| Feature | PicWay | Private Photo Vault |
|---|---|---|
| What you can keep | Photos, videos, Live Photos, files like PDF, Word, Excel, EPUB and ZIP, audio files, and notes. | Private photos and videos, kept hidden, locked and organized. Source |
| How it opens | A pattern you set just for the vault: at least 6 dots on a 5×5 grid. Face ID can’t open it. | A separate vault PIN, alphanumeric password or pattern. You can also require Face ID and the PIN together. Source |
| Account | No PicWay account. iCloud sync uses the iCloud you’re already signed in to. | No account for the on-device vault. An account and internet are needed for backup and sync. Source |
| Where backups go | iCloud sync is on by default. The vault is encrypted on your iPhone and stored in your own iCloud, where only you can open it. | Cloud Vault is optional. With it on, files are encrypted on your device before they reach the developer’s servers, using your key. Source |
| Encryption | AES-256-GCM on your iPhone before anything is saved, with a separate key for each item. | The FAQ says it uses AES-256 encryption. Source |
| If you forget | Answer your three questions, or enter the 12 words you wrote down. PicWay doesn’t keep the words. | A recovery email, if you set one up, recovers the app or album password. The Cloud Vault password can’t be recovered by the team. Source |
| Tracking | The app says it has no accounts, ads or behavioral tracking. | The App Store privacy label lists Usage Data under Data Used to Track You. Source |
Which to use
If you want a separate PIN, password or pattern and an optional backup to the developer’s servers, Private Photo Vault’s Cloud Vault describes that. If you want photos, files and documents behind a PIN or Face ID with a private cloud backup, Keepsafe describes that. If you want one app that also sorts your photo library, holds files, audio and notes, opens with its own pattern, comes back with 12 words, and syncs encrypted to your own iCloud with no account, PicWay’s Private Vault fits.
PicWay and Keepsafe
Keepsafe is another app built for locking away private photos and files. Here is how it lines up with PicWay’s Private Vault, using Keepsafe’s product page (source) and its App Store page (source).
| PicWay Private Vault | Keepsafe | |
|---|---|---|
| What you can keep | Photos, videos, files, audio files, and notes | Private photos, videos, files and documents |
| How it opens | Its own pattern; Face ID can’t open it | PIN code, fingerprint or Face ID |
| Encryption | AES-256-GCM on your iPhone before saving | AES-256, on the device and in your private backup |
| Where backups go | With iCloud sync on (the default), encrypted in your own iCloud | Cloud storage; Private Cloud stores up to 10,000 items in Keepsafe |
| Tracking | The app says it has no accounts, ads or behavioral tracking | The App Store privacy label lists Usage Data under Data Used to Track You |
What else the PicWay vault does
- Locks on its own. Auto-Lock kicks in after a while untouched, and the vault won’t open while your screen is being recorded.
- Lives in your photo app. The same app sorts your library: swipe left to set a photo aside, and sort through Similar photos.
What about the iPhone Hidden album and Google Photos Locked Folder?
Apple says the Hidden album unlocks with Face ID, Touch ID or your passcode, and Google says your Locked Folder password is the same as your Face ID, Touch ID or device passcode (Apple, Google). We compare them side by side with PicWay in Hidden Album vs. Locked Folder vs. PicWay.
About this page
This page is written by the PicWay team. Everything about Private Photo Vault and Keepsafe comes from their own websites and App Store pages, checked on November 2, 2026. Features can change, so follow the Source links for the latest.
Frequently asked questions
Does PicWay’s Private Vault need an account?
No. PicWay has no accounts. With iCloud sync on, photos, videos, files and albums are stored encrypted in the iCloud you’re already signed in to.
Can I keep audio, PDFs and notes in PicWay’s vault, not just photos?
Yes. Add TXT, Markdown, PDF, Word, Excel, ZIP, EPUB and other files, play audio files right in the vault, and write notes that are encrypted and stored there.
Can Face ID open PicWay’s Private Vault?
No. The vault opens with the pattern you set for it, and Face ID can’t open it. If you forget the pattern, your three questions or your 12 words get you back in.
What does Keepsafe say about its backups?
Keepsafe’s product page says it backs up photos with cloud storage and uses AES-256 on the device and in your private backup. Its App Store page says Private Cloud stores up to 10,000 items in Keepsafe.