Cryptile vs Private Photo Vault
Cryptile and Private Photo Vault both lock photos and videos behind a code on iPhone and iPad. Private Photo Vault also runs on Mac and offers a password-based cloud backup; Cryptile uses a drawn pattern, publishes its encryption core for audit and states its limits.
Try Cryptile free: join the beta on TestFlight
How do Cryptile and Private Photo Vault compare?
| Question | Cryptile | Private Photo Vault |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Plus: $19.99 a year (7-day free trial), $39.99 once | In-app purchases listed at $6.99, $12.99, $35.99 and $39.99, including an Upgrade at $39.99. Periods not shown in the listing |
| Free tier | Up to 2 vaults, 100 photos and 10 videos in total. Files, notes and folders unlimited | Free download. The free version does not back up to Cloud Vault. Other limits not stated |
| Unlock method | A pattern drawn on a grid. Use 8 or more cells | Password, PIN or a pattern/dot lock |
| Decoy or fake vault | A different pattern opens a different vault. No vault list | A decoy password |
| Encryption as published | AES-256-GCM on every file, thumbnail and index. Core published for audit | Cipher not stated on the pages checked. For Cloud Vault, the developer states its employees cannot view photos or videos when a Cloud Vault password is set |
| Cloud backup | Encrypted iCloud backup. 9-word recovery phrase, no reset | Cloud Vault, an encrypted cloud backup of up to 50 GB. Password-based |
| Account required | No | Not stated |
| In-app camera | Yes | Yes |
| Notes and files | Photos, videos, files, folders and secure notes | Not stated |
| Platforms | iPhone and iPad | iPhone, iPad, 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 | Not stated |
Checked 2026-10-25. Private Photo Vault facts come from its App Store listing. Check it for current terms.
When should I choose Private Photo Vault?
- You want one vault app on iPhone, iPad and Mac today. Cryptile has no Mac app yet.
- You want a cloud backup protected by a password you set.
- You want a break-in report. The listing describes one with a photo and GPS location.
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.