Mavaul vs Obscura
Obscura is built security-first, and new in 2026 like Mavaul. Both encrypt every photo with AES-256-GCM on the iPhone, with no account and no cloud. Obscura goes further on security: open-source encryption code, 600,000 key-derivation rounds, ten separate vaults, no data collected, and no recovery at all if you forget the password. Mavaul pairs the same encryption with a recovery key, a calculator decoy, and a vault built for looking at your photos: a viewer, a slideshow and Wi-Fi Share to a TV, laptop or any browser on your Wi-Fi.
At a glance
| Mavaul | Obscura | |
|---|---|---|
| Built for | Keeping photos private and enjoying them | Maximum security and transparency |
| Encryption on the phone | AES-256-GCM for every photo and video | AES-256-GCM, open-source code, 600,000 key-derivation rounds |
| Account | None | None |
| Unlock | Face ID, Touch ID or a 4-digit vault passcode | Password, Face ID or Touch ID |
| Decoy and disguise | Decoy mode: a working calculator in place of the lock screen. Calculator, cat or hot sauce icons | Ten separate vaults, each with its own password, and no list of them |
| Viewing | Tap the edges to flick through, pinch to zoom, timed slideshow with a progress hint | Not listed beyond playback |
| 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. Works without internet |
| Backup | Encrypted on the phone, to your Dropbox, Nextcloud or Files (Premium). Mavaul hosts nothing | None: no cloud, by its listing |
| Also stores | Photos and videos | Photos and videos |
| Ads | None | None stated |
| App Store privacy label | Data not linked to you: analytics and crash data. No tracking | Data not collected |
| 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 | Pro $6.99 a month, $29.99 a year, or $39.99 once (US) |
| Devices | iPhone | iPhone and iPad |
| On the App Store since | 2026 | 2026, about 15 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
Both apps encrypt on the phone with AES-256-GCM and neither tracks you. Obscura's label says no data is collected at all; Mavaul's lists anonymous analytics and crash data not linked to you. The big trade-off is recovery. Obscura has none: forget the password and the photos are gone. Mavaul gives you a 24-character recovery key, and with Premium, an encrypted backup to your own storage. How Mavaul's encryption works.
Where Obscura wins
- Open-source encryption code you can check yourself.
- 600,000 key-derivation rounds, against Mavaul's 210,000.
- Ten separate vaults, each with its own password.
- No data collected, by its label. Mavaul collects anonymous analytics.
Which one to pick
Pick Obscura if security is everything to you, you want to read the encryption code, and you accept that a forgotten password means the photos are gone.
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 Obscura?
Yes, if you want the same AES-256-GCM encryption plus a way back in if you forget the passcode, encrypted backups, and a vault built for looking at your photos. Stay with Obscura if you want open-source encryption code and no recovery by design.
Which is more secure, Mavaul or Obscura?
Both encrypt with AES-256-GCM on the iPhone. Obscura publishes its encryption code, uses more key-derivation rounds and offers no recovery. Mavaul offers a recovery key, which is safer against forgetting and means the key itself must be kept safe.
Can I recover my photos if I forget the password?
In Obscura, no. In Mavaul, yes, with your 24-character recovery key.
Sources
Obscura 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.