VaultBolt vs Calculator#
VaultBolt vs Calculator#
An honest look at where Calculator# shines and where VaultBolt is different, using Calculator#'s own App Store listing.
Feature comparison
VaultBolt next to Calculator#, with Vaultaire and Keepsafe for context.
| Feature | VaultBoltiPhone & iPad | Calculator#★ 4.4 · 28,936 ratings | Vaultaire★ 4.7 · 55 ratings | Keepsafe★ 4.8 · 385,432 ratings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| File encryption describedWhat the listing says about how files are protected | ✓Yes: AES-256-GCM, on device | ?Not listed: Not described | ✓Yes: AES-256-GCM | ~Partly: "Military-grade", no detail |
| Works without an accountNo email or sign-up to use the vault | ✓Yes: No account, ever | ?Not listed: Not listed | ✓Yes: No account | ~Partly: Sync across installs |
| No adsOn the free tier | ✓Yes: Never | ✕No: Free with ads | ✓Yes: No ads | ✕No: Basic is ad supported |
| Finds private photos for youOn-device scan of your camera roll | ✓Yes: On-device, offline | ✕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: Optional delete from Photos | ~Partly: Original clean-up after import | ?Not listed: Not listed |
| Decoy vault or fake PINA second code that opens harmless content | ✓Yes: Pro | ?Not listed: Disguise mode | ✓Yes: Separate patterns | ?Not listed: Not listed |
| Duress or emergency-erase codeA code that removes access under pressure | ✓Yes: Pro | ~Partly: Panic switch | ✓Yes: Pro | ?Not listed: Not listed |
| Intruder photoSnaps whoever enters a wrong code | ✓Yes: Pro | ✓Yes: Hack monitoring | ?Not listed: Not listed | ?Not listed: Not listed |
| Encrypted cloud backupWhere backups go and whether they are encrypted first | ✓Yes: Encrypted iCloud, all plans | ~Partly: iCloud, Dropbox, Drive, OneDrive | ✓Yes: Encrypted iCloud | ✓Yes: Private Cloud (Keepsafe) |
| Recovery phraseA way back in that does not depend on the developer | ✓Yes: 12-word phrase | ?Not listed: Not listed | ✓Yes: Nine-word phrase | ?Not listed: Not listed |
| Face ID / Touch ID | ✓Yes: Optional | ✓Yes: Touch / Face ID | ✕No: Pattern only, by design | ✓Yes: Touch ID |
| Pattern unlock | ✓Yes: Plus PIN and passphrase | ✓Yes: Pattern | ✓Yes: 5×5 pattern | ?Not listed: PIN pad |
| iPhone and iPad | ✓Yes: Sync on Pro | ✓Yes: iPhone and iPad | ✓Yes: Sync on Pro | ✓Yes: Phone and tablet |
| One-time purchase optionPay once instead of subscribing | ✓Yes: $37.99 once | ✕No: Annual | ✓Yes: $39.99 | ?Not listed: Subscription |
| Controlled sharingExpiry, open limits or view-once | ◷On the roadmap: View-once, expiry | ?Not listed: Not listed | ✓Yes: Shared vaults | ✓Yes: Safe Send, time-limited |
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.
Where Calculator# is strong
- A disguise that works as a real calculator
- Many tools in one app: password manager, notes, contacts, browser
- Backs up to several cloud services
Where VaultBolt is different
- VaultBolt follows Apple's rules with honest alternate icons instead of pretending to be another app, and plans an ordinary-looking stealth gallery
- VaultBolt encrypts each file with AES-256-GCM before any backup leaves the phone
- VaultBolt never shows ads
- VaultBolt adds a duress code that protects the real vault, and a recovery phrase
Switching
Switching from Calculator# to VaultBolt
Takes about ten minutes for a typical library. Keep your old app until everything opens in VaultBolt.
- In Calculator#, export the items you want to keep to Photos or Files.
- Install VaultBolt, set your unlock and write down your recovery phrase.
- Import from Photos or Files, or let the private photo scan find them.
- Run the zero-copies clean-up to delete the exported originals and empty Recently Deleted.
- Once everything opens in VaultBolt, remove Calculator# from your phone.
Sources: Calculator# Hide Photos Videos on the App Store. Checked 2026-11-01. Ratings and features change; check the listing before you decide.
FAQ
VaultBolt vs Calculator#: FAQ
Are calculator vault apps safe?
A calculator disguise hides that a vault exists, but it says nothing about how files are encrypted. Look for documented encryption, a recovery method and backups that are encrypted before they leave the phone.
Does VaultBolt disguise itself as a calculator?
No. VaultBolt offers neutral alternate icons on Pro, and a planned stealth mode opens an ordinary-looking gallery. Pretending to be a different working app can break App Store rules and does not add encryption.
More comparisons
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.…
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 …
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 de…
The best photo vault apps for iPhone in 2026
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VaultBolt
Your stuff. Locked in.
Get VaultBolt for iPhone and iPad, or see exactly how it works in the interactive demo vault.
