Cryptile vs Keepsafe
Cryptile and Keepsafe both hide photos and videos behind a code on iPhone and iPad. Keepsafe offers a private cloud and an Android app; Cryptile uses a drawn pattern, publishes its encryption core for audit and states its limits.
How do Cryptile and Keepsafe compare?
| Question | Cryptile | Keepsafe |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Plus: $1.99 a week, $5.99 a month, $19.99 a year (7-day free trial), $39.99 once. Family: $49.99 a year or $99.99 once | In-app purchases listed from $4.99 to $35.99, including Monthly Premium $9.99 and Yearly Premium $23.99 |
| Free tier | Up to 3 vaults, 100 photos and 10 videos in total. Files, notes and folders unlimited | Free download with in-app purchases. Limits not stated |
| Unlock method | A pattern drawn on a grid. Use 8 or more cells | A PIN code. Touch ID is also mentioned |
| Decoy or fake vault | A different pattern opens a different vault. No vault list | A fake PIN with "decoy albums" |
| Encryption as published | AES-256-GCM on every file, thumbnail and index. Core published for audit | Encryption is named, but technical details are not published on the pages checked |
| Cloud backup | Encrypted iCloud backup. 9-word recovery phrase, no reset | "Backed up privately". Private Cloud stores up to 10,000 items in Keepsafe |
| Account required | No | Not stated |
| In-app camera | Yes | Not stated |
| Notes and files | Photos, videos, files, folders and secure notes | Photos, videos and documents |
| Platforms | iPhone and iPad | iPhone, iPad and Apple Vision. The website also lists Android |
| 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 | Safe Send shares pictures for a limited time with people you choose |
Checked 2026-10-23. Keepsafe facts come from its website and its App Store listing. Check both for current terms.
When should I choose Keepsafe?
- You also use Android and want one vault app on both.
- You want a private cloud with its own storage today.
- You want to share pictures for a limited time. Cryptile has no sharing yet.
When should I choose Cryptile?
- You want to read the encryption core, its threat model and its test vectors before you trust it.
- You want no account, and keys that never leave your phone.
- You want a pattern, decoy vaults and a panic pattern in one plan.
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.