Compare Vaulteo and the Apple Hidden album before you hide another photo

Apple's Hidden album does one job well: it takes a photo out of your library view. It was never built to stop someone who has your phone and your passcode.

Use the Hidden album when it is enough

It costs nothing, it's already on your iPhone, and since iOS 16 it asks for Face ID before it opens. For photos you just don't want in your grid, like receipts, screenshots or a surprise gift, it's enough.

See where the Hidden album stops

It opens with your passcode. Face ID guards it, and your passcode stands behind Face ID. Anyone you've told your passcode, or who watched you type it, gets in.

It syncs everywhere. With iCloud Photos on, hidden photos go to iCloud and to every Mac and iPad on your Apple Account. Each of those devices has its own passcode, and each one is another door.

It has no key of its own. iOS encrypts your whole phone. The album adds a lock screen, not a separate key.

See what Vaulteo adds

Vaulteo seals each photo with AES-256-GCM, using a key made from your pattern through 600,000 rounds of PBKDF2-SHA512. Your passcode plays no part. Your vault stays on this iPhone, out of iCloud and out of backups, so no other device holds a copy.

Then it adds what a hidden folder never could:

• A decoy vault for every extra pattern you draw.
• A duress pattern that wipes your other vaults.
• A private camera that skips Photos completely.
• On-device AI that reads the words in your sealed photos and answers questions about them.

Pick the right one

Move photos from Hidden into Vaulteo

1. In Photos, open the Hidden album, select the photos and tap Unhide, so the photo picker can see them.
2. Open Vaulteo, draw your pattern, tap Add and pick them.
3. Vaulteo seals them, then offers to delete the originals.
4. Open Recently Deleted in Photos and delete them there too.