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Vaultaire vs Privault
Privault disguises itself as a calculator but doesn't encrypt your files. Vaultaire doesn't need a disguise because without the pattern, your data doesn't exist.
Feature Comparison
Privault by Apptimus Inc has 77K ratings and a 4.6-star average. Here is how it compares to Vaultaire across 17 security and privacy features.
| Feature | Vaultaire | Privault |
|---|---|---|
| AES-256-GCM encryptionFile-level authenticated encryption | ✓ | ✗ |
| Secure Enclave hardware keysKeys never leave the chip | ✓ | ✗ |
| Pattern lock (not PIN)Visual pattern derives encryption key | ✓ | ✗ |
| Multiple independent vaultsSeparate encrypted containers | ✓ | ✗ |
| Duress vault (destroy on trigger)Plausible deniability under coercion | ✓ | ✗ |
| Zero-knowledge architectureNo server, no account, no telemetry | ✓ | ✗ |
| Encrypted iCloud backupBackup stays encrypted end-to-end | ✓ | ✗ |
| Encrypted vault sharingShare vaults without exposing keys | ✓ | ✗ |
| Recovery phraseBIP-39 mnemonic for key recovery | ✓ | ✗ |
| No biometrics (by design)Biometrics can be compelled; patterns cannot | ✓ | ✗ |
| Photos, Videos & Files supportAll media types plus documents | ✓ | ✓ |
| Media optimization (HEIC/HEVC)Preserves efficient Apple formats | ✓ | ✗ |
| Free tier availableUsable without payment | ✓ | ✓ |
| No ads in free tierClean experience at every level | ✓ | ✗ |
| Share sheet importImport from any app via iOS share sheet | ✓ | ✓ |
| Camera captureShoot directly into the vault | ✓ | ✓ |
| Offline-only by defaultNo network calls unless you opt in | ✓ | ✗ |
Pricing Comparison
Vaultaire
- 1 vault, 100 files
- Pattern lock
- AES-256 encryption
- Camera & photo import
- Unlimited vaults & files
- Duress vault
- iCloud backup
- Vault sharing
- All Pro features
- 58% savings vs monthly
- One-time payment
- All Pro features forever
Privault
- Limited storage
- Ad-supported
- Calculator disguise
- Unlimited storage
- Ad-free
- Same as monthly
- Annual discount
- One-time purchase
- All features
Disguise vs Encryption
Privault's primary security feature is a calculator interface that hides the vault behind a functional calculator UI. You enter a PIN and the app reveals your hidden files. This is security through obscurity -- a well-known anti-pattern in information security. The files themselves sit unencrypted in the app's sandbox.
Vaultaire takes the opposite approach. The app makes no attempt to hide what it is. Instead, it makes the contents mathematically inaccessible without the correct pattern. A forensic examiner can find Vaultaire on your device, inspect every file in its container, and still learn nothing. The encrypted blobs are indistinguishable from random noise.
The Calculator Facade Limitation
The calculator disguise works against a casual observer who glances at your home screen. It fails against anyone who checks your installed apps in Settings, examines your storage usage, searches your App Store purchase history, or uses any file management tool. The disguise is a thin layer of social engineering that provides zero protection against a determined adversary.
Vaultaire's security model assumes the attacker already knows you have the app. It does not matter. Without the pattern, the encrypted files cannot be decrypted. The duress vault adds an additional layer: under coercion, a different pattern opens a decoy vault and destroys the real one. This is defense in depth, not defense through hope.
Data Persistence Risks
Since Privault stores files in their original format, data loss is a constant risk. iOS updates, storage pressure, or app reinstallation can wipe unencrypted files from the sandbox. There is no recovery mechanism beyond the files themselves -- if they are gone, they are gone.
Vaultaire stores files as encrypted blobs in a stable container format that survives app updates. The BIP-39 recovery phrase means you can restore access to your vault even after a full device reset. Your encryption keys are derived from the pattern and recovery phrase, not from app state.
Recovery Options
If you forget your Privault PIN, there is no reliable recovery path. The app does not have a recovery phrase system or any cryptographic key backup. Some users report losing all their files after forgetting their PIN, with no way to retrieve them despite the files being technically unencrypted on disk.
Vaultaire provides a BIP-39 recovery phrase at vault creation. This 12-word mnemonic can regenerate your encryption keys on any device. Forget your pattern? Use the recovery phrase. New phone? Use the recovery phrase. The recovery system is built on the same standard used by cryptocurrency wallets -- battle-tested across billions of dollars in value.
What Privault Users Complain About
Common complaints from App Store reviews, and how Vaultaire addresses each one.
"My friend found it in two seconds by checking Settings > Storage. The calculator trick only works if nobody looks."
Vaultaire approach: Vaultaire does not rely on disguise. Even if someone knows the app is on your device and inspects every file, encrypted blobs reveal nothing without the correct pattern.
"Connected my phone to iTunes and browsed right to my 'hidden' photos. The calculator thing is just a screen lock."
Vaultaire approach: Every file is encrypted with AES-256-GCM before it hits disk. Browsing the container via USB, backup extraction, or forensic tools yields only encrypted data.
"Updated to iOS 18 and everything disappeared. No way to get them back."
Vaultaire approach: Files are stored in a stable encrypted container. The recovery phrase lets you restore access even after a complete device reset and app reinstall.
"Full-screen video ads every time I open an album. In a privacy app. The irony."
Vaultaire approach: Zero ads at any tier. No ad networks in the app. No tracking. The app does not make network requests by default.
"Forgot my PIN after not using the app for months. Lost everything. No recovery option."
Vaultaire approach: The BIP-39 recovery phrase regenerates your encryption keys. Write it down once, recover anytime. This is the same standard used by cryptocurrency wallets to secure billions.
Encryption, Not Disguise.
Vaultaire makes your files mathematically unreadable without the pattern. No calculator tricks needed.
Download Vaultaire
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