Feature comparison
13 features compared. Every row is shown below. On a small screen, scroll the table sideways to compare both apps.
| Feature | NullVault | Private Photo Vault |
|---|---|---|
| On-device file encryption | AES-256-GCM authenticated encryption for managed vault data. N1 | AES-256 documented; mode not specified in the FAQ. 1 |
| Account required | No NullVault account for local use; Apple account for optional iCloud features. N2 | Cloud Vault requires email setup; local recovery email is optional. 12 |
| Ads inside the app | No ad-supported tier advertised; personal data is not used for advertising. N2 | Ads exist; paid purchase restoration removes them according to the FAQ. 1 |
| Third-party advertising SDKs | No advertising use of personal data under the privacy policy; no independent binary SDK audit claimed. N2 | Advertising is documented; the cited pages do not enumerate SDKs by binary version. 1 |
| Calculator-style disguise | No working calculator launcher advertised; iOS Pro offers alternate icons. N3 | No working calculator documented; the separate former Pro app is named SV. 1 |
| Decoy / second vault | Yes. A separate pattern opens an independent vault with benign content. N4 | Yes. Decoy Password opens a different picture collection. 3 |
| Intruder log | Not listed among the released NullVault features. N4 | Yes. Break-in Report captures a front-camera image and location. 3 |
| Cloud sync | iOS encrypted iCloud backup and read-only sharing; Android portable backups, without connected vault sharing. N4 | Optional Premium Cloud Vault backup and synchronization. 2 |
| Pattern lock | Yes. A 5×5 pattern unlocks the matching vault’s random master key. N1 | PIN or pattern lock advertised. 3 |
| File shredder | No multi-pass flash-erasure guarantee. Android panic wipe removes a required key; iOS duress removes local vault references. N4 | Multi-pass overwrite not documented in the cited product pages. 13 |
| Free tier | iOS: 5 vaults, 20 total items, one collection per vault; encrypted backup included. Android terms are separate. N3 | Basic retains local photo access; cloud backup is deleted when returning from Premium to Basic. 1 |
| Paid plans | iOS Pro: monthly, annual and lifetime; current amount shown by the store. N3 | Premium subscription; Cloud Vault is included. Current amount is in the store. 12 |
| Cryptography references | Published architecture, platform boundaries and linked security references. N1 | AES-256 and the Cloud Vault password model are documented. 12 |
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.
Two different ways to organize privacy
NullVault makes the unlock pattern the address of an independent vault. You can keep notes and documents alongside private media in a separate collection. Private Photo Vault’s documented Cloud Vault service centers on backing up and synchronizing a photo-and-video archive.
Cloud Vault is an explicit account workflow
Private Photo Vault describes an email verification step followed by a Cloud Vault password. After setup, content uploads to its encrypted cloud service; a second device needs the login and that password. This can be useful when you want the same collection available on supported devices.
A password reset is not a recovery plan
Private Photo Vault says its Cloud Vault password cannot be recovered. Record it securely before relying on cloud backup. NullVault also requires recovery preparation: on Android, same-device pattern recovery and portable backup restore use different phrases; on iOS, backup restore uses the original per-vault recovery phrase and matching encrypted data.
Compare the complete storage path
Private Photo Vault documents AES-256 for Cloud Vault and says its employees cannot view the encrypted content. That description is about its cloud service; it does not independently establish every property of local storage. NullVault’s security architecture describes app-managed file and metadata protection. Neither a cipher name nor this comparison is an independent audit.
Decoy access and break-in reports
Private Photo Vault advertises both a pattern lock and a Decoy Password, so neither should be marked absent. It also offers a Break-in Report with a front-camera photo and location. NullVault documents separate pattern-locked spaces, but does not list intruder photography among its released features. Choose based on which behavior you need rather than counting every privacy control as interchangeable.
What happens when Premium ends
Private Photo Vault’s FAQ says switching back to Basic retains access to local photos but deletes its cloud backup. That is a material planning detail: complete any export or replacement backup before depending on a subscription change. NullVault’s iOS Free tier includes encrypted backup within its documented limits; its Android purchase and backup terms are separate.
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. Private Photo Vault has its own store offer; we do not turn region-dependent prices into a universal savings claim.
When Private Photo Vault is the better fit
Private Photo Vault may fit better when its Premium Cloud Vault synchronization already supports your photo library and you can safely retain the separate cloud password.
Our verdict
Choose NullVault for account-free local use and separate pattern-locked collections. Choose Private Photo Vault when its Premium Cloud Vault backup and synchronization fit how you use your devices. 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 Private Photo Vault 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
Can Private Photo Vault recover my Cloud Vault password?
Its documentation says the Cloud Vault password is not recoverable. Keep a secure record and test access before depending on the service.
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 Private Photo Vault have a pattern lock?
Yes. Its current product page advertises PIN or pattern access, plus a separate Decoy Password.
Does Private Photo Vault offer intruder photos?
Yes. Its Break-in Report takes a front-camera photo and records location. NullVault does not advertise an equivalent intruder-log feature.
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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Private Photo Vault: 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.