Hidewell Vault vs Apple Notes locked notes
Locked notes in Apple Notes are end-to-end encrypted and can hold images. Notes with video can't be locked, titles stay visible, and your phone's passcode can be the key.
Apple Notes locked notes details as of October 2026, from public pages and store listings by Apple (sources below). Official page: Apple Notes locked notes
Side by side
Feature comparison
Hidewell Vault Winner
7 
Apple Notes locked notes - Ahead:
- Behind:
- Even:
- Not comparable:
| Hidewell Vault |  Apple Notes locked notes | |
|---|---|---|
| Platforms | Even: Android now. iPhone and iPad coming soon | Even: iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Vision Pro and iCloud.com. Not on Android [1] |
| Account required | Even: No. No account, no email | Even: No. Works for iCloud and On My iPhone notes [2] |
| Encryption of stored files | Ahead: AES-256-GCM in 1 MiB segments under a random 256-bit master key | |
| How the unlock secret becomes a key | Ahead: Pattern plus a secret in your phone's security chip (Secure Enclave or StrongBox), then Argon2id | |
| Unlock methods | Even: Pattern only, run through your phone's security chip. No biometric shortcut, by design | |
| Multiple or decoy vaults | Ahead: Each pattern opens its own vault, with no vault list. Duress pattern opens a decoy (Pro) | Behind: Not documented |
| Backup | Ahead: Encrypted on your phone, stored in your own iCloud Drive or Google Drive, keyed from a 12-word recovery phrase | |
| Sync between devices | Behind: No. Encrypted sync is on the roadmap | Ahead: Syncs to all your devices on the same Apple Account [3] |
| Tracking and analytics | Ahead: None. No analytics and no connection to our servers | Behind: App Store label for Notes lists identifiers and user content linked to you [4] |
| Ads | Not comparable: None, on any plan | Not comparable: Not documented |
| In-app camera | Ahead: Yes. Photos and video encrypted as you shoot (Pro) | Behind: Capturing straight into a locked note is not documented [5] |
| Source code | Ahead: Open-source crypto core. Anyone can inspect and audit it | Behind: Not documented |
| Pricing | Behind: Free (1 vault, 150 photos, 15 videos). Pro $2.99 a month, $19.99 a year or $44.99 once | Ahead: Free, built in [4] |
“Not documented” means we couldn't find it in the public documentation for Apple Notes locked notes, and on non-security rows we don't count it against them. Unpublished security details count as behind, because they can't be verified. Ahead and behind are our reading of the cited facts. Competitor prices are from the US App Store.
Key differences
What sets them apart.
No videos
Apple says you can't lock notes with video, audio, PDF or file attachments. Images, sketches and scans work. Hidewell keeps photos, Live Photos and videos at full quality, and plays videos straight from the encrypted vault. [3]
Open-source crypto core
Apple documents locked notes in its Platform Security guide, but the Notes source isn't published. Hidewell's cryptography core is open source, and it's where all the security happens: the apps are a thin native layer on top. So anyone can inspect and audit exactly how your keys are made and your files are encrypted. [1]
Where the key comes from
A locked note's key is derived in software from your phone's passcode or a Notes password, with PBKDF2 and SHA-256. Apple doesn't publish the iteration count. Hidewell runs every pattern guess through your phone's security chip and Argon2id, and keys backups from a random 12-word recovery phrase. [1][2]
Titles show
Apple says a locked note's title stays visible in the notes list. In Hidewell, albums, tags and file names stay inside the encrypted index, and storage doesn't show how many vaults exist. [3]
FAQ
Hidewell Vault vs Apple Notes locked notes: your questions answered.
Are Apple Notes locked notes encrypted?
Yes. Apple's Platform Security guide says the note and its supported attachments are encrypted with AES-GCM, using a key derived from your passphrase, and locked notes are end-to-end encrypted in iCloud. Titles stay visible, and notes with video can't be locked.
Can I verify how locked notes and Hidewell Vault protect my files?
Apple describes locked notes in its Platform Security guide but doesn't publish the source. Hidewell Vault's cryptography core is open source: you can read exactly how your keys are made, and anyone can inspect and audit it.
Can I put videos in a locked note?
No. Apple says notes with video, audio, PDF or file attachments can't be locked. Hidewell Vault stores videos at full quality and plays them straight from the encrypted vault.
What if I forget my Notes password?
Apple says it can't help you open notes locked with a forgotten password, and resetting the password doesn't unlock older notes. Hidewell is the same by design: if you lose both your pattern and your recovery phrase, nobody can recover your files.
Sources
- https://support.apple.com/guide/security/sec1782bcab1/web
- https://support.apple.com/en-us/102537
- https://support.apple.com/guide/iphone/lock-notes-iphf177bb154/ios
- https://apps.apple.com/us/app/notes/id1110145109
- https://support.apple.com/guide/notes/lock-your-notes-not28c5f5468/mac
Hidewell Vault details are from this site. Apple Notes locked notes is a trademark of its owner. Hidewell Vault is not affiliated with Apple. Features and prices change, so check the sources for the latest.