Mavaul vs Vaultaire
Vaultaire and Mavaul are both new in 2026, and both encrypt every photo with AES-256-GCM on the iPhone with no account. Vaultaire leans into security extras: a pattern lock, decoy vaults that open with a different pattern, a duress vault, free encrypted iCloud backup, sync and shared vaults. Mavaul leans into the part you do every day: a viewer that works like Photos, a slideshow that keeps up, Wi-Fi Share to a TV, laptop or any browser on your Wi-Fi, and a calculator decoy that really calculates.
At a glance
| Mavaul | Vaultaire | |
|---|---|---|
| Built for | Keeping photos private and enjoying them | Security extras: separate, decoy and shared vaults |
| Encryption on the phone | AES-256-GCM for every photo and video | AES-256-GCM. Pattern-derived key via PBKDF2 |
| Account | None | None required |
| Unlock | Face ID, Touch ID or a 4-digit vault passcode | A pattern on a 5×5 grid |
| Decoy and disguise | Decoy mode: a working calculator in place of the lock screen. Calculator, cat or hot sauce icons | Decoy vaults that open with a different pattern. Duress vault (Pro) |
| Viewing | Tap the edges to flick through, pinch to zoom, timed slideshow with a progress hint | Encrypted gallery, folders in each vault |
| 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 | Encrypted iCloud backup, on by default, free. Multi-device sync (Pro) |
| Also stores | Photos and videos | Photos, videos, documents. In-app camera |
| Ads | None | None |
| App Store privacy label | Data not linked to you: analytics and crash data. No tracking | Linked to you: email and user content, for app functionality and support. Not linked: usage and diagnostics. No tracking |
| Free version | 20 photos and videos, all the locks, Wi-Fi Share | Up to 3 vaults, 100 photos and 10 videos |
| Premium | 1,99 € a month, 17,99 € a year, or 49,99 € once | Pro $5.99 a month, $19.99 a year, or $39.99 once. Family plans (US) |
| Devices | iPhone | iPhone and iPad |
| On the App Store since | 2026 | 2026, about 30 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, neither has ads, and neither tracks you. Vaultaire's App Store label lists your email and user content as linked to you, for app functionality and customer support; Mavaul's lists nothing linked to you, only anonymous analytics and crash data. For backup, Vaultaire encrypts to your iCloud by default, and Mavaul encrypts to storage you pick: Dropbox, Nextcloud or Files. For recovery, Vaultaire gives each vault a nine-word phrase, and Mavaul gives you a 24-character recovery key. How Mavaul's encryption works.
Where Vaultaire wins
- Decoy vaults that open with a different pattern, and a duress vault on Pro.
- Encrypted iCloud backup on by default, free, plus sync across devices on Pro.
- Shared vaults, an in-app camera, documents, and an iPad app.
- A bigger free plan (100 photos) and a cheaper lifetime price ($39.99).
Which one to pick
Pick Vaultaire if you want a pattern lock, decoy and duress vaults, or a vault synced and backed up through iCloud.
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 Vaultaire?
Yes, if you want a vault built for looking at your photos (viewer, slideshow, Wi-Fi Share to a TV, laptop or any browser on your Wi-Fi), a calculator decoy, a 4-digit passcode rather than a pattern, and backups to your own storage. Stay with Vaultaire if you want decoy and duress vaults, iCloud sync or shared vaults.
Do both encrypt photos?
Yes. Both use AES-256-GCM on the iPhone, with no account.
Which has a decoy?
Both, in different ways. Vaultaire's decoy is a second vault that opens with a different pattern. Mavaul's decoy mode is a working calculator in place of the lock screen.
Sources
Vaultaire facts come from its US App Store listing and privacy label, and its features page, 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.