Comparison

Cipher Pixel vs Underlayer

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Cipher Pixel

Features
Read full description

Cipher Pixel: Hide Messages in Your Photos With Cipher Pixel, you can securely send hidden messages or keep them safely hidden within images in your gallery. Cipher Pixel makes it easy to hide secret messages in your photos. Using the ancient technique of steganography, this app conceals information within the pixels of your images. Unlike cryptography, which scrambles data into unreadable text, steganography hides data in plain sight, ensuring secrecy without drawing attention. Why Choose Cipher Pixel? Seamless Integration: Effortlessly hide messages in your photos without changing their appearance. User-Friendly Design: Encode and decode messages with ease using a simple interface. Advanced Security: Encrypt your secret messages using the AES algorithm before embedding them in your photos, ensuring that your hidden data is protected with an extra layer of security. How It Works: Encode: Input your message, and Cipher Pixel transforms it into bits. Encrypt: Secure your message with AES encryption before hiding it in the image. Embed: Select a photo, and let Cipher Pixel discreetly hide your encrypted message within its pixels. Share Securely: Share your photo confidently, knowing your hidden message is safe. Additional Note: Once you have created an image with a secret message hidden in the Cipher Pixel app, be careful not to resize or compress the image when sharing it. When sending an image using messaging applications, the image must be sent as a 'Document'. If you send it as an image, the saved message may be lost. This is because messaging applications change the image format.

About

Underlayer

Features
Read full description

UNDERLAYER - STEGANOGRAPHY MADE SIMPLE Transform ordinary images into secret carriers. Hide confidential messages invisibly within photos and share them through any messenger without raising suspicion. KEY FEATURES: HIDE SECRETS • Embed text messages invisibly into any image • Two encoding modes: Hidden (invisible pixels) and Open (colored frame) • Open mode survives messenger compression (Telegram, WhatsApp, etc.) • Share processed images directly or save to gallery REVEAL MESSAGES • Extract hidden text from steganographic images • Automatic detection of encoding method • Works with images received through messengers • Share intent support - open images directly from gallery WHY UNDERLAYER? • Simple & Intuitive - No cryptography knowledge required • Messenger-Friendly - Open mode designed for compressed sharing • Privacy First - All processing happens locally on your device • Universal - Works with JPG, PNG, WebP formats • No Account Required - Start using immediately USE CASES • Private communication through public channels • Watermarking images with hidden ownership data • Secure note-taking in plain sight • Educational tool for learning steganography • Fun way to send secret messages to friends SECURITY & PRIVACY • No internet connection required for processing • Your messages never leave your device • No data collection or tracking • Complete control over your secrets PREMIUM FEATURES • No banner ads at the bottom • No interstitial ad interruptions • Process unlimited images without ad breaks HOW IT WORKS 1. Select any image from your gallery 2. Enter your secret message 3. Choose encoding mode (Hidden or Open) 4. App embeds message into image pixels 5. Share through messengers or save locally 6. Recipient opens image in Underlayer to reveal message ENCODING MODES EXPLAINED HIDDEN MODE • Message embedded invisibly in image pixels • Completely undetectable to human eye • Best for uncompressed image sharing • Lost when image is compressed by messengers OPEN MODE • Message encoded as colored frame border • Visible as decorative edge around image • Survives Telegram, WhatsApp compression • Recommended for messenger sharing INTERNATIONAL • Available in English and Russian • More languages coming soon • Automatic language detection Whether you're a privacy enthusiast, security professional, or just curious about steganography - Underlayer makes it accessible to everyone. Download now and start hiding your secrets in plain sight! Terms of use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

Cipher Pixel4 screens
Underlayer4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Cipher Pixel at none against Underlayer's 1. Cipher Pixel also leads on ads (none vs shown) and update cadence (monthly vs every 5 months). On price, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Underlayer sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $2.99 per 7 days. Cipher Pixel asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Cipher Pixel ships an update monthly, Underlayer every 5 months. The most recent releases landed on September 19, 2026 and September 12, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 3 level
Cipher Pixel versus Underlayer: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterCipher PixelUnderlayer
PriceFreeFree
Update frequencyMonthly — betterEvery 5 months
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS1615.1 — better
Further details — not scored
Size1 MB169 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperSerhat CihangirMihail Rukavishnikov

In-app purchases

None

Cipher Pixel

No in-app purchases

1 purchases

Underlayer

Subscriptions1
  • Premium$2.997 Days

Questions

Is Cipher Pixel free?
Cipher Pixel is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Underlayer free?
Underlayer is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Cipher Pixel or Underlayer have ads?
Underlayer shows ads; Cipher Pixel does not.
Which is updated more often, Cipher Pixel or Underlayer?
Cipher Pixel ships an update monthly, and Underlayer every 5 months. Most recently, Cipher Pixel was updated on September 19, 2026 and Underlayer on September 12, 2026.

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