just logout and login again, this will clear the local upload queue.