Comparison · Built-in

PrivateRoll vs Google Photos Locked Folder

If you use Google Photos, Locked Folder is the obvious first choice. Here's what it covers and what it doesn't.

At a glance	PrivateRoll	Google Photos Locked Folder
Separate secret from your phone lock	Yes	No
Encrypted with a key only you hold	Yes	No
Decoy vaults	Yes	No
Cloud backup	No, device only	Yes
Stores documents and other files	Yes	No
Price	Free	Free

Details about Google Photos Locked Folder come from its public documentation and can change between versions. Check the current version before deciding.

Choose Google Photos Locked Folder if…

Nobody else can unlock your phone, and you're already invested in Google Photos.
You want the photos backed up to your Google account.

Choose PrivateRoll if…

You want a secret that's different from your phone lock, and encryption Google can't open.

Same weak spot as the Hidden album

Locked Folder opens with your device's screen lock. Anyone who knows your passcode, or can use your face while you're asleep, can open it. That's fine for keeping photos out of the shared grid, but it isn't a separate lock.

Backup and keys

When backup for Locked Folder is turned on, the photos are stored in your Google account. Google's general privacy protections apply, but the keys aren't held by you alone. PrivateRoll doesn't upload anything: your vaults stay on your device, encrypted with a key derived from your pattern and a secret that never leaves the phone.

Try PrivateRoll free

Encrypted on your iPhone or iPad. No account required.

Coming soonTo the App Store

Your photos deserve a lock that actually locks.

PrivateRoll is free. No account, no email, no tracking. Just a pattern only you know.

Coming soon to the App Store