VaultBolt vs Keepsafe
VaultBolt vs Keepsafe
An honest look at where Keepsafe shines and where VaultBolt is different, using Keepsafe's own App Store listing.
Feature comparison
VaultBolt next to Keepsafe, with Vaultaire and Private Photo Vault for context.
| Feature | VaultBoltiPhone & iPad | Keepsafe★ 4.8 · 385,432 ratings | Vaultaire★ 4.7 · 55 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 | ~Partly: "Military-grade", no detail | ✓Yes: AES-256-GCM | ~Partly: Cloud Vault backup encrypted |
| Works without an accountNo email or sign-up to use the vault | ✓Yes: No account, ever | ~Partly: Sync across installs | ✓Yes: No account | ?Not listed: Not listed |
| No adsOn the free tier | ✓Yes: Never | ✕No: Basic is ad supported | ✓Yes: No ads | ?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 | ?Not listed: Not listed | ~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: Not listed | ✓Yes: Separate patterns | ✓Yes: Decoy password |
| Duress or emergency-erase codeA code that removes access under pressure | ✓Yes: Pro | ?Not listed: Not listed | ✓Yes: Pro | ?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: Private Cloud (Keepsafe) | ✓Yes: Encrypted iCloud | ✓Yes: Cloud Vault, own password |
| 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 ID | ✕No: Pattern only, by design | ?Not listed: Not listed |
| Pattern unlock | ✓Yes: Plus PIN and passphrase | ?Not listed: PIN pad | ✓Yes: 5×5 pattern | ✓Yes: Pattern/dot lock |
| iPhone and iPad | ✓Yes: Sync on Pro | ✓Yes: Phone and tablet | ✓Yes: Sync on Pro | ✓Yes: iPhone and iPad |
| One-time purchase optionPay once instead of subscribing | ✓Yes: $37.99 once | ?Not listed: Subscription | ✓Yes: $39.99 | ?Not listed: Subscription |
| Controlled sharingExpiry, open limits or view-once | ◷On the roadmap: View-once, expiry | ✓Yes: Safe Send, time-limited | ✓Yes: Shared vaults | ?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 Keepsafe is strong
- Huge, long-running user base and a mature app
- Private Cloud storage and cross-device sync on Premium
- Time-limited Safe Send sharing
Where VaultBolt is different
- VaultBolt never shows ads, on any plan
- VaultBolt needs no account and keeps the encryption keys on your devices; backups go to your own iCloud as ciphertext
- VaultBolt finds private photos for you and cleans up the originals
- VaultBolt offers a one-time lifetime purchase instead of subscription-only pricing
Switching
Switching from Keepsafe to VaultBolt
Takes about ten minutes for a typical library. Keep your old app until everything opens in VaultBolt.
- In Keepsafe, 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 Keepsafe from your phone.
Sources: Secret Photo Vault: Keepsafe on the App Store, developer website. Checked 2026-11-01. Ratings and features change; check the listing before you decide.
FAQ
VaultBolt vs Keepsafe: FAQ
What is a good Keepsafe alternative without ads?
VaultBolt has no ads on any plan, needs no account and encrypts files on your iPhone before anything is backed up to your own iCloud.
Can I move my photos from Keepsafe to VaultBolt?
Yes. Export the items from Keepsafe back to Photos or Files, import them into VaultBolt, then use VaultBolt's clean-up to delete the exported copies and empty Recently Deleted.
Does Keepsafe show ads?
Keepsafe's App Store listing says Keepsafe Basic is ad supported, and that Premium removes ads.
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 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…
VaultBolt vs Apple Hidden album
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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.
