Feature comparison
14 features compared. Every row is shown below. On a small screen, scroll the table sideways to compare both apps.
| Feature | NullVault | Keepsafe |
|---|---|---|
| On-device file encryption | AES-256-GCM authenticated encryption for managed vault data. N1 | AES-256 at rest; mode not specified in the linked security article. 1 |
| Account required | No NullVault account for local use; Apple account for optional iCloud features. N2 | Yes. Account email is used for device sign-in and access codes. 1 |
| Cloud upload by default | No automatic cloud archive required for local use; iOS backup is optional. N2 | Private Cloud backup can be enabled or disabled; confirm its current setting in the app. 1 |
| Server-side data | Optional iCloud features store encrypted payloads with Apple; provider metadata still exists. N2 | Encrypted backups plus account, device and usage data. 12 |
| Key derivation | Memory-hard Argon2id pattern processing on iOS and Android. N1 | Parameters not specified in the cited security documentation. 1 |
| Calculator-style disguise | No working calculator launcher advertised; iOS Pro offers alternate icons. N3 | Separate Keepsafe Calculator app advertised on Android. 3 |
| Decoy / second vault | Yes. A separate pattern opens an independent vault with benign content. N4 | Yes. Premium Fake PIN opens a decoy vault. 4 |
| Intruder log | Not listed among the released NullVault features. N4 | Yes. Premium break-in alerts photograph failed unlock attempts. 34 |
| Pattern lock | Yes. A 5×5 pattern unlocks the matching vault’s random master key. N1 | PIN or pattern passcode documented; supported biometric access is optional. 1 |
| Ads inside the app | No ad-supported tier advertised; personal data is not used for advertising. N2 | Ads in supported free editions; Premium removes them. 2 |
| Free tier | iOS: 5 vaults, 20 total items, one collection per vault; encrypted backup included. Android terms are separate. N3 | Basic: backup for the first 200 items. 14 |
| Paid plans | iOS Pro: monthly, annual and lifetime; current amount shown by the store. N3 | Monthly, yearly and lifetime offers; check regional store prices. 4 |
| Cross-platform | iPhone and Android. Platform availability does not imply automatic cross-platform sync. N4 | iOS and Android apps; backups support secondary-device access. 13 |
| Cryptography references | Published architecture, platform boundaries and linked security references. N1 | Public AES-256 and account-security explanation; no detailed KDF parameters there. 1 |
Sources are linked below. “Not documented” means the cited material does not establish that detail; it is not proof that a feature is absent. Platform and plan differences are stated in the cells.
Local vaults or a connected photo library?
NullVault starts with an independent space on your phone. A pattern opens the collection you intend to use, without a master vault picker. Keepsafe emphasizes cloud backup and protected shared albums. That makes the storage workflow a more useful starting point than the appearance of the lock screen.
What one unlock reveals
In NullVault, unrelated patterns can lead to unrelated collections. This is useful for separating personal media from work documents. It limits ordinary interface disclosure; it does not promise that forensic examination cannot detect encrypted data. Keepsafe advertises PIN and biometric access. Its product page alone does not establish an equivalent pattern-locked vault design.
Backups and sharing change the decision
Keepsafe’s cloud and shared-album features are reasons to choose it if you want a connected photo collection. NullVault has encrypted iCloud backup on iOS and portable encrypted backup on Android. These are different recovery workflows, so Android availability should not be read as automatic synchronization between an iPhone and an Android phone.
Privacy features need platform context
Keepsafe advertises break-in tracking in Premium and a separate calculator variant on Android. A blanket claim that Keepsafe has no disguise option would be misleading. With either app, check the exact edition and device. NullVault’s decoy vaults use independent patterns; its destructive emergency controls have separate consequences and should be evaluated through the feature documentation.
Encryption, accounts and recovery
Keepsafe’s security documentation names AES-256 encryption at rest and describes PIN or pattern access. Account email is used for sign-in codes and PIN reset. NullVault instead documents Argon2id pattern processing and platform-specific recovery phrases, without a NullVault account-reset service. That difference matters when deciding who can restore access and what you must keep yourself.
Advertising and the free plan
Keepsafe describes advertising in supported free editions and no ads for Premium customers. Basic includes backup for the first 200 items. NullVault’s iOS Free tier has different limits: up to five vaults and 20 items across them, with encrypted backup included. Neither allowance should be mistaken for unlimited device or cloud storage.
Price and what you get
Compare the offer on your own device, including renewal period, storage limits and backup features. NullVault’s pricing page separates iOS and Android tiers. Keepsafe has its own store offer; we do not turn region-dependent prices into a universal savings claim.
When Keepsafe is the better fit
Keepsafe is a reasonable choice for cloud photo backup, protected shared albums and its familiar PIN-based workflow.
Our verdict
Choose NullVault for independent local vaults without a NullVault account. Choose Keepsafe when cloud photo backup and protected shared albums are the workflow you need. Start with a small, harmless collection and test the complete backup-and-restore path before moving important originals.
Switching to NullVault
- Export a small sample from Keepsafe and check that the original quality and file types are preserved.
- Import into a NullVault vault, lock it, and verify that the intended pattern opens the correct collection.
- Follow the backup instructions for your platform and test recovery using non-sensitive data.
- Keep the source archive until the new copy and recovery path are verified. Review gallery originals, Recently Deleted, shared albums and cloud copies separately.
Frequently asked questions
Does Keepsafe have a calculator disguise?
Its official site links to Keepsafe Calculator on Google Play. Check that specific Android app rather than assuming the feature exists in every Keepsafe edition.
Does NullVault require an account?
No NullVault account is required for local use. Optional iCloud features use Apple’s services; account-free local storage does not mean every backup destination is account-free.
Can a recovery phrase restore files after I lose my phone?
Only when the matching encrypted backup data survives. On Android, the same-device recovery phrase cannot restore a portable backup; that backup has its own phrase. See recovery scope.
Can I move my existing backup directly into NullVault?
Do not assume backup formats are compatible. Export supported original files from the source app, import them into NullVault, then create and verify a NullVault backup.
Does Keepsafe offer a decoy vault?
Yes. Keepsafe Premium documents Fake PIN, which opens a decoy collection. NullVault uses unrelated patterns to address independent vaults.
Can both apps use a pattern?
Yes. Keepsafe documents PIN or pattern passcodes. NullVault’s 5×5 pattern is also the address of an independent vault and participates in its documented key-unwrapping flow.
Does a paid plan remove the security limitations?
No. Paying may change feature access or capacity, but it does not protect an observed unlock, a compromised operating system, or a copy already exported outside the vault.
Sources and review
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N1. NullVault security architecture and security references.
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Keepsafe: official product documentation — reviewed 13 September 2026.
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NullVault backup, recovery and pricing.
Published by the TAD team at Think Aloud Design. This compares documented behavior, not a hands-on security test or independent audit. There are no affiliate rankings or paid placements. Send a correction if a product has changed.