Comparison
Cloakbox vs Apple's Hidden album
The Hidden album in Apple Photos is built in, costs nothing and is locked by default with Face ID, Touch ID or your passcode. If you only want a few photos and videos out of the main library on Apple devices, it is enough. Cloakbox is for when you want a PIN that is not your phone passcode, a place for documents as well as photos, search inside the vault, or the same app on Android.
| Feature | Apple Hidden album | Cloakbox |
|---|---|---|
| Lock | Locked by default since iOS 16, iPadOS 16.1 and macOS Ventura. Opens with Face ID, Touch ID or the device passcode. The lock can be turned off in Settings. | PIN, Face ID or fingerprint |
| Separate secret | None. It uses the device's Face ID, Touch ID or passcode. | Its own PIN, plus a recovery key |
| What it holds | Photos and videos in the Photos library | Photos, videos, PDFs and other documents |
| Where it works | iPhone, iPad, Mac and Apple Vision Pro | iPhone and Android |
| Cloud | With iCloud Photos, what you hide on one device is hidden on all of them. iCloud Photos is end-to-end encrypted only with Advanced Data Protection turned on; by default Apple holds the keys. | Encrypted backup to your own iCloud or Google Drive, encrypted before it leaves the phone (Premium) |
| Cost | Built into the system; Apple states no price | Free up to 100 items, Premium for more |
Where Apple Hidden album is the better choice
- You only want a few photos out of the main grid on Apple devices, with no setup, no cost and no item limit.
- You want hidden photos to stay hidden on iPhone, iPad, Mac and Vision Pro automatically, through iCloud Photos.
- You do not want to move files out of the Photos library, so edits, Live Photos, albums and system integration stay as they are.
Where Cloakbox is the better choice
- You want a lock that is not your phone passcode. The Hidden album opens with the device's Face ID, Touch ID or passcode; Cloakbox has its own PIN and a recovery key.
- You keep documents as well as photos. Cloakbox holds PDFs and other documents and scans paper with the camera straight into the vault.
- You want to find things again. Cloakbox searches the vault by description and by the text inside photos and documents, on the phone.
- You use Android, or both. Cloakbox is made for iPhone and Android; a backup does not cross between the two platforms yet.
Pricing
Apple Hidden album
Part of iOS, iPadOS, macOS and visionOS. Apple states no price for it.
Cloakbox
Free up to 100 items, with search, recovery key, trash and export included. Premium is $4.99 monthly, $19.99 yearly, or $39.99 once.
Sources
- Hidden and Recently Deleted are locked by default and open with Face ID, Touch ID or the passcode; the lock can be turned off in Settings. https://support.apple.com/guide/iphone/delete-or-hide-photos-and-videos-iphb4defbde9/ios (checked )
- Lock available since iOS 16, iPadOS 16.1 and macOS Ventura; album visibility; hiding syncs through iCloud Photos; supported devices; applies to photos and videos. https://support.apple.com/en-us/104987 (checked )
- iCloud Photos is end-to-end encrypted only with Advanced Data Protection. https://support.apple.com/en-us/102651 (checked )