TuckVault vs Keepsafe
Keepsafe is a mature vault with an account, cloud backup, decoy PIN and break-in alerts. TuckVault keeps files on the phone, adds documents and a cleaner. Which fits?
Keepsafe is one of the oldest names in photo vaults, and it shows in the feature list: cloud backup, a decoy PIN that opens a dummy vault, break-in alerts that photograph whoever enters the wrong code, Face ID unlock, album sharing. It is a mature product.
It is also built around an account and a cloud. That is the real difference between it and TuckVault, more than any single feature.
Side by side
| Keepsafe | TuckVault | |
|---|---|---|
| Platforms | iPhone, Android | iPhone, Android |
| Account | Email at setup; used for Private Cloud and recovery | Vault works on the phone with a PIN or pattern |
| Where files live | On the phone, and encrypted in Keepsafe’s cloud when Private Cloud is on | On the phone only |
| Lock | PIN, with Face ID / fingerprint option | Separate PIN or pattern |
| Decoy (fake) PIN | Yes | No |
| Break-in alerts | Yes | No |
| Documents / PDFs | Photos and videos focus | Photos, videos, documents |
| Encryption | Keepsafe states files are encrypted | AES encryption applied by the app |
| Storage cleaner | No | Yes — duplicates, large videos, contacts |
| Free tier | Limited, with ads | Free download, optional purchases |
Details reflect each product’s public documentation at the time of writing; both apps change, so check the current listings.
What Keepsafe does that TuckVault doesn’t
Backup. Private Cloud keeps an encrypted copy of your vault on Keepsafe’s servers, so a lost phone does not mean lost photos. TuckVault has no cloud backup; if a photo exists only in the vault and the phone is gone, so is the photo.
Decoy PIN and break-in alerts. Keepsafe can open a fake vault with a second PIN and record attempts to get in. TuckVault does not currently do either.
Years in market. Keepsafe has a long track record and a large user base.
What TuckVault does that Keepsafe doesn’t
Your files never leave the phone. No company server holding a copy of your vault, nothing to be breached or subpoenaed in a data centre. For some people that is the whole point of a vault.
Documents. Scans, PDFs and screenshots of IDs go in the same vault as the photos.
The cleaner. Duplicate and similar photos, oversized videos and duplicate contacts, in the same app. The cleanup is usually what reveals the photos that should be in the vault in the first place.
Simplicity. One lock, one vault, nothing to configure.
Recommendation
Choose Keepsafe if cloud backup of the vault and the decoy/alert features are important to you and you are comfortable with an account and a company holding encrypted copies. Choose TuckVault if your priority is that private files stay on the phone, you want documents in the same place, and you would like the storage cleaner too. Either way, read Are photo vault apps safe? for the checks that apply to both.
Lock what's private. Clear what isn't.
TuckVault keeps your private photos, videos and documents behind a PIN or pattern with AES encryption on your device — and cleans up duplicates, large videos and messy contacts on the same phone. Free to download for iPhone and Android.
Frequently asked questions
Does Keepsafe require an account?
Keepsafe asks for an email address at setup and uses it for its Private Cloud backup and account recovery, according to its own setup flow and documentation. Check the current app for the exact requirement before relying on it.
Is Keepsafe safe?
Keepsafe has been around since 2012, documents its encryption and backup behaviour, and has a large user base. The trade-off is that with Private Cloud on, encrypted copies of your photos live on Keepsafe's servers under your account. Whether that is a benefit (backup) or a cost (another place your photos exist) depends on what you are protecting against.
Can I move photos from Keepsafe to TuckVault?
Export them from Keepsafe back to your photo library, import them into TuckVault, delete them from the library and empty Recently Deleted or Trash. Then cancel any Keepsafe subscription through the store, and delete your Keepsafe account if you no longer want the cloud copy.
Which one has ads?
Both free tiers may show ads; both offer paid tiers. Check each store listing for current pricing.