Cryptile vs Encamera
Cryptile and Encamera both encrypt photos and videos on iPhone and iPad, with no account. Encamera centres on a private camera and opens its code for review. Cryptile uses a drawn pattern, adds decoy vaults, notes and files, and names its cipher.
Try Cryptile free: join the beta on TestFlight
How do Cryptile and Encamera compare?
| Question | Cryptile | Encamera |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Plus: $19.99 a year (7-day free trial), $39.99 once | In-app purchases listed from $1.99 a week to $99.99 lifetime, including 12 Months at $19.99 and Premium Yearly at $17.99. The yearly plan has a 7-day free trial |
| Free tier | Up to 2 vaults, 100 photos and 10 videos in total. Files, notes and folders unlimited | Free download. Premium adds unlimited photos, unlimited albums and iCloud storage. Free limits not stated |
| Unlock method | A pattern drawn on a grid. Use 8 or more cells | Face ID and a PIN |
| Decoy or fake vault | A different pattern opens a different vault. No vault list | Not stated. Release notes mention hidden albums |
| Encryption as published | AES-256-GCM on every file, thumbnail and index. Core published for audit | Encrypts all media you add or capture. Code "open for review". Cipher not stated in the listing |
| Cloud backup | Encrypted iCloud backup. 9-word recovery phrase, no reset | Storage on the device or your personal iCloud, chosen album by album. iCloud is a Premium feature |
| Account required | No | No |
| In-app camera | Yes | Yes, plus a lock-screen capture widget |
| Notes and files | Photos, videos, files, folders and secure notes | Photos, videos and Live Photos. The listing also mentions document storage |
| Platforms | iPhone and iPad | iPhone, iPad and Apple Vision |
| Search inside the vault | Yes, in Plus. Text is read from photos and PDFs on the device | Not stated |
| Sharing | Shared vaults are coming, not available yet | Not stated. You can share from other apps into Encamera |
Checked 2026-10-26. Encamera facts come from its App Store listing, by Encamera LLC. Check it for current terms.
When should I choose Encamera?
- You mainly want a private camera, including a widget on the lock screen.
- You want encrypted albums stored in your own iCloud and reachable from other devices.
- You want an app that also runs on Apple Vision.
When should I choose Cryptile?
- You want the cipher named, with a threat model and test vectors to read.
- You want decoy vaults and a panic pattern in one plan.
- You want secure notes and files next to your photos.
- You want two simple prices: $19.99 a year or $39.99 once.
What are the limits of Cryptile?
These apply to any pattern-based vault, ours included.
- Short patterns are weak. A pattern is weaker than a passphrase. Use 8 or more cells.
- Screenshots win. View-once cannot stop a screenshot.
- No reset. Lose the pattern and the recovery phrase, and the vault is gone.
Read the full security page and the Plus page.