How we judged them
We read each app's US App Store listing (and website where there is one) on 1 November 2026 and checked six things:
- Encryption: does the listing say how files are encrypted, or only "military-grade"?
- Account: can you use it without an email or sign-up?
- Ads: does the free tier show ads?
- Pressure protection: decoy vault, fake PIN or duress code.
- Backup and recovery: is the backup encrypted before it leaves the phone, and can you recover without the developer?
- Price: subscription only, or a one-time option?
"Not listed" means the listing does not mention it. That is not proof the feature is missing. See the full comparison matrix for every app.
1. VaultBolt: best for cleaning up an existing camera roll
AES-256-GCM on device, no account, no ads. VaultBolt's on-device scan finds intimate photos, IDs, cards and screenshots of passwords, and its zero-copies clean-up removes originals, Recently Deleted and iCloud Photos copies. Decoy vault, duress code and intruder photos on Pro. Free plan; Pro $37.99 lifetime. Try the demo.
2. Vaultaire: best documented pattern-only design
AES-256-GCM, no account, no ads, encrypted iCloud backup on the free plan, decoy vaults and a duress vault on Pro. Pattern-only unlock by design, with no Face ID. Lifetime $39.99. VaultBolt vs Vaultaire.
3. Obscura: best for zero network activity
Open-source AES-256-GCM encryption, no accounts, no cloud and no analytics. Backups are manual encrypted export files, and there is no password reset by design. VaultBolt vs Obscura.
4. Encamera: best open-source camera vault
Encrypts photos as you capture them, open source, no account, no ads, and stores albums locally or in your iCloud. Lifetime plans available. VaultBolt vs Encamera.
5. Inner Gallery: best one-time-price newcomer
ChaCha20-Poly1305 encryption, encrypted iCloud sync, a panic PIN decoy and a one-time upgrade. Very new, with few ratings so far. VaultBolt vs Inner Gallery.
6. Private Photo Vault: the most-rated vault
Over a million ratings since 2011. Decoy password, break-in reports with photo and GPS, and an encrypted Cloud Vault backup on Premium. The listing does not describe on-device file encryption. VaultBolt vs Private Photo Vault.
7. Keepsafe: the best-known name
More than 385,000 ratings. PIN and Touch ID, a Private Cloud on Premium and time-limited Safe Send. The free tier is ad supported. VaultBolt vs Keepsafe.
8. Safe Lock: most lock styles
PIN, DotLock, passwords, Face ID, a fake password with a fake gallery and break-in reports. VaultBolt vs Safe Lock.
9. Calculator#: best disguise
Looks like a working calculator and bundles a password manager, notes and a browser. Free with ads. VaultBolt vs Calculator#.
Quick comparison
| App | Encryption described | No account | No ads | Decoy | One-time price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| VaultBolt | AES-256-GCM | Yes | Yes | Yes (Pro) | $37.99 |
| Vaultaire | AES-256-GCM | Yes | Yes | Yes | $39.99 |
| Obscura | AES-256-GCM | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Encamera | Yes | Yes | Yes | Not listed | Yes |
| Inner Gallery | ChaCha20-Poly1305 | Not listed | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Private Photo Vault | Cloud backup only | Not listed | Not listed | Yes | Not listed |
| Keepsafe | "Military-grade" | Sync account | No | Not listed | No |
What to look for before you trust any vault
- Real encryption, described. "Military-grade" with no detail is a marketing phrase, not a design.
- Keys that stay with you. If the company can reset your password by email, it can also reach your data.
- A way back in. A recovery phrase or recovery file you control.
- No ads. An ad SDK inside a privacy app is a contradiction.
- Clean-up. If the originals stay in Photos and Recently Deleted, the vault protected nothing.
Frequently asked questions
What is the safest photo vault app for iPhone?
Look for an app that documents on-device encryption (such as AES-256-GCM or ChaCha20-Poly1305), needs no account, keeps keys off its servers, offers a recovery method you control and backs up only encrypted data.
Are free photo vault apps safe?
Some are. Check whether the free tier shows ads, requires an email, and whether the listing describes how files are encrypted. A free tier with ads means an ad network runs inside a privacy app.
Which photo vault app has a lifetime purchase?
From their listings: VaultBolt ($37.99), Vaultaire ($39.99), Obscura, Encamera and Inner Gallery offer a one-time option.
Do photo vault apps delete the original photos?
Many only copy them. Some offer to delete originals after import. VaultBolt's clean-up also covers Recently Deleted and iCloud Photos.
