Cryptile vs SPV Photo Vault
Cryptile and SPV both lock photos and videos behind a code on iPhone and iPad. SPV keeps everything on the device with no server; Cryptile also keeps an encrypted iCloud backup you restore with a 9-word phrase.
This page covers SPV - Secret Photo Vault by Maple Labs Co., Ltd. Other apps use similar names.
Try Cryptile free: join the beta on TestFlight
How do Cryptile and SPV compare?
| Question | Cryptile | SPV - Secret Photo Vault |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Plus: $19.99 a year (7-day free trial), $39.99 once | In-app purchases listed as Premium at $4.99, $6.99, $12.99, $29.99, $35.99 and $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 with in-app purchases. Limits not stated |
| Unlock method | A pattern drawn on a grid. Use 8 or more cells | A PIN |
| Decoy or fake vault | A different pattern opens a different vault. No vault list | Not stated |
| 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 | None. The listing says it keeps no photos or data on any server |
| Account required | No | Not stated |
| In-app camera | Yes | Not stated |
| Notes and files | Photos, videos, files, folders and secure notes | Photos, videos, contacts and passwords. A private browser |
| 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. SPV facts come from its App Store listing. Check it for current terms.
What happens if I delete SPV?
SPV's listing is direct about this. If you delete the app, the photos and data saved in it are deleted too.
Deleting Cryptile also removes the vault from that phone. Its encrypted iCloud backup stays, and your 9-word phrase restores it.
When should I choose SPV?
- You want nothing to leave the phone, not even an encrypted backup.
- You want contacts, passwords and a private browser in the same app.
- You want a Mac version today. Cryptile has no Mac app yet.
When should I choose Cryptile?
- You want a backup that survives a lost phone or a deleted app.
- You want a decoy. A different pattern opens a different vault.
- You want to read the encryption core, its threat model and its test vectors first.
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.