Cryptile vs Obscura Photo Vault
Cryptile and Obscura are close: both use AES-256-GCM, need no account and publish their encryption code. Obscura unlocks with a password and has photo tools. Cryptile uses a drawn pattern and adds notes, files, search and an encrypted iCloud backup.
Try Cryptile free: join the beta on TestFlight
How do Cryptile and Obscura compare?
| Question | Cryptile | Obscura |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Plus: $19.99 a year (7-day free trial), $39.99 once | Pro: $6.99 a month, $29.99 a year (one-week free trial) or $39.99 lifetime |
| Free tier | Up to 2 vaults, 100 photos and 10 videos in total. Files, notes and folders unlimited | Up to 50 photos in one vault. Folder passwords and export are free |
| Unlock method | A pattern drawn on a grid. Use 8 or more cells | A vault password. Face ID and Touch ID are supported |
| Decoy or fake vault | A different pattern opens a different vault. No vault list | 10 vault slots, each with its own password. No vault list, so a second vault can serve as a decoy. Multiple vaults need Pro |
| Encryption as published | AES-256-GCM on every file, thumbnail and index. Core published for audit | AES-256-GCM. 600,000 rounds of key derivation. Encryption code published on GitHub |
| Cloud backup | Encrypted iCloud backup. 9-word recovery phrase, no reset | No cloud of its own. iOS system iCloud backup, and export of the whole vault as one encrypted file. No password reset |
| Account required | No | No |
| In-app camera | Yes | Yes, with a quick camera in Control Center |
| Notes and files | Photos, videos, files, folders and secure notes | Photos and videos, in folders with optional passwords |
| Platforms | iPhone and iPad | iPhone and iPad, iOS 18.2 or later |
| Search inside the vault | Yes, in Plus. Text is read from photos and PDFs on the device | Not stated. Favourites, tags and date sorting are listed |
| Sharing | Shared vaults are coming, not available yet | Share photos and videos to Messages, Mail and other apps |
Checked 2026-10-26. Obscura facts come from its App Store listing, by Orlio Inc. Check it for current terms.
When should I choose Obscura?
- You prefer a password. A long password is stronger than a pattern.
- You want photo tools: crop, collages, duplicate cleanup and Live Photo frames.
- You want a backup file you can keep on a computer or drive yourself.
When should I choose Cryptile?
- You want secure notes, files and PDFs in the same vault as your photos.
- You want search that reads text in photos and PDFs on the device.
- You want a panic pattern, and a lower yearly price.
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.