Cryptile vs Privault
Cryptile and Privault both lock photos and videos behind a code on iPhone and iPad. Privault opens from a keypad and also runs on Mac; Cryptile uses a drawn pattern, keeps an encrypted iCloud backup and publishes its encryption core for audit.
Try Cryptile free: join the beta on TestFlight
How do Cryptile and Privault compare?
| Question | Cryptile | Privault |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Plus: $19.99 a year (7-day free trial), $39.99 once | In-app purchases listed: Pro Service/Month $3.49, Pro Service/Year $24.99, Permanent Pro $45.99, Remove ADs $2.99 |
| Free tier | Up to 2 vaults, 100 photos and 10 videos in total. Files, notes and folders unlimited | Free download with in-app purchases. A paid ad removal is listed. Limits not stated |
| Unlock method | A pattern drawn on a grid. Use 8 or more cells | A digit passcode on a "locker keypad interface" |
| Decoy or fake vault | A different pattern opens a different vault. No vault list | A secondary passcode opens a secondary folder |
| Emergency code | Panic pattern (Plus) destroys this device's vault keys | An "Erase-all Passcode" erases all secret files |
| Encryption as published | AES-256-GCM on every file, thumbnail and index. Core published for audit | "Encrypted storage" is named. Cipher not stated |
| Cloud backup | Encrypted iCloud backup. 9-word recovery phrase, no reset | Not stated. Import and export use the camera roll or a built-in Wi-Fi server |
| Account required | No | Not stated |
| In-app camera | Yes | Not stated |
| Notes and files | Photos, videos, files, folders and secure notes | Photos, videos, files and audio memos from a built-in voice recorder |
| 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 2026-10-26. Privault facts come from its App Store listing by Binspir Technologies Co., Ltd. Check it for current terms.
When should I choose Privault?
- You want the vault to open from a keypad that looks like a normal screen.
- You want a Mac version today. Cryptile has no Mac app yet.
- You record voice memos and want them inside the vault.
- You keep unusual video formats. The listing says its player decodes up to 150 formats.
When should I choose Cryptile?
- You want a backup. Cryptile keeps an encrypted iCloud backup you restore with a 9-word phrase.
- You want an in-app camera and secure notes in the same vault.
- You want to read the encryption core, its threat model and its test vectors first.
How do the emergency codes differ?
Both apps have a code for when someone forces you to open the vault. Privault's erase-all passcode erases all secret files. Cryptile's panic pattern destroys this device's vault keys instead.
After a panic pattern, no vault on the phone opens. You restore from your recovery phrase later. Without the phrase, the vault is gone.
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.