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The best Vaulty alternatives for Android

If you are leaving Vaulty, you have more options than ever, including some already built into your phone.

Here are five worth considering, with what each does well and its catch. We make one of them, so judge us by the same yardstick.

The alternatives

  • Hidey

    An encrypted vault for photos, videos and files that backs up to your own Google Drive.

    Good for
    Owning your backups and knowing exactly how they are protected.
    Watch out for
    Android only, and new. Pro features need a subscription or a lifetime purchase.

  • Google Photos Locked Folder

    Built into Google Photos and protected by your phone’s screen lock. Locked items stay out of your photo grid, search and albums, and other apps can’t open them.

    Good for
    Hiding a few photos without installing anything.
    Watch out for
    Anyone who knows your phone’s screen lock can open it. Backup is optional, and items that aren’t backed up are lost if you clear the Photos app’s data or lose the phone.

  • Files by Google Safe folder

    A folder in the Files by Google app, locked with a PIN or pattern, on Android 8 and later.

    Good for
    Documents and downloads, if you already use Files by Google.
    Watch out for
    Forgetting the PIN or pattern can mean losing what is inside.

  • Samsung Secure Folder

    A separate, Knox-protected and encrypted space on Samsung Galaxy phones, with its own lock and backup option.

    Good for
    Samsung owners who want to keep whole apps and files apart.
    Watch out for
    Only on Samsung Galaxy phones, and some older models don’t support it.

  • Keepsafe

    A long-running photo vault for Android and iPhone, with a PIN lock and its own Private Cloud.

    Good for
    Using one vault on both Android and iPhone.
    Watch out for
    Backups live in Keepsafe’s cloud rather than storage you own.

Which one to choose

Choose Hidey if

  • You want encrypted backups in your own Google Drive.

  • You hide documents as well as photos.

Choose Vaulty if

  • You only hide a few photos: try Google Photos Locked Folder first.

  • You need iPhone support: look at Keepsafe.

Questions

What is the safest free way to hide photos on Android?

Use an option that encrypts files and backs them up somewhere you control. Built-in folders are convenient but share your phone’s screen lock.

Competitor details checked on October 14, 2026 from their public pages.

Sources:

Nothing to see here. Keep it that way.

Hidey is coming to Google Play for Android 11 and later.

Coming soon to Google Playread the security model →