VaultBolt vs SPV
VaultBolt vs SPV
An honest look at where SPV shines and where VaultBolt is different, using SPV's own App Store listing.
Feature comparison
VaultBolt next to SPV, with Vaultaire and Keepsafe for context.
| Feature | VaultBoltiPhone & iPad | SPV★ 4.6 · 70,035 ratings | Vaultaire★ 4.7 · 55 ratings | Keepsafe★ 4.8 · 385,432 ratings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| File encryption describedWhat the listing says about how files are protected | ✓Yes: AES-256-GCM, on device | ?Not listed: Not described | ✓Yes: AES-256-GCM | ~Partly: "Military-grade", no detail |
| Works without an accountNo email or sign-up to use the vault | ✓Yes: No account, ever | ✓Yes: Device storage only | ✓Yes: No account | ~Partly: Sync across installs |
| No adsOn the free tier | ✓Yes: Never | ?Not listed: Not listed | ✓Yes: No ads | ✕No: Basic is ad supported |
| 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 | ?Not listed: Not listed |
| 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 | ?Not listed: Not listed |
| Encrypted cloud backupWhere backups go and whether they are encrypted first | ✓Yes: Encrypted iCloud, all plans | ✕No: Device only | ✓Yes: Encrypted iCloud | ✓Yes: Private Cloud (Keepsafe) |
| 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 | ?Not listed: Not listed | ✕No: Pattern only, by design | ✓Yes: Touch ID |
| Pattern unlock | ✓Yes: Plus PIN and passphrase | ?Not listed: PIN | ✓Yes: 5×5 pattern | ?Not listed: PIN pad |
| iPhone and iPad | ✓Yes: Sync on Pro | ?Not listed: Not listed | ✓Yes: Sync on Pro | ✓Yes: Phone and tablet |
| One-time purchase optionPay once instead of subscribing | ✓Yes: $37.99 once | ✕No: Subscription | ✓Yes: $39.99 | ?Not listed: Subscription |
| Controlled sharingExpiry, open limits or view-once | ◷On the roadmap: View-once, expiry | ?Not listed: Not listed | ✓Yes: Shared vaults | ✓Yes: Safe Send, time-limited |
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 SPV is strong
- Simple PIN-protected vault with a password and contact store
- Keeps data on the device rather than on the developer's servers
Where VaultBolt is different
- VaultBolt describes its encryption in detail: AES-256-GCM for every file and the index
- VaultBolt backs up to your own iCloud as ciphertext, so deleting the app or losing the phone does not lose your vault
- VaultBolt adds decoy and duress vaults, a private-photo scan and a lifetime option
Switching
Switching from SPV to VaultBolt
Takes about ten minutes for a typical library. Keep your old app until everything opens in VaultBolt.
- In SPV, 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 SPV from your phone.
Sources: SPV - Secret Photo Vault on the App Store. Checked 2026-11-01. Ratings and features change; check the listing before you decide.
FAQ
VaultBolt vs SPV: FAQ
Does SPV back up my photos?
SPV's listing says it does not keep photos on any server and that deleting the app deletes your data. Export your files before removing it.
What happens to my files in VaultBolt if I lose my phone?
If encrypted iCloud backup is on, restore on a new iPhone with your 12-word recovery phrase. Without the phrase, nobody, including VaultBolt, can decrypt the backup.
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 Keepsafe
Keepsafe is one of the best-known photo lockers, with more than 385,000 App Store ratings. It locks photos behind a PIN or Touch ID, offers a Private …
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…
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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.
