Privately
Privately: A security-focused iPhone vault with OCR search, but a costly weekly Pro plan. Ranked #18 of 32 in Photo Vault Apps by our editors (7.3/10); pricing: Free plan · 7-day trial; best for iPhone users wanting searchable private albums.
At a glance
- Editor score7.3 / 10
- PricingFree plan · 7-day trial
- Best foriPhone users wanting searchable private albums
- Free planYes
- Paid from$39.99/yr
- Cloud backupNo
- Facts checked22 Sep 2026
Where it wins
- AES-256-GCM encryption runs on the device
- OCR search finds text inside photos on-device
- Decoy PIN and intruder photo capture add privacy controls
Where it doesn't
- Available only on iOS
- Pro costs $6.99 per week
- Vault content is not stored in cloud storage
Our verdict on Privately
Privately is an iPhone app for hiding, locking, and encrypting personal photos and videos. It suits users who want searchable private albums with local protection rather than a cloud-based photo service. The Free plan provides basic photo vault use and does not require sign-up. PIN, Face ID, and Touch ID protection cover access, while locked albums stay hidden from the timeline, search, and favorites.
The main security feature is AES-256-GCM on-device encryption. On-device OCR search lets users find text within photos without sending vault content to a server. A decoy PIN opens a separate vault, and break-in alerts can capture a photo after an incorrect PIN. Encrypted, password-protected backups are also available, with backup control remaining with the user. Privately does not operate cloud storage for vault content and has no server-side accounts.
Pricing is straightforward but expensive at the weekly level. Pro costs $6.99 per week or $39.99 per year with annual billing, and adds locked albums, encrypted backups, and additional Pro features. A 7-day free trial is available. The trade-off is platform coverage: Privately is limited to iPhone users, so people who need Android support should choose another vault app. It also is not a fit for anyone seeking provider-operated cloud storage for the vault. Choose Privately for local encryption, OCR search, and layered privacy controls on iOS; choose an alternative when broader platform access or cloud-based vault storage matters more.
Your product? Our editors can test Privately in depth and publish a review, labelled as paid · from $149/mo →
Privately pricing
All 2 Privately plans and prices →
Privately fact sheet
| Free plan | Yes |
|---|---|
| Paid from | $39.99/yr |
| Free vault limit | Not verified |
| Cloud backup | No |
| Decoy vault | Yes |
| Intruder alerts | Yes |
| Private camera | Not verified |
| Mobile platforms | Ios |
| Free trial | 7 days |
| Deployment | Mobile |
| Platforms | iOS |
| Compliance & security | GDPR |
| Support | |
| Built for | Solo, Small business (editorial estimate) |
| Pricing | Free plan · 7-day trial (source) |
| Website | getprivately.app |
| Facts checked | 22 Sep 2026 |
Alternatives to Privately
- Quantum Media VaultA cross-platform vault with strong local privacy controls and flexible cloud sync.9.4
- Keepsafe Photo VaultA feature-rich mobile vault with cloud backup, recovery, decoy access and intruder evidence.9.1
- Private Photo VaultAn affordable mobile vault with strong privacy controls, decoy access, and cloud backup.8.9
See all Privately alternatives →
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Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
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