Hidden vs encrypted
The Hidden album does one thing well: it keeps certain photos out of your main grid, and on recent iOS it sits behind Face ID. But hiding isn't the same as a separate encryption boundary — the photos remain part of your Photos library and, by default, sync through iCloud. Kistvault puts your files in a distinct, AES-256-GCM-encrypted vault whose key is derived from a credential only you know.
Where Kistvault is different
- A real vault, not a filter. Content is encrypted at rest in its own container, separate from your camera roll.
- No cloud by default. Kistvault doesn't sync your vault anywhere; you choose whether a backup exists and where.
- Documents too. Not just photos and videos — IDs, contracts, records.
- Cross-platform. It isn't tied to Apple's ecosystem.
Where the Hidden album shines
It's free, built in, and zero-setup. For simply keeping a handful of photos out of casual view on your own iPhone — and especially if you've turned on Advanced Data Protection for end-to-end iCloud — it's perfectly reasonable. It's just not designed as a zero-knowledge vault for things you truly can't afford to leak.
Bottom line: use Hidden to tidy your grid. Use Kistvault when "out of sight" isn't enough and you need the files genuinely encrypted, off the cloud, and portable.