Obscura Photo Vault vs PhotoGuard

Obscura Photo Vault stores photos and videos in encrypted vaults on iOS. It uses AES-256-GCM and derives vault keys with 600,000 rounds of PBKDF2-HMAC-SHA256. The maker says the app functions without network access, has no server or account system, and gathers no installation, usage, or analytics data. It provides ten encrypted vault slots, Face ID and Touch ID unlocking, configurable auto-lock, delays after failed attempts, and memory clearing when a vault locks. Photo tools include editing, collages, tags, favorites, manual arrangement, duplicate detection, and Live Photo frame extraction. Users can import from their camera roll and export a vault as a password-protected encrypted.obscura file. Vault data is included in iCloud Backup by default and remains encrypted there. The maker says the indistinguishability property for hidden vaults applies only within stated threat-model bounds. The free plan allows up to 50 photos in one vault. Pro Monthly is $6.99 a month; Pro Yearly is $29.99 a year after a 7-day free trial; Pro Lifetime is $39.99, paid once payment. Forgotten passwords cannot be recovered.

PhotoGuard is an Android photo vault for hiding private photos and videos. The vault can be secured with a PIN, pattern, password, or fingerprint, and individual albums can have their own passwords. The maker says hidden files are encrypted on the device rather than uploaded to a server. A secret camera saves photos directly into the vault with encryption applied as they are taken. For privacy, Fake Vault opens a decoy space with a separate PIN, and Quick Exit closes the vault when the home button is pressed. Break-In Alerts record the time of a failed unlock and take a photo. Trash Recovery temporarily holds deleted files for restoration, and the maker says the vault can be restored automatically after accidental uninstallation. Private Cloud provides automatic backup and sync with unlimited space across devices running PhotoGuard; the privacy policy identifies cloud storage as a premium feature. The free download is free and includes ads and in-app purchases.