Availability: NullVault for iPhone is available on the App Store for compatible devices running iOS 26 and later.
Side-by-side
| Question | NullVault for iOS | Apple Hidden collection |
|---|---|---|
| Available now | Yes | Yes |
| Remains inside Photos | No, for the app-managed vault copy | Yes |
| Uses Face ID, Touch ID, or device passcode boundary | Platform protections participate | Yes, locked by default |
| Separate pattern-addressed spaces | Yes | No |
| iCloud Photos sync | Separate vault backup design | Hidden state syncs when iCloud Photos is enabled |
| Photos, files, documents, and notes | Yes | Photos and videos |
Apple documents that hidden photos leave the Library, ordinary albums, and Photos widget; the Hidden collection is locked by default on current systems. If iCloud Photos is enabled, the hidden state follows the photo across signed-in devices. See Apple’s official Hidden album guide.
Which is best for convenience?
The Hidden collection. It is built into Photos, needs no migration, and supports the editing and library experience you already use.
Which is best for an independent privacy boundary?
NullVault is stronger when the requirement is a separate encrypted app-managed copy and a credential that selects one private space without displaying the others. Its current App Store listing and feature documentation define the exact released boundary.
Example: Ava hides gift photos for two weeks; Apple’s built-in option is appropriate. Ben wants encrypted identity documents separated from Photos, with a distinct recovery credential; that is a NullVault use case.
Bottom line
The Hidden collection is the simplest iPhone option for casual library privacy. NullVault adds stronger compartmentalization, broader content types, independent patterns, and encrypted backup outside the iCloud Photos library model.
Comparison reviewed: 1 September 2026.