Umbra vs Private Photo Vault
Private Photo Vault is one of the longest-running vault apps, with a huge user base and an optional cloud. Umbra is newer, has no ads, and puts encrypted backups that move between iPhone and Android in the free plan. Here’s how they compare.
Private Photo Vault, from Legendary Software Labs, has around a million ratings on the App Store and has been around for years. It needs no account to get started and works offline by default, which puts it closer to Umbra than many vault apps. The differences are in ads, backups, how the decoy works and how much detail each app gives about its encryption.
At a glance
| Private Photo Vault | Umbra | |
|---|---|---|
| Phones | iPhone, iPad and Android | iPhone, iPad and Android |
| Account | Not needed; required for Cloud Vault | No account |
| Ads | Yes; ad-free is Premium | No ads on any plan |
| Unlock | PIN or pattern, optional Face ID plus PIN | Pattern on a 5×5 grid |
| Encryption | "AES encrypted" | AES-256-GCM per file, key from your pattern via Argon2id |
| Decoy | Decoy password | Duress pattern that also removes access to other vaults (Pro) |
| Break-in report | Photo and GPS of intruders | Break-in log free, intruder photo with Pro |
| Backup | Cloud Vault, Premium only | Encrypted backup free: iCloud on iPhone and iPad, backup files on any phone |
| iPhone to Android | Through Cloud Vault (Premium) | Free, with an encrypted backup file |
| Screenshots blocked | Not listed | Yes |
| Recovery | Optional recovery email for passwords | 12-word recovery phrase, or one you choose |
Private Photo Vault details are from privatephotovault.com, its features page, FAQ, App Store listing and Google Play listing.
Backups are where they differ most
Private Photo Vault’s FAQ is clear that deleting the app removes the vault files from your phone, and that without a backup they can’t restore deleted files. Its App Store listing says the free version doesn’t back up to Cloud Vault. Backups come with Premium, through Cloud Vault, which needs an account and an internet connection. Cloud Vault is a good design: files are encrypted on your device before upload and the password is never stored on their servers.
Umbra includes encrypted backups on the free plan. On iPhone and iPad they go to your own iCloud automatically, encrypted before upload. On any phone you can export an encrypted backup file and keep it wherever you like. Either way, only your recovery phrase opens it, and it restores on iPhone, iPad or Android.
Decoy password vs duress pattern
Private Photo Vault offers a decoy password that shows everyday photos in an alternate vault. On Google Play it’s listed as a Premium feature.
Umbra’s duress pattern opens a decoy too, but it also removes the way into every other vault on the phone at the moment it’s drawn. If someone keeps pushing, there’s nothing left that your real pattern can open there. Your vaults come back later with their recovery phrases. Umbra’s unlock screen also never lists vaults, so there’s no visible hint that more exist. More in what is a duress pattern.
Encryption detail
Private Photo Vault describes its files as "AES encrypted" and its Cloud Vault as zero-knowledge, encrypted on your device before upload. The pages we checked don’t say more about key length or how keys are derived from your PIN.
Umbra publishes the specifics: AES-256-GCM with a separate random key for every file, your pattern stretched with Argon2id and mixed with a secret held in the phone’s secure hardware, and video encrypted in small chunks so it plays without being written to storage in the clear. The details are on our homepage.
Ads and extras
Private Photo Vault’s free version shows ads, removed with Premium. It also includes extras that Umbra doesn’t, like a private web browser and password-protected albums, and a separate paid version on the App Store.
Umbra has no ads on any plan. Its extras lean toward privacy: screenshot and screen-recording blocking, a secure camera that never touches your camera roll, a document scanner that saves encrypted PDFs, encrypted notes, and disguise icons with Pro.
Where Private Photo Vault is ahead
- Track record and scale: around a million App Store ratings.
- Cloud Vault: up to 50 GB on Google Play’s listing, with sync between iPhone and Android.
- Unlock options: PIN or pattern, and Face ID together with a PIN.
- Extras like a private browser.
Bottom line
Private Photo Vault is a solid choice if you want a familiar app with a cloud service and don’t mind ads on the free version. Choose Umbra if you want free encrypted backups that move between platforms, no ads, published encryption details, and a duress pattern that locks your real vaults away.
Questions
Is Private Photo Vault free?
Yes, with ads and without cloud backup. Ad-free use, Cloud Vault and some features such as the decoy password on Android come with Premium. Umbra’s free plan has no ads and includes encrypted backups.
What happens to my photos if I delete Private Photo Vault?
Its FAQ says deleting the app removes the vault files from your phone, and without a Cloud Vault backup they can’t be restored. The same is true of most vault apps, including Umbra, which is why Umbra makes encrypted backups free.
Can I switch from Private Photo Vault to Umbra?
Yes. Export your photos from Private Photo Vault to your photo library, import them into Umbra, and let Umbra delete the originals. On iPhone, empty Recently Deleted in Photos afterwards.
Which is more private?
Both work without an account for local use. Umbra has no ads or analytics, publishes its encryption design, and keeps backups encrypted with a phrase only you hold. Private Photo Vault’s Cloud Vault is also encrypted on the device, but needs an account.
Checked against public pages on 20 October 2026. Details change, so check the linked pages before you decide. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.