Comparison
Cloakbox vs Private Photo Vault
Private Photo Vault is a widely used vault app for iPhone and Android. Its local vault works without an account, the free version carries ads, and its optional Cloud Vault is a Premium feature whose backup is deleted when Premium ends. Cloakbox has no ads in any tier, keeps the backup in your own iCloud or Google Drive, gives you a recovery key from the start, and can search what is inside the vault.
| Feature | Private Photo Vault | Cloakbox |
|---|---|---|
| Platforms | iPhone and Android | iPhone and Android |
| Account | The local vault works without an account and is offline by default; Cloud Vault needs an account. | None |
| Forgotten PIN | Recovery through a recovery e-mail, only if it was set up at first use. | Recovery key, no e-mail needed |
| Cloud copy | Cloud Vault: optional, Premium, encrypted on the device (AES-256) before upload, and not automatic. The free version does not back up. | Your own iCloud or Google Drive, encrypted before it leaves the phone (Premium) |
| When you stop paying | Photos stored in the app remain accessible; the Cloud Backup is deleted. | Nothing is deleted. The backup in your own cloud is never removed by us; you cannot run new backups. |
| Ads | Google Play: contains ads. Ad-Free is a Premium feature. | None, in any tier |
| Tracking | App Store privacy label, declared by the developer: Usage Data used to track you, and third-party advertising. | No advertising, no tracking |
| Encryption | Files stored in the app use AES encryption (AES-256 according to the FAQ). | Every file gets its own key (AES-256-GCM); the PIN is stretched with Argon2id |
| What it holds | Photos and videos; the Play listing also mentions IDs and cards. | Photos, videos, PDFs and other documents |
| Search | The features page mentions filtering albums by file type. It does not advertise search by description or by recognised text. | Search by description and by text inside, on the phone |
| Second vault | A decoy password opens an alternate vault; Play lists Fake PIN under Premium. | A second vault behind a different PIN (Premium) |
| Wrong PIN | Break-in report with a photo and the GPS location of the attempt; Play lists it under Premium. | Photo of whoever enters a wrong PIN (Premium) |
Where Private Photo Vault is the better choice
- You want break-in reports that record the GPS location as well as a photo.
- You prefer PIN recovery by e-mail to a recovery key you have to keep yourself.
- You want a cloud run by the vendor and a long-standing app with a very large number of store ratings.
Where Cloakbox is the better choice
- You want no ads and no tracking, also in the free version.
- You do not want a cloud copy that disappears when a subscription ends. Cloakbox's backup sits in your own iCloud or Google Drive and is never removed by us.
- You want a way back in that does not depend on having set up a recovery e-mail at first use. Cloakbox gives you a recovery key during setup and makes you confirm you saved it.
- You want to find things. Cloakbox searches the vault by description and by the text inside photos and documents, on the phone.
- You keep documents. Cloakbox holds PDFs and other documents and has a document scanner.
Pricing
Private Photo Vault
Free to download, with ads. Premium is an auto-renewing subscription; the US App Store also lists a "Private Photo Vault Upgrade" in-app purchase at $39.99 and price points of $6.99, $12.99 and $35.99. The listing does not say which price belongs to which period.
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
- Private Photo Vault is available for iPhone and Android; Cloud Vault is optional and encrypted before upload. https://privatephotovault.com/ (checked )
- US App Store listing: in-app purchase prices, privacy label, break-in report. https://apps.apple.com/us/app/private-photo-vault-pic-safe/id417571834 (checked )
- Google Play listing: contains ads, Premium features (Ad-Free, Fake PIN, break-in report), IDs and cards. https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.enchantedcloud.photovault (checked )
- The local vault works without an account and is offline by default; decoy password; AES encryption; cloud backup is not automatic. https://privatephotovault.com/security/ (checked )
- After Premium ends the Cloud Backup is deleted; PIN recovery needs a recovery e-mail set up at first use; AES-256. https://privatephotovault.com/faq/ (checked )
- Cloud Vault needs an account; albums can be filtered by file type. https://privatephotovault.com/features/ (checked )