# Photo Vault - Privoto — user reviews > 108 indexed App Store user reviews of Photo Vault by IDEANOLOGY LTD, rated 4.10/5 from 223 ratings. - Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/photo-vault-privoto/id1595672907/reviews - App overview in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/photo-vault-privoto/id1595672907.md - Rating breakdown: 5★ 162 · 4★ 10 · 3★ 8 · 2★ 4 · 1★ 39 ## What do users think of Photo Vault? Overall sentiment: negative **Pros** - 🔒 Strong encryption and security features (256-bit encryption) - 🎨 Polished and sleek user interface design - 👍 Multiple passcode options and customization - 🔐 Disguise feature (Compass icon) for privacy - ⚡ App functions smoothly and reliably - 🗂️ Customizable album organization - 🎯 Automatic photo deletion from camera roll - 🌍 Multi-language support **Cons** - 💰 Misleading pricing and bait-and-switch tactics - 🔓 Limited imports for premium users (50 free, then paid) - 💸 Excessive additional charges for basic features - 😤 Unlimited imports removed from premium tier - 🚫 Per-device licensing (not cross-device) - ⚠️ Deceptive marketing and promotional claims - 🤝 Poor customer support responsiveness - 🔐 Privacy concerns despite security claims - 🌐 Language/localization issues after updates - 🔑 Password security doesn't persist properly **Commonly reported bugs** - Wi-Fi transfer not working between phones - Purchase restoration fails or shows duplicate charges - App displays in wrong language (Arabic/Chinese) - Password protection doesn't persist when switching apps - Import limits not properly synced across devices - Video codec compatibility issues - Premium purchase not recognized on new device **Most requested features** - Tag and search functionality for photos - Dark mode option - Local NAS sync capability - Built-in notes/document encryption - Private browser feature - In-app photo capture - Alphanumeric and pattern-based passcodes - Custom album cover photo selection - Computer transfer/sync instructions - Wi-Fi transfer between devices ## Newest reviews (10 of 108) ### 2/5 — Privoto premium *2026-01-04, version 1.13.8* For some reason my Privoto premium Account which I purchased in 2024 is not working now after I opened the app today and made my account regular! ### 3/5 — 프리미엄 복원이 안되네요 *2025-12-28, version 1.13.8* 결제 내역이 있어도 없다고 나오며 복원이 안됩니다 ### 5/5 — Awesome place for private photos *2025-11-30* Re installed after unlimited photos issue corrected with premium purchase. **Developer response:** Thanks for your feedback! We will evaluate accordingly. ### 4/5 — On Its Way to Being Perfect *2025-11-15* Works flawlessly, my only missing feature would be a Tag and subsequent Search feature. Being able to give a photo or video a tag or label, and then search for said item would be SO incredibly helpful. Dev, PLEASE ADD 🙏🏼 ### 5/5 — 使用体验不错 *2025-11-03, version 1.13.5* 软件功能很好整体体验很不错 值得购买和使用 ### 5/5 — 好👌🏻 *2025-08-02, version 1.13.2* 非常好！ ### 5/5 — 垃圾软件 *2025-05-13, version 1.13.2* 垃圾买永久会员后面还要收钱说什么导入次数巳尽 ### 5/5 — This is awesome! *2025-04-13* Everything is great. One small request… could there be a sort feature so we can sort images by file names? It would be nice to change how we can sort them. This app is well worth paying for! **Developer response:** Thanks for the feedback! Currently you can long press the photo and drag it to any position in order to sort it. Also you can long press to pin the photo to top in the menu. ### 5/5 — 产品不错有个小建议 *2025-03-11, version 1.12.18* 产品不错已经订阅，建议加上本地nas同步功能和文档记事加密 ### 5/5 — Very nice and easy to use *2025-01-19, version 1.12.13* Love it u should try premium easy to use and good function ## Most critical reviews (10 lowest-rated) ### 1/5 — 貨不對版 表面寫免費 實際要收費！ *2025-12-01, version 1.13.6* 太差了！好像也不能退款… ### 1/5 — Lixo *2025-11-30, version 1.13.6* É pago ### 1/5 — Please Read This Before Purchasing This App *2025-11-30, version 1.13.6* The scammers/developers at Ideanology are well aware that their “premium” offer implies the app provides unlimited downloads—in fact, it only includes 20. To get unlimited downloads, you must pay an ADDITIONAL $15.98. But you won’t discover that until you either purchase the app or read this and virtually all the other reviews. Clearly, Ideanology is aware that their promotions for Privoto are misleading, but they continue to refuse to change them so their marks/customers can actually understand what they’re buying. Consider this: Ideanology makes the following claim: “Privoto employs robust security measures by encrypting all imported photos and videos with a 256-bit encryption key. This key is directly linked to the passcode you establish for the app. This ensures that not only are others unable to access your data, but even we, as the app creators, do not have access to it. The exclusive individual with the ability to decrypt the data is the one possessing the passcode - you.” Can you believe them? I don’t. By the way, their much ballyhooed “Disguise as Compass” icon displays the not so subtle word Privoto prominently beneath it on your iPhone screen. ### 1/5 — Avoid: key features locked behind extra payments *2025-08-10, version 1.13.2* After purchasing the app at an expensive price I found the developer has decided to lock unlimited imports which is one of the main features of the app behind a further purchase which I won’t be purchasing :( PURE GREED which ruins a good app ### 1/5 — How To Lose A Customer *2025-07-30* The app was working very well for my needs *cue creepy music followed by professional male voice over* But, in a world where money triumphs over morals, dollars over dedication to customers, and lifetime premium becomes knifetime freemium…what results is a subpar app which has become a money pit for an unsuspecting public. Use your great-grandmother's old clingy-paged photo album. It's cheaper and more likely to be around this time next year. Other than that, the app works great! **Developer response:** “unlimited imports” has to be a separate payment due to security reason: the encryption is tied to the unique receipt for the unlimited imports payment. ### 1/5 — Please Read This Before Purchasing This App *2025-07-26, version 1.13.2* The scammers/developers at Ideanology are well aware that their “premium” offer implies the app provides unlimited downloads—in fact, it only includes 20. To get unlimited downloads, you must pay an ADDITIONAL $15.98. But you won’t discover that until you either purchase the app or read this and virtually all the other reviews. Clearly, Ideanology is aware that their promotions for Privoto are misleading, but they continue to refuse to change them so their marks/customers can actually understand what they’re buying. Consider this, Ideanology makes the following claim: “Privoto employs robust security measures by encrypting all imported photos and videos with a 256-bit encryption key. This key is directly linked to the passcode you establish for the app. This ensures that not only are others unable to access your data, but even we, as the app creators, do not have access to it. The exclusive individual with the ability to decrypt the data is the one possessing the passcode - you.” Can you believe them? I don’t. By the way, their much ballyhooed “Disguise as Compass” icon displays the not so subtle word Privoto prominently beneath it on your iPhone screen. ### 1/5 — Have to pay *2025-07-26, version 1.13.2* You have to pay for imports, pro version gets you almost nothing. Can only import 50 things for free ### 1/5 — This cost is per device - use other apps instead *2025-02-14, version 1.12.14* I agreed to the purchase for the unlimited so that it will go from device to device - iPad to iPhone. $11.99 CDN with tax. Now I see that this cost is per device. You cannot import on each device to have them all match. Very unimpressed. If I would have known that it is just a one way, I would not have bought this app. Just make sure that you are aware. Not worth the price. ### 1/5 — Privoto Review: Why I’m Upset with This App *2025-02-03, version 1.12.13* I’ve been a loyal user for over a year and am frustrated with the recent update. After paying for the app and enjoying unlimited features, I’m now being asked to pay again for the same package. I’ve emailed customer support but haven’t received a response. This feels unfair, and I can’t recommend the app until this issue is resolved. ### 1/5 — Beware: it is bait & switch *2025-01-23* I got the premium account. Later, they slammed additional fees for uploading photographs. I believed the top to your premium account was unlimited. It is not. If you want unlimited, there’s an additional fee of $10 down the road for you. **Developer response:** We've made the changes in the latest update. "Unlimited imports" now comes with "Premium Account" and can be resotred in the new device. Please update your app to the latest version. ## Most praised reviews (10 highest-rated) ### 5/5 — 잘되고 좋네요 *2026-04-10, version 1.13.9* 덕분에 잘쓰고 있어요 ### 5/5 — Bi mât *2026-03-01, version 1.13.9* Khá tôt ### 5/5 — 已購買過高級會員但無法恢復 *2026-01-23, version 1.13.9* 用同一個apple id購買過高級會員，現在重裝app無法恢復？ 2026/1/23 更新後已解決問題，謝謝🙏 ### 5/5 — Changing my previous review *2026-01-22, version 1.13.9* On my previous review I was annoyed as developers removed unlimited imports on premium. I have now received a mail from developers informing that they have reverted to what it was before, so I can only thank that they listened to me as I loved the app but uninstalled it. Now enjoying it again ### 5/5 — 新版本回复无限导入了！谢谢 *2026-01-22, version 1.13.9* 更新∶最新版本恢复无限导入了！谢谢！[分割线，原评论]更新之后导入都开始收费了 简直莫名其妙 ### 5/5 — Perfect *2026-01-21, version 1.13.9* Perfect ### 5/5 — Best photo vault app *2026-01-19, version 1.13.9* Please add the layout for the album and change the password from passcode to the form of letters and special characters ### 5/5 — Wowwww *2025-12-31, version 1.13.8* It Seems just a Normal Volt.But Once u buy a paid Version wich is $10 Dollars.first it seems super Expencive to me.but once i turn on all the features.it Blow my Mind .what a Crazy App .with unmatchable Security with 3 difrent pascode options + each album have owne pascode option plus + Compass .i never write a Review in my like for a app.but this app is sick.Just Wowwwww What a App thats a i Can say. ### 5/5 — Durch iCloud Sync attraktiv *2025-12-19, version 1.13.7* Die meisten Photo Vaults haben keinen iCloud-Sync (und lassen sich somit nur im iCloud Backup sichern) bzw. lassen sich diesen extrem teuer bezahlen. Wenn man dann aber sein iPhone beim Wechsel ohne Backup neu aufsetzen möchte ist ein iCloud Sync Pflicht. Ein Wunsch wäre noch Unteralben / Subfolders. Diese App hatte früher 2 Preisfaktoren, die man für sich zusammenrechnen musste: - Premium um den iCloud Sync zu aktivieren (funktioniert gemeinsam auf iPhone/iPad) - Unlimited um mehr als 30/50 Fotos zu importieren (muss auf JEDEM Gerät separat erworben werden?! Hatte es daher nur am iPhone auf unlimited), aber dies scheint nun erfreulicherweise entfernt Ich hatte Premium umsonst bekommen und dann 10€ noch für unlimited bezahlt und das ist die App definitiv wert, wenn einem der „Ausgeblendet“ Ordner in Apple Fotos nicht ausreicht, sondern mehrere Alben geschützt verwalten möchte auf mehreren Geräten bzw. auch nach dem Neuaufsetzen ohne Backup! Die App ist schön gestaltet, man kann bei den Thumbnails zwischen Quadrat und Portrait wählen, sieht Exif-Daten wie Aufnahmedatum, kann Fotos in der App zuschneiden, es gibt WiFi-Zugriff, Import löscht bei Bedarf automatisch aus Fotos.app, mehrere Alben möglich und diese sind optional auch nochmal gesondert mit Passwort schützbar Die negativen Bewertungen kann ich daher nicht wirklich nachvollziehen, wenn ich es mit den Alternativen vergleiche; Safety Photo zB nimmt 44,99€ als Lifetime für iCloud Sync. Den fehlenden Stern gibt es nun dazu! (Vorher: Ein Stern Abzug da man die InApp Käufe für unlimitierten Import nicht wiederherstellen kann!!! Nur für Premium gibt es „Restore“) ### 5/5 — 무료이벤트라해놓고 결제 돈나감 *2025-12-01, version 1.13.6* 신고합니다 --- *Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-09-11.*