Hidy VaultHidy Vault vs Keepsafe
Keepsafe is one of the oldest photo vaults on the App Store, with a large user base and cross-platform sync through its own cloud. Hidy Vault is newer and smaller, with no account, no ads and vault keys derived from your pattern.
- Keepsafe, per its App Store listing: PIN and Touch ID, "military-grade encryption", sync across platforms, a Premium Private Cloud (up to 10,000 items). Basic is ad supported.
- Hidy Vault: pattern-derived encryption, no account, no ads, encrypted backup to your own iCloud, free for 3 vaults.
- Choose Keepsafe if you need Android or cross-platform sync. Choose Hidy for an iPhone-only vault with no account.
Side by side
| Keepsafe (per its listing) | Hidy Vault | |
|---|---|---|
| Unlock | PIN, Touch ID | Pattern on a 5×5 grid |
| Encryption | Described as "military-grade encryption" | AES-256-GCM, key derived from your pattern and a Keychain secret |
| Cloud | Keepsafe Private Cloud (Premium, up to 10,000 items) | Optional encrypted backup to your own iCloud (free) |
| Sync | Across Keepsafe installations on any platform | Across your devices through your iCloud (Pro) |
| Separate albums or vaults | Album Lock with individual PINs (Premium) | One vault per pattern, no list shown |
| Ads | Basic is ad supported | None |
| Platforms | Phone and tablet, multiple platforms | iPhone |
| Pricing model | Free with ads; Premium monthly or yearly | Free for 3 vaults; Pro weekly, yearly or lifetime |
Checked 22 October 2026. Keepsafe details are taken from its App Store listing, linked below. We haven't audited Keepsafe and don't make claims beyond what it publishes.
If subscriptions are your main concern, see how a lifetime photo vault plan compares with yearly billing.
Where Keepsafe is stronger
- Cross-platform. Its listing describes sync across Keepsafe installations on any platform. Hidy is iPhone only.
- Track record. Keepsafe has been on the App Store since 2012 and reports over 70 million users. Hidy is new.
- Features like Safe Send, for sharing pictures for a limited time, and Trash Recovery.
Hidy Vault keeps photos, videos and documents in encrypted vaults that open only with a pattern you draw. No account, no Hidy server. Free for 3 vaults.
Where Hidy is different
- No account and no Hidy server. Backups go to your own iCloud account, encrypted before upload. See encrypted iCloud backup.
- No ads, ever, including in the free plan.
- The pattern is the key. Hidy can't reset it, which also means nobody else can open your vault.
- A lifetime option if you don't want a subscription.
- A decoy vault for when you're forced to unlock (Pro).
Switching from Keepsafe
- In Keepsafe, export the photos you want to keep to your Photos library.
- Install Hidy Vault, create a vault and import those photos.
- Let Hidy delete the originals from Photos, then empty Recently Deleted.
- Create the vault's recovery phrase and turn on iCloud backup.
Frequently asked questions
Is Keepsafe free?
Keepsafe's listing describes a free Basic version that is ad supported and a Premium subscription (monthly or yearly) with extra features such as Private Cloud and Album Lock.
Can I move my photos from Keepsafe to Hidy Vault?
Export the photos from Keepsafe to your Photos library, import them into a Hidy vault, then delete the exported copies from Photos and empty Recently Deleted.
Does Hidy work on Android?
No. Hidy Vault is for iPhone (iOS 16 or later).
