Review & comparison

Sealby vs Private Photo Vault

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

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Feature comparison

FeatureSealbyPrivate Photo Vault
Encryption
Yes1
Yes2
No account
Yes3
Yes4
No developer storage server
Yes5
PartialOptional cloud6
Multiple separate vaults
Yes7
Yes8
Decoy vault
Yes9
Yes10
Photos, videos, files & folders
Yes11
PartialLimited12
Create & edit notes
Yes13
Not advertised in checked sourcesNot advertised14
No ads
YesNo ads15
NoAds in free version16
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.
    Private Photo Vault · Encryption: Developer FAQ states AES-256; Cloud Vault adds a separate encrypted layer.
  3. 3.
    Sealby · No account: No Sealby account; optional iCloud features use your Apple Account.
  4. 4.
    Private Photo Vault · No account: Account-free local use; an account is needed for optional Cloud Vault.
  5. 5.
    Sealby · No developer storage server: No Sealby content servers; optional encrypted backup in your own iCloud.
  6. 6.
    Private Photo Vault · No developer storage server: Local by default; optional Premium Cloud Vault uses the developer’s servers.
  7. 7.
    Sealby · Multiple separate vaults: Unlimited free vaults, each with its own code and recovery phrase.
  8. 8.
    Private Photo Vault · Multiple separate vaults: Main and alternate decoy vaults open with different passwords.
  9. 9.
    Sealby · Decoy vault: A separate free vault can be a decoy; duress deletion requires Premium.
  10. 10.
    Private Photo Vault · Decoy vault: Alternate vault documented; availability varies by platform and plan.
  11. 11.
    Sealby · Photos, videos, files & folders: Photos, videos, any file type, rich-text notes and folders.
  12. 12.
    Private Photo Vault · Photos, videos, files & folders: Photos, videos and albums are documented; general-file support is not advertised in the checked sources. Partial credit for the documented media support.
  13. 13.
    Sealby · Create & edit notes: Write rich-text notes and import plaintext files. Search inside supported documents.
  14. 14.
    Private Photo Vault · Create & edit notes: The developer describes photo and video albums. Notes or plaintext imports are not confirmed by its features page or FAQ; this is not a tested absence.
  15. 15.
    Sealby · No ads: No ads in either the free or Premium version.
  16. 16.
    Private Photo Vault · No ads: Free app includes ads; the developer documents ad removal with Pro.

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.

Private Photo Vault

Free Basic tier; optional paid Premium Cloud Vault. US purchase labels do not consistently identify billing periods, so confirm the plan in the app.

Private Photo Vault · What these plans include

PremiumPlan: Not verified
$6.99–$39.99
UpgradePlan: Not verified
$39.99

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 Private Photo Vault a good choice, and what is the alternative?

Private Photo Vault offers locked albums, a decoy password and optional Cloud Vault storage. Sealby brings photos, documents and notes together without an account or app tracking.

What to keep in mind
  • The decoy feature page does not specify a universal free or paid tier.
  • A recovery email can recover app or album passwords, but not the separate Cloud Vault password.

What Private Photo Vault is built for

  • Works offline with no account for the local vault, according to the developer
  • Full decoy and intruder feature set: decoy password, break-in reports
  • Albums, a private camera and browser, and Cloud Vault sync between iPhone and Android

What to consider

  • Its App Store privacy label (as listed 4 October 2026) declares usage data used to track you
  • Cloud backup is a Premium feature that needs an account and uses the developer’s servers rather than your own iCloud
  • Its FAQ describes resetting the app and album passwords with an optional recovery email
  • No documented hidden vaults that leave no stored list or count or duress PIN

The honest verdict

Choose Sealby for account-free vaults and optional backups in your own iCloud. Choose Private Photo Vault if you want its album workflow and Cloud Vault service.

Sources & checked date

Checked against these public sources on October 4, 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. US App Store: Private Photo Vault – Pic Safe (apps.apple.com)
  2. Private Photo Vault: security (privatephotovault.com)
  3. Private Photo Vault: Cloud Vault encrypted backups (privatephotovault.com)
  4. Private Photo Vault: encryption, accounts, backup and purchases FAQ (privatephotovault.com)
  5. Private Photo Vault: local and cloud encryption (privatephotovault.com)
  6. Private Photo Vault: alternate decoy vault (privatephotovault.com)
  7. Private Photo Vault: supported features (privatephotovault.com)
  8. Checked (apps.apple.com)

Common questions

Does Private Photo Vault encrypt photos?

Yes. Its developer FAQ states AES-256 encryption, with an additional encrypted layer for optional Cloud Vault backups. Both apps allow account-free local use. Private Photo Vault requires an account for Cloud Vault; Sealby uses your own iCloud for optional encrypted backups.

Can I move my photos to Sealby?

Yes. Export them to your photo library or Files, then add them to a Sealby vault with the photo picker or the share sheet. Sealby encrypts them on import, and you can then delete the readable copies.

Related: vs Keepsafe · vs typical photo vaults · Seven photo-vault red flags · How hidden vaults work

Your vault is waiting.

Download Sealby and protect what matters. Setup takes under a minute, and there’s no account to create.

Download on the App Store

iPhone & iPad · iOS 17+ · Free