Comparison

Stego vs Needl Encrypt

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

Head to head
About

Stego

Features
Read full description

Stego lets you hide private text or images inside ordinary photos and extract them later on your iPhone or iPad. Your cover images and hidden payloads are processed on your device—they are not uploaded to Japality Limited. CHOOSE YOUR WORKFLOW • LSB-1 for lossless PNG workflows • DCT and GN-QIM for JPEG and recompressed sharing scenarios • Social Media Mode to prepare images for apps that may resize uploads • Optional error correction for tougher recovery FEATURES • Hide text, notes, or an image inside another image • Extract hidden content from stego images • UTF-8 support, including Chinese and emoji • Warnings when a cover image is too flat for reliable embedding FREE & STEGO PRO Stego is free to use with ads. Stego Pro (monthly or yearly subscription) removes banner, interstitial, and app-open ads. Payment is charged to your Apple ID. Subscriptions renew automatically unless canceled at least 24 hours before the end of the period. Manage subscriptions in Settings → Apple ID → Subscriptions, or in Stego → Settings → Stego Pro. PRIVACY See our Privacy Policy for how ads (Google AdMob) and subscriptions (RevenueCat) handle data. Steganography operations themselves stay on your device. IMPORTANT Stego is for lawful personal use only. You are responsible for complying with applicable laws. Steganography is not encryption—anyone with the original file may detect or lose hidden data if the image is recompressed. Support: https://app.japality.com/stego/i/support/ Privacy: https://app.japality.com/stego/i/privacy_policy/ Terms: https://app.japality.com/stego/i/terms/

About

Needl Encrypt

Securely hide text, passwords, and files within images using advanced encryption and steganography. This app offers a built-in password manager for easy storage and retrieval, with quick copy-to-clipboard functionality for seamless logins.

Highlights
  • Data encryption
  • Image steganography
  • Password manager
  • Quick password copy
  • File storage
Features
Read full description

Needl uses encryption to store data you want to keep secret and safe within your favorite photographs. Using a unique process to convert your data and store it in tiny, unnoticeable pixel changes you can store plain text, passwords, and even files that you want to be nearly impossible for anyone else to find — like trying to find a needle in a haystack. Use the built in password manager to easily store and retrieve your passwords. Mark your favorite passwords for quick access or use the search bar to quickly find the password you are looking for. Quickly copy passwords to your clipboard, for an easy sign in process on all your favorite apps and websites. Terms of Service: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Privacy Policy: https://raw.githubusercontent.com/jessiepdx/Needl/refs/heads/main/privacy_policy_ios_app.md

Screenshots

Stego4 screens
Needl Encrypt4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is ads: Needl Encrypt at none against Stego's shown. Needl Encrypt also leads on update cadence (every 2 weeks vs every 2 months). Stego's advantage is iOS requirement (16.0 vs 18.0). On price, in-app purchases and device support 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. Stego sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month and Needl Encrypt sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Stego ships an update every 2 months, Needl Encrypt every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on August 11, 2026 and August 14, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
Stego versus Needl Encrypt: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterStegoNeedl Encrypt
PriceFreeFree
Rating—5.0 (2 ratings) — better
Positive reviews—100.0% of reviews
Number of ratings—2 — better
Update frequencyEvery 2 monthsEvery 2 weeks — better
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesYesYes
Monetization—Freemium
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad
Requires iOS16.0 — better18.0
Further details — not scored
Size51 MB3 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperJapality LimitedJessie Wise

In-app purchases

2 purchases

Stego

Subscriptions2
  • Stego Pro (Monthly)$2.991 Month
  • Stego Pro (Yearly)$14.991 Year
2 purchases

Needl Encrypt

Subscriptions2
  • Needl PRO - Monthly7 Days trial$0.991 Month
  • Needl PRO - Annual1 Month trial$5.991 Year

Questions

Is Stego free?
Stego is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Needl Encrypt free?
Needl Encrypt is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Stego or Needl Encrypt have ads?
Stego shows ads; Needl Encrypt does not.
Which is updated more often, Stego or Needl Encrypt?
Stego ships an update every 2 months, and Needl Encrypt every 2 weeks. Most recently, Stego was updated on August 11, 2026 and Needl Encrypt on August 14, 2026.

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