Cryptile vs Folder Lock
Folder Lock is an all-purpose locker for iPhone: photos, documents, wallet cards, passwords, contacts and audio, with backup to Google Drive, OneDrive or Dropbox. Cryptile is a photo, video, file and note vault with a drawn pattern, decoy vaults and a published encryption core.
Try Cryptile free: join the beta on TestFlight
How do Cryptile and Folder Lock compare?
| Question | Cryptile | Folder Lock |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Plus: $19.99 a year (7-day free trial), $39.99 once | In-app purchases: Unlocked Feature Pack $3.99, Folder Lock Subscription $39.99. Period not shown |
| Free tier | Up to 2 vaults, 100 photos and 10 videos in total. Files, notes and folders unlimited | Free download. Limits not stated |
| Unlock method | A pattern drawn on a grid. Use 8 or more cells | A password. Face ID login was added in 2019 |
| Decoy or fake vault | A different pattern opens a different vault. No vault list | Not stated. Lists a Panic Switch |
| Encryption as published | AES-256-GCM on every file, thumbnail and index. Core published for audit | Says it can "lock and encrypt files". Cipher not stated |
| Cloud backup | Encrypted iCloud backup. 9-word recovery phrase, no reset | Back up and sync with Google Drive, OneDrive and Dropbox |
| Account required | No | Not stated. Release notes describe an in-app account deletion option |
| In-app camera | Yes, with GPS on or off | Import from Camera is listed |
| Notes and files | Photos, videos, files, folders and secure notes | Photos, videos, documents, notes, audio, contacts, wallet cards and a password manager |
| Platforms | iPhone and iPad | iPhone, iPad, iPod touch and Apple Vision |
| Search inside the vault | Yes, in Plus. Text is read from photos and PDFs on the device | Not stated |
| Ads and tracking | No ads, no tracking | Listing says it contains advertising. Usage data may be used to track you |
| Failed-unlock alerts | No | Takes images of unauthorised login attempts and logs them |
Checked 2026-10-26. Folder Lock facts come from its App Store listing (NewSoftwares.net). Folder Lock Pro is a separate app and is not covered here. Check the listing for current terms.
When should I choose Folder Lock?
- You want one app for photos, passwords, wallet cards and contacts.
- You want backup to Google Drive, OneDrive or Dropbox instead of iCloud.
- You want photos taken of failed unlock attempts. Cryptile does not do this.
- You want to move files to and from a computer over Wi-Fi.
When should I choose Cryptile?
- You want the cipher named and the encryption core open to read.
- You want no account, no ads, and keys that never leave your phone.
- You want decoy vaults: any other pattern opens its own vault, and no list shows how many exist.
- You want a panic pattern that destroys this device's keys (Plus).
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.
- It is not a password manager. Use iCloud Keychain or a dedicated manager for passwords.
- No reset. Lose the pattern and the recovery phrase, and the vault is gone.
Read the full security page and the Plus page.