Mavaul vs Hide it Pro
Hide it Pro is an old favourite with two clever tricks: a disguise screen that makes the app look like it crashed, and an escape code that opens it looking empty. It collects very little: only crash diagnostics, by its label. What its listing doesn't mention is encryption. Mavaul encrypts every photo with AES-256 on the iPhone, and is built for looking at your photos as well as hiding them.
At a glance
| Mavaul | Hide it Pro | |
|---|---|---|
| Built for | Keeping photos private and enjoying them | Hiding photos and videos behind a lock screen |
| Encryption on the phone | AES-256-GCM for every photo and video | Not mentioned |
| Account | None | Not stated in the listing |
| Unlock | Face ID, Touch ID or a 4-digit vault passcode | Lock screen code |
| Decoy and disguise | Decoy mode: a working calculator in place of the lock screen. Calculator, cat or hot sauce icons | Fake-crash disguise screen. Escape code that makes the app look empty |
| Viewing | Tap the edges to flick through, pinch to zoom, timed slideshow with a progress hint | Built-in picture viewer and video 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 | Not listed |
| Backup | Encrypted on the phone, to your Dropbox, Nextcloud or Files (Premium). Mavaul hosts nothing | Its own cloud storage ($9.99 a month), USB export |
| Also stores | Photos and videos | Photos, videos, GIFs |
| Ads | None | Not stated |
| App Store privacy label | Data not linked to you: analytics and crash data. No tracking | Data not linked to you: crash and performance data. No tracking |
| 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 | Cloud storage $9.99 a month. Password reset $4.99 (US) |
| Devices | iPhone | iPhone and iPad |
| On the App Store since | 2026 | 2012, 4.7 stars from about 25,000 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
Hide it Pro's label is lean: only crash and performance data, not linked to you, and no tracking. Mavaul's label also lists no tracking, with anonymous analytics and crash data. The difference is the files: Hide it Pro's listing doesn't mention encryption, and Mavaul encrypts every photo and video with AES-256-GCM. How Mavaul's encryption works.
Where Hide it Pro wins
- A disguise that makes the app look like it crashed.
- An escape code that opens the app looking empty.
- Collects only crash diagnostics, by its label.
- Its own cloud storage, an iPad app, and a long track record.
Which one to pick
Pick Hide it Pro if you want the fake-crash disguise or an empty-looking escape code, and a cloud you don't manage.
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 Hide it Pro?
Yes, if you want your photos encrypted with AES-256, not just hidden, in a vault built for looking at them. Stay with Hide it Pro if you want its fake-crash disguise.
Does Hide it Pro encrypt photos?
Its listing describes an impenetrable lock screen but doesn't mention encryption. Mavaul encrypts every photo and video with AES-256.
Does Hide it Pro have a decoy?
Yes: a fake-crash screen and an escape code that makes the app look empty. Mavaul's decoy mode is a working calculator in place of the lock screen.
Sources
Hide it Pro 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.