Mavaul vs Calculator#
Both apps hide behind a calculator. Calculator# puts almost everything behind it: photos, documents, passwords, notes, contacts, audio, a browser and a wallet, with backup to iCloud, Dropbox, Google Drive or OneDrive. Mavaul's calculator guards one thing done well: photos and videos, encrypted with AES-256 on the iPhone, in a vault built for looking at them.
At a glance
| Mavaul | Calculator# | |
|---|---|---|
| Built for | Keeping photos private and enjoying them | Hiding almost everything behind a calculator |
| Encryption on the phone | AES-256-GCM for every photo and video | Password-protected files. No cipher named for photos |
| Account | None | None listed |
| Unlock | Face ID, Touch ID or a 4-digit vault passcode | Calculator, PIN, password, pattern, Touch ID or Face ID |
| Decoy and disguise | Decoy mode: a working calculator in place of the lock screen. Calculator, cat or hot sauce icons | Calculator disguise, disguise mode, panic switch, hack monitoring |
| Viewing | Tap the edges to flick through, pinch to zoom, timed slideshow with a progress hint | Built-in gallery and player |
| Big screen | Wi-Fi Share: QR code, then the vault opens in a browser on a TV, laptop or any device on the same Wi-Fi, with slideshow | Wi-Fi transfer from a computer |
| Backup | Encrypted on the phone, to your Dropbox, Nextcloud or Files (Premium). Mavaul hosts nothing | iCloud, Dropbox, Google Drive, OneDrive |
| Also stores | Photos and videos | Documents, audio, notes, contacts, passwords, wallet, to-dos. Browser and camera |
| Ads | None | Not stated |
| App Store privacy label | Data not linked to you: analytics and crash data. No tracking | Data used to track you: contact info. Not linked to you: contact info, email, photos or videos |
| Free version | 20 photos and videos, all the locks, Wi-Fi Share | Yes |
| Premium | 1,99 € a month, 17,99 € a year, or 49,99 € once | $4.99 a year, or a $4.99 premium pack (US) |
| Devices | iPhone | iPhone and iPad |
| On the App Store since | 2026 | 2016, 4.4 stars from about 29,000 ratings (US) |
Made to look at your photos, not just hide them
A vault is also where you go back to the photos. In Mavaul you tap the edges to flick through, pinch to zoom, or start a slideshow. A thin progress hint shows when the next photo is due, and if you swipe away, the show carries on from there. With Wi-Fi Share you scan a QR code and the vault opens on a TV, laptop or any device with a browser on the same Wi-Fi, with a slideshow and a full-screen viewer. Nothing leaves your Wi-Fi.
Privacy and encryption
Calculator#'s App Store label lists contact info that may be used to track you, and its listing doesn't name a cipher for photos. Mavaul names AES-256-GCM for every photo and video, and its label lists no tracking. Mavaul's calculator also does real maths, so typing 2 + 2 shows 4. How Mavaul's encryption works.
Where Calculator# wins
- It stores almost anything: documents, audio, notes, contacts, passwords and a wallet.
- Backup to iCloud, Google Drive or OneDrive, as well as Dropbox.
- A panic switch and hack monitoring.
- An iPad app, and a cheaper Premium.
Which one to pick
Pick Calculator# if you want one disguised app for documents, passwords and notes as well as photos.
Pick Mavaul if you want your photos encrypted on the phone, no tracking, a calculator decoy, and an app that makes your photos nice to look at again, on the phone or on the TV.
Questions
Is Mavaul a good alternative to Calculator#?
Yes, if your vault is for photos and videos and you want them encrypted with AES-256, without tracking, behind a calculator that really calculates. Stay with Calculator# if you also hide documents, passwords and notes.
Do both apps disguise themselves as a calculator?
Yes. In Mavaul it's decoy mode: a working calculator in place of the lock screen, and your passcode on its keypad opens the vault. It's free.
Does Calculator# track you?
Its privacy label lists contact info that may be used to track you. Mavaul's lists no tracking.
Sources
Calculator# facts come from its US App Store listing and privacy label, checked on October 6, 2026. Privacy labels are filled in by each developer, who is responsible for keeping them accurate. Prices and features change, so check the listing before you buy. Mavaul facts come from features, pricing and privacy. App names and icons belong to their owners. Spot something out of date? hello@mavaul.com.