VaultBolt vs Vaultaire
VaultBolt vs Vaultaire
An honest look at where Vaultaire shines and where VaultBolt is different, using Vaultaire's own App Store listing.
Feature comparison
VaultBolt next to Vaultaire, with Keepsafe and Private Photo Vault for context.
| Feature | VaultBoltiPhone & iPad | Vaultaire★ 4.7 · 55 ratings | Keepsafe★ 4.8 · 385,432 ratings | Private Photo Vault★ 4.8 · 1,018,766 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 |
| 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 |
| No adsOn the free tier | ✓Yes: Never | ✓Yes: No ads | ✕No: Basic is ad supported | ?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 |
| 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 |
| Decoy vault or fake PINA second code that opens harmless content | ✓Yes: Pro | ✓Yes: Separate patterns | ?Not listed: Not listed | ✓Yes: Decoy password |
| Duress or emergency-erase codeA code that removes access under pressure | ✓Yes: Pro | ✓Yes: Pro | ?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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| Face ID / Touch ID | ✓Yes: Optional | ✕No: Pattern only, by design | ✓Yes: Touch ID | ?Not listed: Not listed |
| Pattern unlock | ✓Yes: Plus PIN and passphrase | ✓Yes: 5×5 pattern | ?Not listed: PIN pad | ✓Yes: Pattern/dot lock |
| iPhone and iPad | ✓Yes: Sync on Pro | ✓Yes: Sync on Pro | ✓Yes: Phone and tablet | ✓Yes: iPhone and iPad |
| One-time purchase optionPay once instead of subscribing | ✓Yes: $37.99 once | ✓Yes: $39.99 | ?Not listed: Subscription | ?Not listed: Subscription |
| 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 |
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 Vaultaire is strong
- Clear, detailed public documentation of its encryption design
- No account and no ads, with encrypted iCloud backup on the free plan
- Shared vaults with open limits and expiry are already available
Where VaultBolt is different
- VaultBolt scans your camera roll on the device and finds what to protect, instead of making you hunt through thousands of photos
- VaultBolt walks you through deleting originals and emptying Recently Deleted until no copies are left
- VaultBolt lets you choose pattern, PIN, passphrase or Face ID; Vaultaire is pattern-only by design
- VaultBolt adds intruder photos and is about $2 cheaper on every plan ($37.99 lifetime; Vaultaire lists $39.99)
Switching
Switching from Vaultaire to VaultBolt
Takes about ten minutes for a typical library. Keep your old app until everything opens in VaultBolt.
- In Vaultaire, 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 Vaultaire from your phone.
Sources: Photo Vault - Vaultaire on the App Store, developer website. Checked 2026-11-01. Ratings and features change; check the listing before you decide.
FAQ
VaultBolt vs Vaultaire: FAQ
Is VaultBolt a Vaultaire alternative?
Yes. Both encrypt files on the iPhone with AES-256-GCM and need no account. VaultBolt adds an on-device private-photo scan, a guided zero-copies clean-up, intruder photos and more unlock choices.
Does Vaultaire support Face ID?
Vaultaire's website describes its unlock as a drawn pattern and lists 'no biometrics' as a design choice. VaultBolt supports Face ID or Touch ID as an option alongside pattern, PIN and passphrase.
Which is cheaper for lifetime access?
Vaultaire's site lists Pro Lifetime at $39.99. VaultBolt Pro Lifetime is $37.99, and every VaultBolt plan costs about $2 less than Vaultaire's. App Store prices vary by country.
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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.
