Backroom vs HiddenVault

HiddenVault bundles a photo vault with a password manager, private browser and iCloud backup. Backroom sticks to an encrypted vault opened by a pattern.

HiddenVault pairs a photo vault with a password manager, private browser, break-in alerts, a decoy vault and iCloud backup. It unlocks with a PIN and Face ID. Backroom, coming soon to the App Store, is a pattern-based vault for photos, videos, files and notes, with no cloud, ads or analytics.

Side by side

BackroomHiddenVault

AvailabilityComing soon to the App Store. iPhone.On the App Store.

What opens itA pattern of at least 6 dots on a 5 by 5 grid.PIN and Face ID.

EncryptionAES-256-GCM on each file, with a random key for each vault."Military-grade encryption," per its site. The listing describes zero-knowledge security and names no cipher.

Where files liveOn your iPhone, and in your device backups in encrypted form if you make them. No cloud sync.On your phone, in what the listing calls Apple Folders. iCloud backup and restore, per its site.

AccountNone.Its listing says it stores no personal data. Its privacy policy describes account sign-up details.

Forgotten codeA 12-word recovery phrase for each vault. Lose the pattern and the phrase, and nobody can open that vault.The listing and site do not say.

If someone pressures youA different pattern opens a different vault, and the app shows no list of vaults. No duress mode.Decoy vault and break-in alerts, per its site.

DisguisePaid plan: alternate icons and a working calculator screen. The name under the icon stays Backroom.None listed.

Ads and dataNo ads and no analytics.Apple label: usage data used to track you and linked to you. Location, diagnostics and usage data not linked to you.

Code and reviewSource code is unpublished. No outside review has been completed.No published source or audit is mentioned on its listing or site.

PriceFree: 50 photos and files, 5 videos and 10 notes in each vault. Paid: $1.99 a week, $19.99 a year or $39.99 once.Site and listing text: $2.99 weekly, $7.99 monthly, $34.99 yearly. Listing's purchase table also shows $44.99 Annual and $119.99 Lifetime.

HiddenVault facts checked October 31, 2026 against its own listing or site, US prices. See Sources below. Apps change, so check before you buy.

Several tools in one

HiddenVault’s appeal is breadth. You get a photo vault, saved passwords with one-tap sign-in, and a private browser with bookmarks. Its site also lists break-in alerts, a decoy vault and iCloud backup and restore. Backroom has none of those features and unlocks only by pattern, with no Face ID.

What the public pages say about storage

The listing says photos and videos are stored on your phone in Apple’s built-in Folders and that the developer does not store or access your data. It also describes zero-knowledge architecture, and the site mentions military-grade encryption. Neither names a cipher. Its privacy policy, meanwhile, describes account details such as an email address and phone number. Read both if this matters to you.

Backroom names AES-256-GCM on each file and a random key per vault. It has no account and no analytics. Its design has not had an outside review.

Pricing

HiddenVault’s site and listing text show $34.99 a year, and the listing’s purchase table also includes $44.99 Annual entries, so check the price shown in the app before you pay. Backroom is $19.99 a year or $39.99 once.

Which one fits

HiddenVault fits if you want passwords, browsing and photos in one place with cloud backup. Backroom fits if you only want a vault and prefer no data collection.

Frequently asked questions

Can Backroom store passwords like HiddenVault?

It has no password manager or autofill. You could write something in a locked note, though a dedicated password manager does this job better.

Does Backroom have a free plan?

Yes: 50 photos and files, 5 videos and 10 notes in each vault. HiddenVault's listing describes a free trial of Premium, and we could not confirm limits on its free use.

Does Backroom back up to iCloud?

Backroom has no iCloud sync of its own. HiddenVault advertises iCloud backup and restore, so it is the better choice if you need that.