Hidewell Vault vs Private Photo Vault

Private Photo Vault (Pic Safe) is a popular photo vault for iPhone and Android with a decoy password and an optional paid Cloud Vault.

Private Photo Vault details as of October 2026, from public pages and store listings by Legendary Software Labs LLC (sources below). Official page: Private Photo Vault

Side by side

Feature comparison

Hidewell Vault Winner

8

Private Photo Vault

2

Even: 2 · Not comparable: 1 · Features compared: 13

Ahead:
Behind:
Even:
Not comparable:

	Hidewell Vault	Private Photo Vault
Platforms	Behind: Android now. iPhone and iPad coming soon	Ahead: iPhone, iPad, Mac (Apple silicon) and Android ^[1]^[2]
Account required	Even: No. No account, no email	Even: Not for the on-device vault. The Cloud Vault needs an account ^[3]
Encryption of stored files	Ahead: AES-256-GCM in 1 MiB segments under a random 256-bit master key	Behind: AES-256, per its FAQ. Mode and key handling not published ^[3]^[4]
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 for the on-device vault. The Cloud Vault uses a separate Cloud Vault password ^[5]
Unlock methods	Even: Pattern only, run through your phone's security chip. No biometric shortcut, by design	Even: PIN, password or pattern. Face ID together with the PIN on iPhone, fingerprint on Android ^[6]^[2]
Multiple or decoy vaults	Ahead: Each pattern opens its own vault, with no vault list. Duress pattern opens a decoy (Pro)	Behind: Decoy password opens an alternate vault. Per-album passwords. Its security page says a decoy doesn't guarantee another vault can't be discovered ^[6]^[4]
Backup	Ahead: Encrypted on your phone, stored in your own iCloud Drive or Google Drive, keyed from a 12-word recovery phrase	Behind: Optional Cloud Vault (Premium) on the developer's servers, encrypted on the phone before upload ^[5]^[2]
Sync between devices	Behind: No. Encrypted sync is on the roadmap	Ahead: Cloud Vault (Premium) syncs across iPhone and Android ^[5]
Tracking and analytics	Ahead: None. No analytics and no connection to our servers	Behind: App Store label lists Usage Data as used to track you. The privacy policy names ad and analytics services ^[1]^[7]
Ads	Ahead: None, on any plan	Behind: Yes in the free version. Premium is ad-free ^[2]
In-app camera	Ahead: Yes. Photos and video encrypted as you shoot (Pro)	Behind: Private camera for photos. Video and encryption at capture not published ^[6]
Source code	Ahead: Open-source crypto core. Anyone can inspect and audit it	Behind: No public source code found ^[8]
Pricing	Not comparable: Free (1 vault, 150 photos, 15 videos). Pro $2.99 a month, $19.99 a year or $44.99 once	Not comparable: Free with ads. Premium in-app purchases from $6.99 ^[1]

“Not documented” means we couldn't find it in the public documentation for Private Photo Vault, 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 Private Photo Vault. 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. ^[8]

Decoy versus duress

Both apps can open a decoy with a second secret. Private Photo Vault's own security page notes that its decoy is not a guarantee that another vault's existence can't be discovered. Hidewell's duress pattern opens a decoy and destroys the keys to your other vaults on that phone, and all vaults share one padded container, so storage doesn't show how many exist. ^[4]^[6]

Where backups go

Private Photo Vault's Cloud Vault stores backups on the developer's servers, encrypted on your phone first, under a separate Cloud Vault password. Hidewell stores its encrypted backup in your own iCloud Drive or Google Drive, keyed from a 12-word recovery phrase. ^[5]

Ads and analytics

The free version of Private Photo Vault shows ads, and its privacy policy lists advertising and analytics services. Hidewell has no ads and no analytics on any plan. ^[2]^[7]

FAQ

Hidewell Vault vs Private Photo Vault: your questions answered.

Can I verify how Private Photo Vault and Hidewell Vault protect my files?

Private Photo Vault says it uses AES-256 but publishes no source code, so how keys are made can't be checked 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 Private Photo Vault need an account?

Not for the vault on your phone, according to its FAQ. The optional Cloud Vault does. Hidewell Vault has no account, and backups go to your own iCloud Drive or Google Drive.

Does Private Photo Vault have a decoy?

Yes. A decoy password or fake PIN opens a separate decoy vault. Hidewell Vault has a duress pattern that opens a decoy and also destroys access to your other vaults on that phone.

Is Private Photo Vault free?

There is a free version with ads, and a paid Premium. Hidewell Vault has a free plan with no ads, and Pro at $2.99 a month, $19.99 a year or $44.99 once.

Sources

Hidewell Vault details are from this site. Private Photo Vault is a trademark of its owner. Hidewell Vault is not affiliated with Legendary Software Labs LLC. Features and prices change, so check the sources for the latest.