Private Photo Vault alternative without ads, tracking or GPS in the break-in log
Mirage Vault is a Private Photo Vault alternative for people who want the whole vault encrypted on the device rather than only a paid cloud vault, no advertising or tracking code beside their photos, and break-in alerts that record a photo and the pattern but no location. Private Photo Vault keeps its iPad version and GPS break-in reports as its reasons to stay.
We make Mirage Vault. This page compares it with other apps using only what each app's App Store listing or its own website states, read on 2026-10-19 and 2026-10-31. "—" means the listing does not say. Nothing here is a review, and we have not tested the other apps on a device. If a fact about your app is wrong, tell us and we will correct it.
Why people look for a Private Photo Vault alternative
Private Photo Vault has been on the App Store since the early days of the category, and its name describes the whole category, which is part of why it is installed so widely. People searching for an alternative usually name one of three things: the advertising and tracking in its privacy label, the fact that its stated encryption applies to the paid cloud vault, or the break-in reports that include the location of the person who tried, which some find useful and others find unsettling.
“Private Photo Vault” is the name of that app; on this page the phrase refers to it and not to the category.
Private Photo Vault and Mirage Vault on facts
| What we compared | Mirage Vault | Private Photo Vault |
|---|---|---|
| Encryption | AES-256-GCM, 1 MiB chunks, a key per file | AES-256 stated for its cloud vault only |
| How the key is protected | PBKDF2-HMAC-SHA256 ≥ 600,000, wrapped by a Secure Enclave key | — |
| Unlock | Pattern drawn anywhere, Face ID, PIN backup | PIN or pattern |
| Account | None | Optional, for the cloud vault |
| App Store privacy label | No analytics, no account (label pending publication) | Data Used to Track You; Data Linked to You |
| Decoy vault | Yes (Pro) | Yes |
| Break-in alerts | Yes, photo + time + pattern, no GPS (Pro) | Yes, with GPS location |
| Duress / wipe code | Yes: Wipe Key (Pro) | — |
| Disguise | Icon only; the label stays "Mirage" (Pro) | — |
| Backup | Encrypted iCloud backup, free, ciphertext only | Cloud vault (paid) |
| Platforms | iPhone | iPhone, iPad |
| Free plan | Up to 100 photos and 10 videos, with encrypted iCloud backup | — |
| Checked on | 2026-11-01 | 2026-10-19 |
Sources: Private Photo Vault: apps.apple.com/us/app/id417571834. Mirage Vault facts are from the app's source and its 2026-10-31 security audit.
Who should stay with Private Photo Vault
- You use it on an iPad. Mirage Vault is iPhone only.
- You want the break-in report to include where the attempt happened. Mirage records no location by design.
- You have a paid cloud vault there and rely on its web access. Mirage has no server and no web access; its backup is encrypted in your own iCloud.
Who Mirage Vault suits better
- You want every file encrypted on the device, not only in a paid cloud. AES-256-GCM in 1 MiB chunks, a key per file, the vault key wrapped by ECIES on a P-256 key in the Secure Enclave.
- You want no advertising or tracking code in a vault. Mirage contains no third-party code; there is nothing to track with.
- You want break-in alerts that stay on the device. A frame, the time and the pattern drawn, sealed to the vault’s key while the vault is locked, never uploaded (Mirage Pro).
- You want Face ID that does not fall back to the passcode, a blank lock screen, a decoy vault and a Wipe Key.
Moving photos from Private Photo Vault to Mirage Vault
- Unhide or export to Photos
In Private Photo Vault, select the photos and use its export or “move to camera roll” function. Work in batches; the photos arrive in Recents.
- Set up Mirage, save the phrase
Draw the pattern, turn on Face ID, write down the recovery phrase from the checklist and confirm it with Check one word.
- Import and delete the originals
+ › Add from Photos › select. When the toast asks Delete the originals from Photos?, tap Delete, confirm the iOS dialog, then empty Recently Deleted in Photos so the originals do not wait there for 30 days.
- Remove the old vault's data
Delete the photos inside Private Photo Vault, cancel any cloud vault subscription in Settings › Apple Account › Subscriptions, and delete the app.
Mirage Vault is free for up to 100 photos and 10 videos; pricing lists Mirage Pro. For the full criteria behind this page, see the list of photo vault apps compared.