Comparison

Private Vault vs Locked Folder

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

Head to head
About

Private Vault

Securely store photos, videos, notes, and files in a private vault. Includes a private browser for anonymous web surfing and secret bookmarking. Manage passwords and contacts discreetly.

Highlights
  • Store secret photos and videos
  • Write and store private notes
  • Import and view secret files
  • Store private contacts
  • Save all passwords
  • Browse internet privately
  • Make secret website bookmarks
Features
Read full description

A private storage app in which you can store your photos, videos, notes, and more. There is also a private web browser included that does not save any history on your phone and allows you to save secret bookmarks within the app. Some of the features: - Save your secret photos and videos - Write and store private notes - Import and view top-secret files (.doc,.ptp,.xls,etc.) from your computer - Store contacts you don't want in your regular address book - Save all your passwords in one place - Browse the internet without leaving any traces - Make secret website bookmarks --------- PREMIUM SUBSCRIPTION --------- Unlock the full version. 1 month subscription: $1.99 1 year subscription: $23.99 - Payment will be charged to iTunes Account at confirmation of purchase - Subscription automatically renews unless auto-renew is turned off at least 24-hours before the end of the current period - Account will be charged for renewal within 24-hours prior to the end of the current period, and identify the cost of the renewal - Subscriptions may be managed by the user and auto-renewal may be turned off by going to the user's Account Settings after purchase Privacy Policy: http://onewave.se/jibdoor/privacy.html Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

About

Locked Folder

Securely store and protect photos, videos, and documents with unlimited offline storage. Access your private content effortlessly using biometric authentication for enhanced privacy.

Highlights
  • Unlimited storage
  • Offline functionality
  • Biometric authentication (Face ID/Touch ID)
  • Intuitive interface
  • Secure file protection
Features
Read full description

Locked Folder is your ultimate solution for safeguarding your sensitive data on iOS. With Locked Folder, you can securely store and protect your photos, videos, documents, and more, ensuring that your privacy remains intact. - Unlimited Storage There are no limits on storage capacity, allowing you to store as many files as you need securely. Whether it's photos from your latest trip or important documents, Locked Folder has you covered. - Works Offline Locked Folder works 100% offline, ensuring that your private content remains on your device only. Rest assured that your data privacy is our top priority. - Biometric Authentication Unlock your files effortlessly using Touch ID or Face ID. Enjoy seamless access to your private content without compromising security. Biometric authentication adds an extra layer of protection to your sensitive data. - Easy to Use Our intuitive interface makes it easy to import, organize, and access your files. With Locked Folder, protecting your privacy has never been simpler. Download Locked Folder today and take control of your privacy with confidence.

Screenshots

Private Vault4 screens
Locked Folder3 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Private Vault at 66% against Locked Folder's 0%. Private Vault also leads on ratings volume (1.2K vs 62). Locked Folder's advantage is monetization model (free with in-app purchases vs subscription) and update cadence (weekly vs every 4 months). On price, ads, 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. Private Vault sells 10 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month and Locked Folder sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Locked Folder holds the better App Store score, 4.3 against 4.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Private Vault has 1.2K ratings behind it against 62, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 66% of Private Vault's written reviews are positive against 0% of Locked Folder's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Private Vault ships an update every 4 months, Locked Folder weekly. The most recent releases landed on October 31, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
Private Vault versus Locked Folder: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterPrivate VaultLocked Folder
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.0 (1.2K ratings)4.3 (62 ratings) — better
Positive reviews66.4% of reviews — better0.0% of reviews
Number of ratings1.2K — better62
Update frequencyEvery 4 monthsWeekly — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationSubscriptionFree with in-app purchases — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS14.7 — better15.0
Further details — not scored
Size15 MB10 MB
Age rating17+4+
DeveloperOne Wave ABArthur Eduardo Skaetta Alvarez Desenvolvimento de Software LTDA.

Customer experience

Private Vault

All ratings1,227 ratings
Positive74.2%
Neutral3.9%
Negative21.8%
Written reviews1,309 reviews
Positive66.4%
Neutral6.3%
Negative27.3%

Locked Folder

All ratings62 ratings
Positive82.3%
Neutral3.2%
Negative14.5%
Written reviews4 reviews
Positive0.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative100.0%

Bugs and requests

Private Vault

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • App crashes when uploading more than 5 photos
  • Subscription issues - users charged repeatedly
  • Stored data becomes inaccessible after updates

Requested features

4 requests
  • Update app to support latest iOS versions
  • Provide better customer support and communication
  • Implement password recovery mechanism
  • Allow seamless data migration across devices

Locked Folder

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

10 purchases

Private Vault

Subscriptions6
  • Premium$1.991 Month
  • Premium$2.991 Month
  • Premium1 Month trial$9.991 Year
Show 3 more
  • Premium$9.991 Year
  • Premium1 Month trial$19.991 Year
  • Premium$19.991 Year
One-time4
  • Utility Pack$0.99
  • Browser Pack$0.99
  • Photo Pack$2.99
Show 1 more
  • Full version$3.99
1 purchases

Locked Folder

One-time1
  • Locked Folder Premium$1.99

Questions

Is Private Vault free?
Private Vault is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Locked Folder free?
Locked Folder is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Private Vault or Locked Folder?
Locked Folder is rated higher. Private Vault averages 4.0 out of 5 from 1.2K ratings, while Locked Folder averages 4.3 from 62 ratings.
Do Private Vault or Locked Folder have ads?
Neither Private Vault nor Locked Folder shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Private Vault or Locked Folder?
Private Vault ships an update every 4 months, and Locked Folder weekly. Most recently, Private Vault was updated on October 31, 2026 and Locked Folder on October 24, 2026.

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