{
  "$schema": "https://appvau.lt/api/v1/openapi.json",
  "dataset": "comparison",
  "title": "iPhone photo vault feature comparison",
  "description": "Feature-by-feature comparison of App-Vault against four widely installed iPhone photo vault apps: cipher, account model, cloud architecture, disguise features, pricing and platform reach.",
  "updated": "2026-07-22",
  "source": "https://appvau.lt",
  "documentation": "https://appvau.lt/compare/",
  "publisher": "Vast Flow, LLP",
  "licence": {
    "name": "CC BY 4.0",
    "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/",
    "attribution": "App-Vault (https://appvau.lt)",
    "terms": "Free to reuse, republish and build on, including commercially, with attribution and a link to the source page."
  },
  "caveats": [
    "Published by App-Vault, which is one of the compared apps. Treat the App-Vault column as a primary source and the competitor columns as a dated reading of public material.",
    "Competitor values were read from the App Store listing and public documentation on the date in `updated`. Apps change; re-check before quoting a competitor figure as current.",
    "A blank or “—” competitor value means the feature is not documented publicly, which is not the same as knowing it is absent.",
    "Rows marked `advantage: \"app-vault\"` are our own reading of which side is stronger on that row. The underlying values are the citable part."
  ],
  "count": 4,
  "competitors": [
    {
      "competitor": "Keepsafe",
      "slug": "app-vault-vs-keepsafe",
      "page": "https://appvau.lt/compare/app-vault-vs-keepsafe/",
      "read_on": "2026-07-22",
      "summary": "App-Vault vs Keepsafe in 2026: zero-server vault design, stronger local privacy layers, and lower annual pricing vs account-based cloud sync.",
      "rows": [
        {
          "feature": "On-device file encryption",
          "what_it_means": "File-level authenticated encryption",
          "app_vault": "AES-256-GCM, per-file nonce",
          "competitor": "AES-256 (mode not disclosed)",
          "advantage": "app-vault"
        },
        {
          "feature": "Account required",
          "what_it_means": "No email, no sign-up",
          "app_vault": "No",
          "competitor": "Yes (email + password)",
          "advantage": "app-vault"
        },
        {
          "feature": "Cloud upload by default",
          "what_it_means": "Where your files rest",
          "app_vault": "No",
          "competitor": "Yes (sync on by default)",
          "advantage": "app-vault"
        },
        {
          "feature": "Server-side data",
          "what_it_means": "What exists to breach",
          "app_vault": "None",
          "competitor": "Encrypted blobs + account metadata",
          "advantage": "app-vault"
        },
        {
          "feature": "Key derivation",
          "what_it_means": "Documented parameters",
          "app_vault": "PBKDF2-SHA256 · 600k · Secure Enclave",
          "competitor": "Not disclosed",
          "advantage": "app-vault"
        },
        {
          "feature": "Calculator-style disguise",
          "what_it_means": "App hides what it is",
          "app_vault": "✓ · real calculator, 3 alternate icons",
          "competitor": "—",
          "advantage": "app-vault"
        },
        {
          "feature": "Decoy / second vault",
          "what_it_means": "Plausible deniability",
          "app_vault": "✓ Decoy Vault",
          "competitor": "✓ Private Cloud (paid)",
          "advantage": null
        },
        {
          "feature": "Intruder log",
          "what_it_means": "Failed-unlock evidence",
          "app_vault": "✓ + time & location",
          "competitor": "✓ (front camera)",
          "advantage": null
        },
        {
          "feature": "Pattern lock",
          "what_it_means": "Pattern derives the key",
          "app_vault": "✓ (5×5 grid)",
          "competitor": "— (PIN)",
          "advantage": "app-vault"
        },
        {
          "feature": "Ads inside the app",
          "what_it_means": "Ad SDKs in a privacy app",
          "app_vault": "None at any tier",
          "competitor": "Ads in free tier",
          "advantage": "app-vault"
        },
        {
          "feature": "Free tier",
          "what_it_means": "Real encryption without paying",
          "app_vault": "1 file · full crypto stack",
          "competitor": "Limited, ad-supported",
          "advantage": null
        },
        {
          "feature": "Paid plans",
          "what_it_means": null,
          "app_vault": "Weekly $3.99 · Yearly $29.99 (7-day trial)",
          "competitor": "$4.99–$9.99/mo (Premium)",
          "advantage": null
        },
        {
          "feature": "Cross-platform",
          "what_it_means": "Beyond iPhone",
          "app_vault": "iOS + iPadOS",
          "competitor": "iOS · Android · web",
          "advantage": "competitor"
        },
        {
          "feature": "Cryptography references",
          "what_it_means": "Primary sources published",
          "app_vault": "NIST · RFC · Apple Platform Security",
          "competitor": "Not published",
          "advantage": "app-vault"
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "competitor": "LockMyPix",
      "slug": "app-vault-vs-lockmypix",
      "page": "https://appvau.lt/compare/app-vault-vs-lockmypix/",
      "read_on": "2026-07-22",
      "summary": "App-Vault vs LockMyPix on iPhone: documented encryption, calculator disguise, decoy vault, and intruder log make App-Vault the fuller 2026 pick.",
      "rows": [
        {
          "feature": "On-device file encryption",
          "what_it_means": "File-level authenticated encryption",
          "app_vault": "AES-256-GCM",
          "competitor": "AES-256 (mode not disclosed)",
          "advantage": "app-vault"
        },
        {
          "feature": "Account required",
          "what_it_means": "No email, no sign-up",
          "app_vault": "No",
          "competitor": "No",
          "advantage": null
        },
        {
          "feature": "Cloud upload by default",
          "what_it_means": "Offline by default",
          "app_vault": "No",
          "competitor": "No",
          "advantage": null
        },
        {
          "feature": "Calculator-style disguise",
          "what_it_means": "App hides what it is",
          "app_vault": "✓ · real calculator, 3 alternate icons",
          "competitor": "—",
          "advantage": "app-vault"
        },
        {
          "feature": "Decoy / fake vault",
          "what_it_means": "Plausible deniability",
          "app_vault": "✓ Decoy Vault",
          "competitor": "✓ Fake vault",
          "advantage": null
        },
        {
          "feature": "Intruder log",
          "what_it_means": "Failed-unlock evidence",
          "app_vault": "✓ + time & location",
          "competitor": "—",
          "advantage": "app-vault"
        },
        {
          "feature": "Pattern lock",
          "what_it_means": "Pattern derives the key",
          "app_vault": "✓ (5×5 grid, key-deriving)",
          "competitor": "✓ (pattern)",
          "advantage": null
        },
        {
          "feature": "Key derivation documented",
          "what_it_means": "Primary sources published",
          "app_vault": "PBKDF2-SHA256 · 600k · Secure Enclave",
          "competitor": "Not disclosed",
          "advantage": "app-vault"
        },
        {
          "feature": "File shredder",
          "what_it_means": "Multi-pass overwrite",
          "app_vault": "✓ 3-pass overwrite",
          "competitor": "—",
          "advantage": "app-vault"
        },
        {
          "feature": "Ads inside the app",
          "what_it_means": null,
          "app_vault": "None at any tier",
          "competitor": "Present in some builds",
          "advantage": "app-vault"
        },
        {
          "feature": "Free tier",
          "what_it_means": null,
          "app_vault": "1 file · full crypto stack",
          "competitor": "Variable",
          "advantage": null
        },
        {
          "feature": "Paid plans",
          "what_it_means": null,
          "app_vault": "Weekly $3.99 · Yearly $29.99 (7-day trial)",
          "competitor": "Lifetime (variable pricing)",
          "advantage": null
        },
        {
          "feature": "Cross-platform",
          "what_it_means": "Beyond iPhone",
          "app_vault": "iOS + iPadOS",
          "competitor": "iOS + Android",
          "advantage": "competitor"
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "competitor": "Private Photo Vault",
      "slug": "app-vault-vs-private-photo-vault",
      "page": "https://appvau.lt/compare/app-vault-vs-private-photo-vault/",
      "read_on": "2026-07-22",
      "summary": "App-Vault vs Private Photo Vault in 2026: no ads, stronger on-device privacy layers, and a calculator disguise vs PPV's older free ad-supported model.",
      "rows": [
        {
          "feature": "On-device file encryption",
          "what_it_means": "File-level authenticated encryption",
          "app_vault": "AES-256-GCM",
          "competitor": "AES-256 (mode not disclosed)",
          "advantage": "app-vault"
        },
        {
          "feature": "Account required",
          "what_it_means": null,
          "app_vault": "No",
          "competitor": "No",
          "advantage": null
        },
        {
          "feature": "Ads inside the app",
          "what_it_means": "Ad SDKs in a privacy app",
          "app_vault": "None at any tier",
          "competitor": "Yes — ad-supported free tier",
          "advantage": "app-vault"
        },
        {
          "feature": "Third-party advertising SDKs",
          "what_it_means": "Per privacy nutrition label",
          "app_vault": "None",
          "competitor": "Present",
          "advantage": "app-vault"
        },
        {
          "feature": "Calculator-style disguise",
          "what_it_means": "App hides what it is",
          "app_vault": "✓ · real calculator, 3 alternate icons",
          "competitor": "—",
          "advantage": "app-vault"
        },
        {
          "feature": "Decoy feature",
          "what_it_means": "Plausible deniability",
          "app_vault": "✓ Decoy Vault (separate catalog)",
          "competitor": "✓ Fake Passcode",
          "advantage": null
        },
        {
          "feature": "Intruder log",
          "what_it_means": "Failed-unlock evidence",
          "app_vault": "✓ + time & location",
          "competitor": "✓ Break-in Report",
          "advantage": null
        },
        {
          "feature": "Cloud sync",
          "what_it_means": "Where backups live",
          "app_vault": "Opt-in · client-side encrypted to YOUR iCloud",
          "competitor": "Optional Enchanted Cloud sync",
          "advantage": "app-vault"
        },
        {
          "feature": "Pattern lock",
          "what_it_means": "Pattern derives the key",
          "app_vault": "✓ (5×5 grid)",
          "competitor": "— (PIN)",
          "advantage": "app-vault"
        },
        {
          "feature": "File shredder",
          "what_it_means": "Multi-pass overwrite",
          "app_vault": "✓ 3-pass overwrite",
          "competitor": "—",
          "advantage": "app-vault"
        },
        {
          "feature": "Free tier",
          "what_it_means": null,
          "app_vault": "1 file · full crypto stack",
          "competitor": "Unlimited with ads",
          "advantage": "competitor"
        },
        {
          "feature": "Paid plans",
          "what_it_means": null,
          "app_vault": "Weekly $3.99 · Yearly $29.99 (7-day trial)",
          "competitor": "Subscription tiers",
          "advantage": null
        },
        {
          "feature": "Cryptography references",
          "what_it_means": "Primary sources published",
          "app_vault": "NIST · RFC · Apple Platform Security",
          "competitor": "Not documented",
          "advantage": "app-vault"
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "competitor": "Vaultaire",
      "slug": "app-vault-vs-vaultaire",
      "page": "https://appvau.lt/compare/app-vault-vs-vaultaire/",
      "read_on": "2026-07-22",
      "summary": "App-Vault vs Vaultaire in 2026: same on-device AES-256 base, but App-Vault adds a real calculator disguise, intruder selfie, and file shredder.",
      "rows": [
        {
          "feature": "On-device file encryption",
          "what_it_means": "File-level authenticated encryption",
          "app_vault": "AES-256-GCM",
          "competitor": "AES-256-GCM",
          "advantage": null
        },
        {
          "feature": "Secure Enclave key protection",
          "what_it_means": "Keys wrapped by the hardware chip",
          "app_vault": "✓",
          "competitor": "✓",
          "advantage": null
        },
        {
          "feature": "Zero-knowledge architecture",
          "what_it_means": "No server, no account, no telemetry on content",
          "app_vault": "✓",
          "competitor": "✓",
          "advantage": null
        },
        {
          "feature": "Offline by default",
          "what_it_means": "No network calls unless you opt in",
          "app_vault": "✓",
          "competitor": "✓",
          "advantage": null
        },
        {
          "feature": "Account required",
          "what_it_means": "No email, no sign-up",
          "app_vault": "No",
          "competitor": "No",
          "advantage": null
        },
        {
          "feature": "Key derivation",
          "what_it_means": "Pattern → key, documented parameters",
          "app_vault": "PBKDF2-SHA256 · 600k iterations",
          "competitor": "Pattern-derived (PBKDF2)",
          "advantage": null
        },
        {
          "feature": "Pattern lock derives the key",
          "what_it_means": "A wrong pattern yields a wrong key, not an error",
          "app_vault": "✓ (5×5 grid)",
          "competitor": "✓",
          "advantage": null
        },
        {
          "feature": "Calculator-style disguise",
          "what_it_means": "App hides what it is on the home screen",
          "app_vault": "✓ · real calculator, 3 alternate icons",
          "competitor": "—",
          "advantage": "app-vault"
        },
        {
          "feature": "Decoy / second vault",
          "what_it_means": "Plausible deniability under a glance",
          "app_vault": "✓ Decoy Vault",
          "competitor": "✓ (duress-style)",
          "advantage": null
        },
        {
          "feature": "Duress / panic mode",
          "what_it_means": "A pattern that destroys or diverts",
          "app_vault": "— (planned 1.1)",
          "competitor": "✓ Duress vault",
          "advantage": "competitor"
        },
        {
          "feature": "Intruder selfie",
          "what_it_means": "Front-camera log on failed unlocks",
          "app_vault": "✓ + time & location",
          "competitor": "—",
          "advantage": "app-vault"
        },
        {
          "feature": "Recovery phrase",
          "what_it_means": "Get back in if you forget the pattern",
          "app_vault": "✓ BIP-39 · 12 words",
          "competitor": "✓ (Pro Annual and up)",
          "advantage": null
        },
        {
          "feature": "Encrypted vault sharing",
          "what_it_means": "Hand a vault over without exposing keys",
          "app_vault": "— (planned 1.1)",
          "competitor": "✓",
          "advantage": "competitor"
        },
        {
          "feature": "Encrypted iCloud backup",
          "what_it_means": "Backup never readable server-side",
          "app_vault": "✓ opt-in, client-side file-level",
          "competitor": "✓ opt-in",
          "advantage": null
        },
        {
          "feature": "File shredder",
          "what_it_means": "Multi-pass overwrite before delete",
          "app_vault": "✓ 3-pass overwrite",
          "competitor": "—",
          "advantage": "app-vault"
        },
        {
          "feature": "Documents as well as media",
          "what_it_means": "PDFs and files, not just photos",
          "app_vault": "✓",
          "competitor": "✓",
          "advantage": null
        },
        {
          "feature": "Face ID quick re-unlock",
          "what_it_means": "Convenience after the first pattern of the day",
          "app_vault": "✓",
          "competitor": "—",
          "advantage": "app-vault"
        },
        {
          "feature": "No ads inside the app",
          "what_it_means": "No ad SDKs in the binary",
          "app_vault": "✓",
          "competitor": "✓",
          "advantage": null
        },
        {
          "feature": "Free tier",
          "what_it_means": "Real encryption without paying",
          "app_vault": "1 file · full crypto stack",
          "competitor": "5 vaults · 100 files each",
          "advantage": "competitor"
        },
        {
          "feature": "Cheapest paid entry",
          "what_it_means": null,
          "app_vault": "Weekly $3.99",
          "competitor": "Monthly $1.99",
          "advantage": "competitor"
        },
        {
          "feature": "Lifetime option",
          "what_it_means": "Pay once, own it",
          "app_vault": "—",
          "competitor": "$29.99",
          "advantage": "competitor"
        }
      ]
    }
  ]
}