Comparison

Sealby vs Apple built-ins

Features, pricing and privacy at a glance. Details and sources below.

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Feature comparison

FeatureSealbyApple built-ins
Encryption
Yes1
Yes2
No account
Yes3
Yes4
No developer storage server
Yes5
Yes6
Multiple separate vaults
Yes7
No8
Decoy vault
Yes9
No10
Photos, videos, files & folders
Yes11
PartialLimited12
Create & edit notes
Yes13
No14
No ads
YesNo ads15
YesNo ads16
Notes on this comparison

We compare published features, not independently tested security. A red cross earns no credit: the feature is unsupported, has a drawback, or is labelled “Not advertised” because we found no claim in the checked sources. “Not advertised” does not prove a feature is absent. An amber dash means documented partial support. A grey question mark is reserved for checks we could not assess and is excluded from the ranking score.

  1. 1.
    Sealby · Encryption: AES-256-GCM encrypts each file on your device.
  2. 2.
    Apple built-ins · Encryption: iOS Data Protection encrypts stored content. Hidden adds access control, not a separate vault key or password.
  3. 3.
    Sealby · No account: No Sealby account; optional iCloud features use your Apple Account.
  4. 4.
    Apple built-ins · No account: Local Photos use needs no separate account; iCloud requires an Apple Account.
  5. 5.
    Sealby · No developer storage server: No Sealby content servers; optional encrypted backup in your own iCloud.
  6. 6.
    Apple built-ins · No developer storage server: Local use; optional iCloud Photos stores copies in your Apple account.
  7. 7.
    Sealby · Multiple separate vaults: Unlimited free vaults, each with its own code and recovery phrase.
  8. 8.
    Apple built-ins · Multiple separate vaults: One Hidden album, unlocked with device authentication rather than separate codes.
  9. 9.
    Sealby · Decoy vault: A separate free vault can be a decoy; duress deletion requires Premium.
  10. 10.
    Apple built-ins · Decoy vault: Device authentication opens the Hidden album, not a decoy collection.
  11. 11.
    Sealby · Photos, videos, files & folders: Photos, videos, any file type, rich-text notes and folders.
  12. 12.
    Apple built-ins · Photos, videos, files & folders: Photos and videos only; files and locked notes use other apps.
  13. 13.
    Sealby · Create & edit notes: Write rich-text notes and import plaintext files. Search inside supported documents.
  14. 14.
    Apple built-ins · Create & edit notes: The Hidden album supports photos and videos. Apple Notes is a separate app, not text storage inside the Hidden album.
  15. 15.
    Sealby · No ads: No ads in either the free or Premium version.
  16. 16.
    Apple built-ins · No ads: The built-in Hidden album has no advertising tier or ad-removal purchase.

Pricing at a glance.

US prices · Checked

Sealby

Monthly
$4.99
Yearly
$24.99
Lifetime
$39.99

Free version available. Lifetime: one payment, no subscription.

Apple built-ins

Included with Photos at no extra charge. Optional iCloud storage beyond the included allowance is sold separately.

Apple built-ins · What these plans include

HiddenOne payment. No subscription.
$0.00

Listed offers, not guaranteed checkout prices. Availability and prices vary by region. “Not verified” means no unambiguous matching price was found, not that a plan is unavailable.

Sealby free & Premium plans

Is the iPhone Hidden album actually secure?

The Hidden album keeps photos out of your main library. Sealby adds a separate code, hidden vaults, documents and notes—all in one place.

What to keep in mind
  • Hidden does not offer its own vault code; access relies on the device’s authentication settings.
  • Hidden content can sync through iCloud Photos. End-to-end encryption for iCloud Photos requires Advanced Data Protection.

What Apple built-ins is built for

  • Already on every iPhone — zero setup, zero cost
  • Locks behind Face ID / passcode by default since iOS 16
  • Fine for keeping casual photos out of the main grid

What to consider

  • The Hidden album uses the phone’s passcode; Apple Notes can use a separate password
  • The Hidden album can be hidden from view, but its presence is not deniable; locked note titles remain visible
  • No duress action that removes other vaults from the device
  • Photos and locked notes live in separate apps, and not every attachment type can be locked in Notes

The honest verdict

Choose Sealby when your private files need their own lock. Use the Hidden album when you only want photos out of the main grid.

Sources & checked date

Checked against these public sources on October 13, 2026. App Store privacy labels are self-reported by developers. Apps change; if anything here is out of date, write to hello@sealby.app and we will correct it. Product names are trademarks of their owners; Sealby is not affiliated with them.

  1. Checked (support.apple.com)
  2. Apple: How to lock or unlock notes on your iPhone or iPad (support.apple.com)
  3. Apple: standard and Advanced Data Protection for iCloud (support.apple.com)
  4. Apple Platform Security: Data Protection and hardware-specific AES (support.apple.com)
  5. Current iCloud+ plans and prices (support.apple.com)

Common questions

Doesn’t the Hidden album lock with Face ID now?

Yes. Since iOS 16, the Hidden album is locked by default and can be opened with Face ID, Touch ID or the device passcode. A Settings toggle controls whether the album appears in Photos; it does not replace the lock. Sealby uses separate vault codes and keeps no stored vault list or count.

What about locked notes in Apple Notes?

Apple Notes encrypts locked notes and lets you choose either the device passcode or a separate Notes password. Note titles remain visible, and some attachments cannot be locked. Apple cannot recover notes protected by a forgotten Notes password. Sealby puts notes and files in one vault, with its own code and recovery phrase.

Do hidden photos stay on iCloud?

With iCloud Photos, hidden photos sync like any others, and Apple can read them unless you turn on Advanced Data Protection. Sealby encrypts before anything is stored. With or without backup, iCloud only ever holds encrypted data it can’t read.

Related: How hidden vaults work · Private photos · Best photo vault apps for iPhone in 2026 · Hidden album vs encrypted vault · Every way to hide photos

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iPhone & iPad · iOS 17+ · Free