Compare

VaultBolt vs the rest.

An honest, sourced comparison with 16 photo vault apps and Apple's Hidden album. Where another app is better for you, we say so.

The full matrix

Every app we compare, across the features that matter for a private vault. Scroll sideways on mobile.

VaultBolt compared with 16 photo vault apps
Feature	VaultBoltiPhone & iPad	Vaultaire★ 4.7 · 55 ratings	Keepsafe★ 4.8 · 385,432 ratings	Private Photo Vault★ 4.8 · 1,018,766 ratings	Apple Hidden albumBuilt into iOS	SPV★ 4.6 · 70,035 ratings	Calculator#★ 4.4 · 28,936 ratings	Hide it Pro★ 4.7 · 24,791 ratings	Safe Lock★ 4.8 · 24,921 ratings	Secret Photo Album★ 4.6 · 38,907 ratings	PV Secret Photo Album★ 4.7 · 30,293 ratings	Privault★ 4.7 · 76,578 ratings	Encamera★ 4.5 · 147 ratings	Obscura★ 4.3 · 28 ratings	Inner Gallery★ 4.7 · 7 ratings	HiddenVault★ 4.6 · 2,104 ratings	Vaulty★ 4.6 · 445 ratings
File encryption describedWhat the listing says about how files are protected	Yes: AES-256-GCM, on device	Yes: AES-256-GCM	Partly: "Military-grade", no detail	Partly: Cloud Vault backup encrypted	Partly: iOS data protection; no separate vault key	Not listed: Not described	Not listed: Not described	Not listed: Not described	Not listed: Not described	Partly: Encrypted, PIN-protected storage	Partly: "Data encryption", no detail	Partly: Encrypted storage, no detail	Yes: Encrypts all media	Yes: AES-256-GCM, open source	Yes: ChaCha20-Poly1305	Not listed: "Zero-knowledge", no detail	Not listed: Not described
Works without an accountNo email or sign-up to use the vault	Yes: No account, ever	Yes: No account	Partly: Sync across installs	Not listed: Not listed	Yes: Built in	Yes: Device storage only	Not listed: Not listed	Not listed: Not listed	Yes: Saved on device	Partly: Email for sync and restore	Partly: Recovery email	Not listed: Not listed	Yes: No account	Yes: No account	Not listed: Not listed	Yes: No personal data	Not listed: Not listed
No adsOn the free tier	Yes: Never	Yes: No ads	No: Basic is ad supported	Not listed: Not listed	Yes: Built in	Not listed: Not listed	No: Free with ads	Not listed: Not listed	Not listed: Not listed	Not listed: Not listed	No: Ad-free is paid	Not listed: Not listed	Yes: No ads, no tracking	Yes: No data collection	Yes: No ads	Not listed: Not listed	Not listed: Not listed
Finds private photos for youOn-device scan of your camera roll	Yes: On-device, offline	No: Manual import	No: Manual import	No: Manual import	No: You pick photos	No: Manual import	No: Manual import	No: Manual import	No: Manual import	No: Manual import	No: Manual import	No: Manual import	No: Manual import	No: Manual import	No: Manual import	No: Manual import	No: Manual import
Removes the originalsDeletes camera-roll copies and guides Recently Deleted	Yes: Zero-copies clean-up	Partly: Original clean-up after import	Not listed: Not listed	Not listed: Not listed	No: Items stay in Photos	Not listed: Not listed	Partly: Optional delete from Photos	Not listed: Not listed	Not listed: Not listed	Not listed: Not listed	Yes: Auto-delete from library	Not listed: Not listed	Not listed: Not listed	Not listed: Not listed	Not listed: Not listed	Not listed: Not listed	Not listed: Not listed
Decoy vault or fake PINA second code that opens harmless content	Yes: Pro	Yes: Separate patterns	Not listed: Not listed	Yes: Decoy password	No: No	Not listed: Not listed	Not listed: Disguise mode	Yes: Escape code, empty app	Yes: Fake password, fake gallery	Yes: Decoy PIN	Yes: Fake password	Yes: Secondary passcode	Not listed: Not listed	Yes: Second vault as decoy	Yes: Panic PIN decoy space	Not listed: Not listed	Yes: Decoy PIN, empty gallery
Duress or emergency-erase codeA code that removes access under pressure	Yes: Pro	Yes: Pro	Not listed: Not listed	Not listed: Not listed	No: No	Not listed: Not listed	Partly: Panic switch	Not listed: Not listed	Not listed: Not listed	Not listed: Not listed	Not listed: Not listed	Yes: Erase-all passcode	Not listed: Not listed	Not listed: Not listed	Not listed: Not listed	Not listed: Not listed	Not listed: Not listed
Intruder photoSnaps whoever enters a wrong code	Yes: Pro	Not listed: Not listed	Not listed: Not listed	Yes: Break-in report, photo + GPS	No: No	Not listed: Not listed	Yes: Hack monitoring	Not listed: Not listed	Yes: Break-in reports	Yes: Break-in alerts	Not listed: Not listed	Not listed: Not listed	Not listed: Not listed	Not listed: Not listed	Not listed: Not listed	Not listed: Not listed	Not listed: Not listed
Encrypted cloud backupWhere backups go and whether they are encrypted first	Yes: Encrypted iCloud, all plans	Yes: Encrypted iCloud	Yes: Private Cloud (Keepsafe)	Yes: Cloud Vault, own password	Partly: iCloud Photos settings apply	No: Device only	Partly: iCloud, Dropbox, Drive, OneDrive	Partly: Cloud storage	Partly: Export to cloud services	Yes: Encrypted cloud	Partly: Paid cloud sync	Not listed: Not listed	Yes: Your iCloud, per album	Partly: Manual encrypted export file	Yes: Encrypted iCloud sync	Not listed: Not listed	Yes: Your personal cloud
Recovery phraseA way back in that does not depend on the developer	Yes: 12-word phrase	Yes: Nine-word phrase	Not listed: Not listed	Not listed: Not listed	No: Uses device passcode	Not listed: Not listed	Not listed: Not listed	Not listed: Not listed	Not listed: Not listed	Partly: Email-based	Partly: Recovery email	Not listed: Not listed	Not listed: Not listed	No: No reset, by design	Not listed: Set up with PIN	Not listed: Not listed	Not listed: Not listed
Face ID / Touch ID	Yes: Optional	No: Pattern only, by design	Yes: Touch ID	Not listed: Not listed	Yes: Face ID / passcode	Not listed: Not listed	Yes: Touch / Face ID	Not listed: Not listed	Yes: Touch ID, Face ID	Yes: Touch and Face ID	Yes: Touch / Face ID	Not listed: Not listed	Yes: Face ID	Yes: Face ID, Touch ID	Yes: Face ID	Yes: Face ID	Yes: Face ID
Pattern unlock	Yes: Plus PIN and passphrase	Yes: 5×5 pattern	Not listed: PIN pad	Yes: Pattern/dot lock	No: No	Not listed: PIN	Yes: Pattern	Not listed: Not listed	Yes: DotLock	Not listed: PIN	Not listed: Passcode	No: Digit passcode	Not listed: PIN	No: Password	No: PIN	No: PIN	No: PIN
iPhone and iPad	Yes: Sync on Pro	Yes: Sync on Pro	Yes: Phone and tablet	Yes: iPhone and iPad	Yes: Syncs with iCloud Photos	Not listed: Not listed	Yes: iPhone and iPad	Not listed: Not listed	Not listed: Not listed	Not listed: Not listed	Yes: iPhone and iPad	Not listed: Not listed	Not listed: Not listed	Not listed: Not listed	Yes: iPhone and iPad	Not listed: Not listed	Not listed: Not listed
One-time purchase optionPay once instead of subscribing	Yes: $37.99 once	Yes: $39.99	Not listed: Subscription	Not listed: Subscription	Yes: Free	No: Subscription	No: Annual	No: Monthly	Not listed: Subscription	No: Subscription	Partly: One-time payment offered	No: Subscription	Yes: Lifetime plans	Yes: Lifetime	Yes: Upgrade once	No: Subscription	Not listed: Not listed
Controlled sharingExpiry, open limits or view-once	On the roadmap: View-once, expiry	Yes: Shared vaults	Yes: Safe Send, time-limited	Not listed: Email and text	No: No	Not listed: Not listed	Not listed: Not listed	Not listed: Email	Not listed: Slideshow and sharing	Not listed: Not listed	Partly: Nearby Drop	Not listed: Not listed	Not listed: Not listed	Not listed: Not listed	Not listed: Not listed	Not listed: Not listed	Not listed: Not listed

YesPartlyNoNot listed in the App Store listingOn the roadmap

Competitor details from each app's US App Store listing, checked 2026-11-01. "Not listed" means the listing does not mention it, not that the feature is missing. VaultBolt items marked ◷ are on the roadmap.

Head-to-head comparisons

Wraxle LLC

VaultBolt vs Vaultaire

Vaultaire is the closest app to VaultBolt in spirit: on-device AES-256-GCM encryption, no account, pattern-separated vaults and a duress vault on Pro. It is a newer app from a one-person studio with a strong security write-up.

★ 4.7 · 55 ratings→

KeepSafe Software, Inc

VaultBolt vs Keepsafe

Keepsafe is one of the best-known photo lockers, with more than 385,000 App Store ratings. It locks photos behind a PIN or Touch ID, offers a Private Cloud on Premium and its free tier is ad supported.

★ 4.8 · 385,432 ratings→

Legendary Software Labs LLC

VaultBolt vs Private Photo Vault

Private Photo Vault (Pic Safe) is the most-rated vault on the App Store, with over a million ratings since 2011. It offers PIN and pattern locks, a decoy password, break-in reports with photo and GPS, and an encrypted Cloud Vault on Premium.

★ 4.8 · 1,018,766 ratings→

Apple

VaultBolt vs Apple Hidden album

The Hidden album in Apple Photos moves selected photos out of your main library views and, on current iOS, locks behind Face ID or your passcode. It is free and convenient, but it is not a separate encrypted vault: the photos stay in Photos and anyone who knows your passcode can open them.

Built into iOS→

MAPLE LABS COMPANY LIMITED

VaultBolt vs SPV

SPV keeps photos, videos, passwords and contacts behind a PIN and stores everything on the device only. Its listing warns that deleting the app deletes your data, because there is no server backup.

★ 4.6 · 70,035 ratings→

Salman Ashraf

VaultBolt vs Calculator#

Calculator# looks like a working calculator and hides photos, videos, documents, passwords, notes and contacts behind it. It is free with ads, with an annual plan to remove them.

★ 4.4 · 28,936 ratings→

Anuj Tenani

VaultBolt vs Hide it Pro

Hide it Pro hides photos and videos behind a lock screen, with a disguise screen that makes the app look crashed and an escape code that makes it look empty. Cloud storage is a monthly subscription.

★ 4.7 · 24,791 ratings→

Katerina Akhlebinina

VaultBolt vs Safe Lock

Safe Lock is a highly rated vault with many lock types (PIN, DotLock, passwords, Face ID), a fake password that opens a fake gallery, break-in reports and a hidden camera.

★ 4.8 · 24,921 ratings→

BP Mobile LLC

VaultBolt vs Secret Photo Album

Secret Photo Album (SA) offers encrypted, PIN-protected storage, a decoy PIN, break-in alerts with intruder photos, a private browser and encrypted cloud backup tied to your email.

★ 4.6 · 38,907 ratings→

Haibin Jiao

VaultBolt vs PV Secret Photo Album

PV Secret Photo Album hides photos behind a passcode and Face ID, can delete the originals from your library after hiding, offers a fake password, Nearby Drop transfers and paid cloud sync. Ads are removed on paid plans.

★ 4.7 · 30,293 ratings→

Binspir Technologies Co., Ltd.

VaultBolt vs Privault

Privault hides photos, videos and audio behind a keypad, with a secondary passcode for a decoy space and an erase-all passcode for emergencies. Its last App Store update was in February 2025.

★ 4.7 · 76,578 ratings→

Encamera LLC

VaultBolt vs Encamera

Encamera is a minimalist encrypted camera and vault that is open source, needs no account, shows no ads and can store albums on the device or in your own iCloud.

★ 4.5 · 147 ratings→

Orlio Inc

VaultBolt vs Obscura

Obscura is a new open-source vault with AES-256-GCM, no accounts, no cloud and no analytics. It keeps ten indistinguishable vault slots and lets you export the whole vault as one encrypted file.

★ 4.3 · 28 ratings→

Jungle Labs

VaultBolt vs Inner Gallery

Inner Gallery is a new, well-designed vault using ChaCha20-Poly1305, with encrypted iCloud sync, private spaces, a panic PIN that opens a decoy space, app disguises and a one-time upgrade.

★ 4.7 · 7 ratings→

Kyle Allen

VaultBolt vs HiddenVault

HiddenVault stores photos and videos in albums behind a PIN and Face ID, adds a password manager and private browser, and is sold as a subscription after a free month.

★ 4.6 · 2,104 ratings→

MAPPVATE YAZILIM LIMITED SIRKETI

VaultBolt vs Vaulty

Vaulty is a simple vault with a decoy PIN that opens an empty gallery, a disguise as a Notes or Passwords app, cloud backup to your personal cloud and Face ID.

★ 4.6 · 445 ratings→

How we compare

Competitor cells come from each app's US App Store listing (description, ratings and dates via Apple's public iTunes lookup API) checked on the date above, plus the developer's own website where noted. 'Not listed' means the listing does not mention it; it does not prove the feature is missing. Ratings change daily. If you build one of these apps and something here is wrong, tell us and we will fix it.

FAQ

Questions, answered.

What is the best photo vault app for iPhone?

It depends on what you need. For documented on-device encryption with no account, look at VaultBolt, Vaultaire, Obscura, Encamera or Inner Gallery. VaultBolt is the only one in this list that scans for private photos and guides a full zero-copies clean-up.

Which photo vault apps have no ads?

From their listings: VaultBolt, Vaultaire, Encamera, Obscura and Inner Gallery state no ads. Keepsafe Basic and Calculator# free tiers are ad supported.

Which photo vault has a decoy password?

VaultBolt, Vaultaire, Private Photo Vault, Safe Lock, Secret Photo Album, PV, Privault, Inner Gallery, Hide it Pro, Vaulty and Obscura all list some form of decoy.

VaultBolt