Hidewell Vault vs Calculator#
Calculator# Hide Photos Videos is a vault app disguised as a calculator, for iPhone and Android, with ads in the free version.
Calculator# details as of October 2026, from public pages and store listings by NewSoftwares.net (sources below). Official page: Calculator#
Side by side
Feature comparison
Hidewell Vault Winner
7 
Calculator# - Ahead:
- Behind:
- Even:
- Not comparable:
| Hidewell Vault |  Calculator# | |
|---|---|---|
| Platforms | Behind: Android now. iPhone and iPad coming soon | |
| Account required | Not comparable: No. No account, no email | Not comparable: Not documented. The listing mentions password recovery by registered email [1] |
| 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 | Behind: Not published |
| Unlock methods | Even: Pattern only, run through your phone's security chip. No biometric shortcut, by design | Even: Calculator code, PIN, pattern, password, Touch ID or Face ID [1] |
| Multiple or decoy vaults | Even: Each pattern opens its own vault, with no vault list. Duress pattern opens a decoy (Pro) | |
| Backup | Ahead: Encrypted on your phone, stored in your own iCloud Drive or Google Drive, keyed from a 12-word recovery phrase | Behind: Optional backup to your iCloud, Dropbox, Google Drive or OneDrive. Encryption not published [1] |
| Sync between devices | Not comparable: No. Encrypted sync is on the roadmap | Not comparable: Cloud sync listed in release notes. Syncing between devices not documented [1] |
| Tracking and analytics | Ahead: None. No analytics and no connection to our servers | Behind: App Store label lists Contact Info as used to track you [1] |
| Ads | Ahead: None, on any plan | Behind: Yes, the free version has ads [1] |
| In-app camera | Ahead: Yes. Photos and video encrypted as you shoot (Pro) | Behind: Photos and videos taken in the app. Encryption at capture not published [1] |
| 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 with ads. Yearly subscription $4.99 [1] |
“Not documented” means we couldn't find it in the public documentation for Calculator#, 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.
Open-source crypto core
We found no published source code for Calculator#, and its listing doesn't describe its encryption. 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]
Disguise versus encryption
Calculator# hides behind a working calculator, and its store listing talks about password protection rather than encryption. Hidewell can also use a plain alternate icon, but the protection comes from encryption: without your pattern and your phone's security chip, the vault is random data. [1][3]
Backups
Calculator# can back up to several cloud services you choose. Its listing doesn't say whether those backups are encrypted. Hidewell encrypts backups on your phone and keys them from your 12-word recovery phrase. [1]
Ads and tracking
The free version of Calculator# shows ads, and its App Store label lists contact info as used to track you. Hidewell has no ads, no analytics and no account. [1]
FAQ
Hidewell Vault vs Calculator#: your questions answered.
Can I verify how Calculator# and Hidewell Vault protect my files?
Calculator# publishes no source code and its listing doesn't describe its encryption, so there is nothing to check independently. Hidewell Vault's cryptography core is open source: you can read exactly how your keys are made, and anyone can inspect and audit it.
Does Calculator# encrypt photos?
Its App Store listing and product page describe password protection and don't state encryption for stored files. Hidewell Vault encrypts every file with AES-256-GCM under a key bound to your phone's security chip.
Does Calculator# show ads?
Yes. The listing says it is free with ads and limitations, and a yearly subscription removes them. Hidewell Vault has no ads on any plan.
Can Hidewell Vault be disguised?
Yes. You can choose a plain alternate icon so the app doesn't stand out on your home screen. The encryption is what protects your files, though, not the icon.
Sources
- https://apps.apple.com/us/app/calculator-hide-photos-videos/id1165276801
- https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=net.newsoftwares.hidepicturesvideos
- https://www.newsoftwares.net/ns-vault/
Hidewell Vault details are from this site. Calculator# is a trademark of its owner. Hidewell Vault is not affiliated with NewSoftwares.net. Features and prices change, so check the sources for the latest.