Cryptile vs Hide it Pro
Cryptile and Hide it Pro both keep photos and videos behind a lock on iPhone and iPad. Hide it Pro can pretend to have crashed and runs on Mac. Cryptile uses a drawn pattern, names its encryption and publishes its core for audit.
Try Cryptile free: join the beta on TestFlight
How do Cryptile and Hide it Pro compare?
| Question | Cryptile | Hide it Pro |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Plus: $19.99 a year (7-day free trial), $39.99 once | Free download. In-app purchases listed: Cloud Storage $9.99, an optional monthly subscription, and Password Reset $4.99 |
| 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 lock screen. The release notes mention a PIN login screen |
| Decoy or fake vault | A different pattern opens a different vault. No vault list | An "Escape Unlock code" makes the app look empty. A disguise screen makes it look crashed |
| Encryption as published | AES-256-GCM on every file, thumbnail and index. Core published for audit | Not stated |
| Cloud backup | Encrypted iCloud backup. 9-word recovery phrase, no reset | Cloud backup. Unlimited cloud space with the monthly subscription. Provider not stated |
| Account required | No | Not stated |
| In-app camera | Yes | Yes |
| Notes and files | Photos, videos, files, folders and secure notes | Photos, videos, GIFs, audio and documents in folders. The release notes mention a Notes area |
| Platforms | iPhone and iPad | iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, Mac (M1 or later) 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 | Email photos and videos from inside the app. USB export |
Checked 2026-10-26. Hide it Pro facts come from its App Store listing, by Anuj Tenani. Check it for current terms.
When should I choose Hide it Pro?
- You want the app to look crashed or empty when someone else opens it.
- You want to move files to and from a Mac or PC over USB.
- You want a paid password reset if you forget your code. Cryptile has no reset.
When should I choose Cryptile?
- You want the cipher named, and the encryption core published for audit.
- You want no account, and keys that never leave your phone.
- You want decoy vaults, where a second pattern opens a different vault, plus a panic pattern.
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.