Obscura Photo Vault vs Valv

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.

Valv is a free Android gallery vault for storing photos, GIFs, videos, and text files in encrypted form on a device. Files can be arranged into folders, with notes or text attached, and separate vaults can use different passwords. Access supports a password or PIN; one vault can also be unlocked with fingerprint or face authentication. Valv uses ChaCha20 encryption and derives keys with PBKDF2 and HMAC-SHA512. PBKDF2 uses 50,000 iterations by default, and that count can be changed. Encrypted files remain on local storage, supporting backups and transfers between devices, but cloud backup is not available. The project README says the app requires no permissions, while Google Play declares no data collected and no data shared with third parties. Valv requires Android 9.0 or newer and is listed at free. It is distributed through Google Play, F-Droid, and a GitHub APK, under GPL-3.0-only.