Photo vault apps with a one-time purchase
Subscriptions are the norm, and some vaults still sell a lifetime option. Prices from each app's listing, and what to check before you pay once.
Several vault apps list one-time options. Obscura lists $39.99 once, PV Secret Photo Album $41.99 permanent, Privault $45.99 permanent and Encamera lifetime options from $49.99. Backroom's lifetime plan is $39.99. Check the App Store listing on the day you buy, since prices change and a lifetime plan covers features only.
Paying once appeals for a practical reason: a subscription lapse should not stand between you and your private photos. The prices below come from our comparison pages, each of which links to the listing it was checked against.
Listed one-time options
- Backroom: $39.99 lifetime. See plans.
- Obscura: $39.99 once.
- PV Secret Photo Album: $41.99 permanent.
- Privault: $45.99 permanent.
- Encamera: $49.99 and $99.99 lifetime options, with other entries listed.
- Inner Gallery: one-time packs from $9.99, a $34.99 Pro Bundle and $99.99 Lifetime.
- Secret Photo Vault: a $6.99 Pro Version.
App Store listings show a range of purchase entries with little context. Inside the app, check exactly what the lifetime purchase unlocks.
What to check before paying
- Does the one-time price cover cloud storage, or only app features? A cloud costs the developer money every month, so lifetime cloud deserves questions.
- What happens to your files if you stop paying? In Backroom, a lapsed subscription does not lock your files. Free plan limits affect what you can add.
- Can you export? This is your insurance if the app ever stops being updated.
- Try the free tier first. It costs nothing to check that the app works for you.
Frequently asked questions
Does lifetime mean forever?
It means the life of the app, on your Apple Account. If a developer stops updating, a lifetime plan will not save you, so keep a way to export your files.
Will lifetime transfer to my new iPhone?
Purchases made with your Apple Account are restored on your new device through Restore in the app.
Is there anything free?
Apple's Hidden collection costs nothing. Most vault apps also have a free tier with limits.