SwiftLocker vs Private Photo Vault
Private Photo Vault has locked photos since 2011, on iPhone and Android, with a camera, editors and a browser built in. SwiftLocker is for iPhone and iPad, with no ads and backups in your own iCloud. Here's how they compare, from each app's own App Store listing and website.
In short
Private Photo Vault fits if
- You also use Android
- You want a camera, editors or a web browser in the vault
- You want passwords on single albums
- You move files to a computer over Wi-Fi
SwiftLocker fits if
- You want no ads, even for free
- You want sync and backups without a new account
- You keep documents and PDFs, or scan IDs
- You want to search the text in photos and PDFs
Side by side
| Feature | Private Photo Vault |  SwiftLocker |
|---|---|---|
| Opens with | A PIN, password or pattern, plus Face ID or Touch ID. It can ask for Face ID and the PIN together | A PIN of its own, plus Face ID or Touch ID |
| Account | None on the device. Cloud Vault needs one | None, iCloud sync included |
| Ads | Its App Store listing says it contains ads | None, free or Premium |
| Data used to track you, per the App Store label | Usage data | None |
| Encryption | AES on the device. Cloud Vault adds AES-256 before upload | Every file on your device. iCloud sync is end-to-end encrypted |
| Backup and sync | Cloud Vault (Premium), locked with a password only you know. iPhone and Android | Your own iCloud, end-to-end encrypted, plus password-protected backup files (Premium) |
| Forgotten PIN | Recoverable by email, if you set up a recovery email | Can't be reset, by design. Restore from iCloud sync or a backup |
| Decoy PIN | Decoy password | Decoy vault (Premium) |
| Wrong attempts | Break-in Report with a photo and GPS | Break-in Alerts take a photo (Premium) |
| What it holds | Photos and videos | Photos, videos, documents and PDFs, with document and ID scanning |
| Built in | Camera, photo and video editors, web browser, Wi-Fi transfer, duplicate detection | Search by the text in photos and PDFs, Trash, Find Duplicates |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, Mac with Apple silicon, and Android | iPhone and iPad, optimized for iPhone Duo |
| Price | Free. Premium by subscription, with a free trial | Free. Premium monthly, yearly with a 7-day free trial, or once for life |
Private Photo Vault details from its App Store listing and website, read on November 9, 2026. Where a plan isn't stated there, it's left out.
Where SwiftLocker is different
- No ads, no tracking. There are no ads, free or Premium. SwiftLocker's App Store label lists no data used to track you.
- Sync without a new account. iCloud sync keeps your vault in SwiftLocker's own space in your own iCloud, end-to-end encrypted. There's no account to create, and no extra password to remember (Premium).
- More than photos. Keep documents and PDFs beside your photos, and scan documents and IDs straight into the vault.
- Search what's inside. Find things by name, date and the text in photos and PDFs, all on your device. On Apple Intelligence devices, just ask in a sentence.
- Made for iPad and iPhone Duo. Folders in a sidebar on iPad, and full screen on both displays of iPhone Duo.
Where Private Photo Vault goes further
- Android and Mac. It runs on Android and on Macs with Apple silicon, and Cloud Vault syncs between iPhone and Android. SwiftLocker is for iPhone and iPad.
- Tools in the vault. A private camera, photo and video editors, and a private web browser.
- Album passwords. Sub-albums, and a password for single albums.
- More ways in and out. Wi-Fi transfer to a computer, Face ID and the PIN together, and Location Based Lock.
- Space Saver. It keeps originals in Cloud Vault to free up room on your phone (Premium).
Switching from Private Photo Vault
- In Private Photo Vault, export your photos and videos to the Photos app.
- In SwiftLocker, tap + › Add from Photos and pick them. SwiftLocker keeps its own copies.
- To clear the originals as you go, turn on Settings › Ask to remove originals from Photos. Then empty Albums › Recently Deleted in Photos.
- Check everything arrived before you change plans there. Its FAQ says switching to Basic deletes your Cloud Backup.
Questions
Is SwiftLocker a good Private Photo Vault alternative?
If you use iPhone or iPad and want no ads and no account for sync, it's worth a look. If you need Android, or a camera or web browser in the vault, Private Photo Vault has them and SwiftLocker doesn't.
Do I need an account?
Not for SwiftLocker, iCloud sync included, as it uses your own iCloud. Private Photo Vault needs no account on the device. Its Cloud Vault backup needs one.
Can I move my photos from Private Photo Vault to SwiftLocker?
Yes. Export them from Private Photo Vault to the Photos app. Then add them in SwiftLocker with + › Add from Photos, and check they all arrived before you delete anything.
Does SwiftLocker have a camera?
No. SwiftLocker has no camera of its own. Take photos with the Camera app, then add them from Photos.
Is SwiftLocker free?
Yes. Hiding photos, videos and documents behind your PIN, Face ID or Touch ID, encryption, scanning, search, Trash and Find Duplicates are free, with three folders of your own. Premium adds the decoy vault, iCloud sync, backups, unlimited folders, Break-in Alerts and app icons in five colors.