Hidden Folder vs Private Photo Vault
Private Photo Vault - Pic Safe, published by Legendary Software Labs, is an iPhone and iPad app on the App Store with PIN and pattern locks, password-protected albums and a decoy password. Hidden Folder is a vault for the Mac that is not released yet. Pick the phone app for a phone, and a Mac vault for a Mac.
An iPhone and iPad app and a planned Mac vault. Same job, different devices.
Verdict. Different devices. Both offer a pattern lock and a decoy idea. This one is planned for the Mac and as open source, and it is not yet released.
Pick Private Photo Vault (Pic Safe) if
- You want a photo vault on iPhone or iPad today.
- You want an app that is already released.
Pick Hidden Folder if
- You want a vault on your Mac, once it is released.
- You want a vault whose source code is planned to be public.
- You want analytics off unless you switch them on.
| Feature | Hidden Folder | Private Photo Vault (Pic Safe) |
|---|---|---|
| Native Mac app | ✓native macOS app, planned. Needs macOS 14 Sonoma or later | ✕the App Store listing says "Designed for iPad". It lists Macs with an Apple M1 chip or later and marks it "Not verified for macOS" |
| Encrypts file contents | ✓AES-256-GCM, planned. Not yet audited | –the listing says Cloud Vault backups are encrypted with a separate password. It names no cipher and does not describe on-device encryption |
| Encrypts file names | ✓planned. Files get random names on disk, and metadata is encrypted | –not stated in the listing |
| Works without an account | ✓planned. No account | –not stated in the listing |
| Source code is open | ◐planned as open source (GPL-3.0). The source is not public yet | –not stated in the listing |
| Pattern unlock | ✓planned. 5×5 pattern | ✓PIN lock and pattern or dot lock, per its App Store listing |
| Several hidden vaults, no list | ✓planned. Each pattern opens its own vault, with no vault list | –the listing mentions password-protected photo albums. It does not say whether albums are hidden from a list |
| Duress mode | ◐planned for v1.1, paid plan | ◐a decoy password, per its App Store listing |
| Encrypted cloud backup | ◐encrypted iCloud backup, planned for v1.0 | ◐Cloud Vault gives encrypted cloud backup with a separate password. The listing says the free version does not back up files to Cloud Vault |
| Analytics off by default | ✓planned. Off by default, opt-in | –its App Store privacy label lists Analytics and Third-Party Advertising among purposes. The label is developer-provided and does not state a default |
| Free to use | ◐a free tier and a paid plan are planned. Prices not final | ◐free with in-app purchases, per the App Store listing |
Hidden Folder describes planned behaviour from its public spec. The app is not released. Facts about Private Photo Vault (Pic Safe) were checked on Oct 30, 2026 against its own page. Not affiliated with Private Photo Vault (Pic Safe). Marks: yes, no, partly, not stated.
Check the right app
Many apps use similar names. This page means the app published by Legendary Software Labs LLC, listed as "Private Photo Vault - Pic Safe" on the App Store. Other vault apps have different publishers and features.
What we could not confirm
The listing does not name a cipher for files on the device, and it does not say whether file names are encrypted. Read the app's own privacy documentation, and use the photo vault checklist to judge any vault.
Frequently asked questions
Is Private Photo Vault available for Mac?
Its App Store listing is for iPhone and iPad. It also lists Macs with an Apple M1 chip or later and marks the app "Not verified for macOS".
Does it use a PIN or a pattern?
Its App Store description lists a PIN lock and a pattern or dot lock.
Is this affiliated with Private Photo Vault?
No. This project is independent.
References
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