Best photo vault apps for iPhone
·Written by the developer of Stash
The best photo vault apps for iPhone lock photos behind their own passcode, keep them out of your camera roll, and say clearly where your files are stored and how they are encrypted. Before you install one, check whether the free iPhone features already do what you need. This list starts with those.
Disclosure: we make Stash, one of the apps below. Apps are listed alphabetically, not by preference. Facts about Keepsafe come from its website as read on 2 October 2026; for the other apps we link to their own pages instead of describing features we have not checked. We did not test them, and features and prices change, so check before you buy.
How to choose
- Own passcode: different from your iPhone passcode?
- Encryption: does the developer say how files are encrypted, specifically?
- Storage: on your phone only, or uploaded to the developer's cloud?
- Recovery: what happens if you forget the PIN?
- Price model: subscription, one-time purchase, ads?
Built-in: Apple's Hidden album
Free and already on your phone. Hide a photo and it moves to the Hidden album, which opens only with Face ID, Touch ID or your iPhone passcode. It syncs with iCloud Photos and uses your device passcode, not a separate one. Best for: keeping a few photos out of sight. Guide: how to hide photos on iPhone.
Built-in: locked notes
Also free. Add photos to a note and lock it with your passcode or a separate Notes password. Clumsy for more than a few photos. Guide: how to password protect photos on iPhone.
Keepsafe
Keepsafe's website says it locks photos, videos and documents behind a PIN code that only you know, backs up your photos privately and lets you share them selectively with contacts you choose. It is available on iPhone and Android, according to the same site. For plans, prices and other features, see Keepsafe's website. More: Keepsafe alternative for iPhone.
LockMyPix
A photo and video vault app. For its features, encryption and prices, see the vendor's page: lockmypix.com.
Private Photo Vault
A photo vault app. For its features, platforms and prices, see the vendor's page: privatephotovault.com.
Stash: Calculator Photo Vault
Our app. Stash opens as a working calculator; your secret PIN opens the vault. Photos, videos, PDFs, documents and audio are encrypted on the device with AES-256, and the key stays in the iOS Keychain. There is no Stash server for your files; backup to your own iCloud Drive or Google Drive is optional and encrypted.
Premium adds a guest PIN that opens a separate vault, intruder photos after wrong PIN entries, step-tracker and puzzle-game looks with matching icons, and cloud backup. Stash is free to download; Premium is a subscription (the annual plan starts with a 7-day free trial) or a one-time lifetime purchase (59.99 in the German App Store; price varies by country). iPhone and iPad only.
Where it is weaker: Stash is newer and has far fewer ratings than the established apps, it is only listed here for iPhone and iPad, and importing copies photos, so you delete the originals yourself.
At a glance
| Own passcode | Disguised app | Decoy / guest PIN | Platforms | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hidden album | No | No | No | Apple devices |
| Locked notes | Optional | No | No | Apple devices |
| Keepsafe | Yes (PIN) | See vendor's page | See vendor's page | iPhone, Android |
| LockMyPix | See vendor's page | See vendor's page | See vendor's page | See vendor's page |
| Private Photo Vault | See vendor's page | See vendor's page | See vendor's page | See vendor's page |
| Stash | Yes | Yes (calculator) | Yes (Premium) | iPhone, iPad |
FAQ
Do I need a photo vault app?
Not always. If you only want a few photos out of sight, the Hidden album is free and good enough. A vault app helps when you want a separate code or want files out of the Photos library.
Are photo vault apps safe?
They differ. Prefer apps that explain their encryption and storage in plain terms. Whatever you choose, a strong device passcode comes first.
Which one is best?
It depends on what you need: free and built in (Hidden album), cloud backup across Android and iPhone (Keepsafe, per its own website), or a disguised vault that keeps files on your iPhone (Stash).