Canonical: https://hideroom.app/compare/apple-hidden-album Title: Hideroom vs Apple’s Hidden album Updated: 2026-10-24 Compare # Hideroom vs Apple’s Hidden album Apple’s Hidden album is free and already on your iPhone. Hideroom is a separate, encrypted vault, coming to iPhone first. Here’s where each one wins. Checked 23 October 2026 · prices in GBP · sources at the end Hideroom isn’t out yet. Its column says what version 1 will ship with. Want one email when Hideroom launches? Hideroom is coming to iPhone. One email when it launches, then we delete your address. ## Pick Hideroom if - You want a separate lock that your iPhone passcode can’t open. - You want decoy rooms, so you can show one room and keep the rest out of sight. - You want papers and recovery words encrypted on your phone before anything is backed up, with keys that Apple doesn’t hold. ## Pick Apple’s Hidden album if - You want something free and already on your iPhone, with nothing to install. - You want hidden photos on your iPad and Mac too, through iCloud Photos. - You only need photos out of the main grid when you hand your phone to someone, and you’re happy that your passcode opens them. ## Side by side | Feature | Hideroom | Apple’s Hidden album | | ----------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------ | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | Encryption on the phone | AES-256-GCM on your phone, with a separate key for every file | Protected like the rest of your photo library; Apple describes no extra encryption for hidden photos | | Who holds the keys | Only you: your pattern plus this phone’s secret, or your recovery phrase | Apple, for iCloud Photos under standard data protection. You, with Advanced Data Protection, which new UK users can’t turn on | | Backup on Free | Encrypted backup to your own iCloud, on from the start | Through iCloud Photos, using your iCloud storage | | Backup checked | Every upload read back, a weekly sample decrypted, and Check my backup | Not stated | | Recovery without a paid reset | A free nine-word recovery phrase for each room | No separate code: it opens with Face ID, Touch ID or your passcode | | Decoy rooms | With Pro: every pattern opens its own room | One Hidden album behind one lock | | Wipe on demand | The wipe pattern (Pro), which leaves your backups untouched | No | | Android | Comes next, with the same features | Apple devices only | | Account needed | None needed | An Apple Account, for iCloud Photos | | Ads | None, ever | None | | Free allowance | 100 photos and documents plus 10 videos | Everything in your library; iCloud storage limits apply | | Lifetime price | £39.99 · $39.99 once, a launch price | Free, built in | | Export on Free | Free on every plan, forever | Unhide a photo at any time | | Published security design | Publishing before launch | Apple publishes how iCloud data is protected | - ### Encryption on the phone - Hideroom AES-256-GCM on your phone, with a separate key for every file - Apple’s Hidden album Protected like the rest of your photo library; Apple describes no extra encryption for hidden photos - ### Who holds the keys - Hideroom Only you: your pattern plus this phone’s secret, or your recovery phrase - Apple’s Hidden album Apple, for iCloud Photos under standard data protection. You, with Advanced Data Protection, which new UK users can’t turn on - ### Backup on Free - Hideroom Encrypted backup to your own iCloud, on from the start - Apple’s Hidden album Through iCloud Photos, using your iCloud storage - ### Backup checked - Hideroom Every upload read back, a weekly sample decrypted, and Check my backup - Apple’s Hidden album Not stated - ### Recovery without a paid reset - Hideroom A free nine-word recovery phrase for each room - Apple’s Hidden album No separate code: it opens with Face ID, Touch ID or your passcode - ### Decoy rooms - Hideroom With Pro: every pattern opens its own room - Apple’s Hidden album One Hidden album behind one lock - ### Wipe on demand - Hideroom The wipe pattern (Pro), which leaves your backups untouched - Apple’s Hidden album No - ### Android - Hideroom Comes next, with the same features - Apple’s Hidden album Apple devices only - ### Account needed - Hideroom None needed - Apple’s Hidden album An Apple Account, for iCloud Photos - ### Ads - Hideroom None, ever - Apple’s Hidden album None - ### Free allowance - Hideroom 100 photos and documents plus 10 videos - Apple’s Hidden album Everything in your library; iCloud storage limits apply - ### Lifetime price - Hideroom £39.99 · $39.99 once, a launch price - Apple’s Hidden album Free, built in - ### Export on Free - Hideroom Free on every plan, forever - Apple’s Hidden album Unhide a photo at any time - ### Published security design - Hideroom Publishing before launch - Apple’s Hidden album Apple publishes how iCloud data is protected [How we keep comparisons fair](https://hideroom.app/compare) ## Which one is right for you Most people who want to keep a photo private on iPhone start with Apple’s Hidden album, and for a lot of them it’s enough. It’s free, it’s built in, and on iOS 16 and later it’s locked by default. Hideroom does a different job: it keeps photos, videos and papers in a separate vault, encrypted on your phone before anything is backed up. This page sets out fairly where each one wins. ## What the Hidden album does well **It’s free and already there.** Touch and hold a photo, tap Hide, and it moves out of your library into the Hidden album, under Collections and then Utilities. There’s nothing to install and nothing to pay. Our guide on [how to hide photos on iPhone](https://hideroom.app/guides/how-to-hide-photos-on-iphone) walks through it step by step. **It’s locked by default.** Since iOS 16, the album opens only with Face ID, Touch ID or your passcode, so someone scrolling your library won’t stumble on it. **It follows you across Apple devices.** With iCloud Photos on, a photo you hide on your iPhone is hidden on your iPad and Mac too, and it’s stored in iCloud with the rest of your library. **You can hide the album itself.** In Settings, then Apps, Photos and Albums, turning off the Hidden Album switch removes it from the Photos app until you turn it back on. ## Where it falls short **Your passcode opens it.** The Hidden album uses the same lock as your phone. A partner, a child or anyone who has seen you type your passcode can open it. **It isn’t a separate encrypted vault.** Apple doesn’t describe any extra encryption for hidden photos; they’re part of your photo library. In iCloud, Photos uses standard data protection unless Advanced Data Protection is on, and Apple can no longer offer Advanced Data Protection to new users in the UK. Without it, Apple holds the keys. **There’s one album and one lock.** If someone makes you open it, everything in it is visible. There’s no way to keep a decoy. **It’s built for photos.** Passport scans and photos of recovery words sit in the same library as your holiday pictures. ## Where Hideroom fits Hideroom is built for the things that would really hurt to have seen. At launch, each room will open with a pattern you draw, combined with a secret held only by your phone, and everything inside will be encrypted on the phone with AES-256-GCM before it’s backed up to your own iCloud. A different pattern opens a different room, so any room can be the one you show. Each room gets a nine-word recovery phrase, which is how you get back in on a new phone. The [security page](https://hideroom.app/security) explains it all, including the weak parts. ## How we compared We read Apple’s own support pages on 23 October 2026, listed under Sources, and compared what they say with what Hideroom’s version 1 is planned to ship with. Where Apple doesn’t say something, the table says “Not stated” rather than guessing. Prices are in GBP. We re-check every fact at least every 90 days and after each major iOS release. Spotted something out of date? Email . ## Questions ### Is the Hidden album encrypted? Hidden photos are protected the same way as the rest of your photo library, and Apple doesn’t describe any extra encryption for the Hidden album. In iCloud, Photos uses standard data protection by default, where Apple holds the keys, unless Advanced Data Protection is turned on. ### Can someone with my passcode open the Hidden album? Yes. On iOS 16 and later the album is locked with Face ID or Touch ID, and your passcode works as the fallback. Anyone who knows your passcode can open it. ### Why can’t UK users turn on Advanced Data Protection? Apple says it can no longer offer Advanced Data Protection to new users in the United Kingdom. Without it, Apple holds the keys to your iCloud Photos, hidden photos included. ### When will Hideroom be out? Hideroom hasn’t launched yet, and there’s no release date until there is one. It’s coming to iPhone first, with Android next. Join the launch list for one email when it’s out. ## Sources 1. [Hide photos on your iPhone, iPad, Mac, or Apple Vision Pro with the Hidden album](https://support.apple.com/en-us/104987), Apple Support, checked 23 October 2026 2. [Delete or hide photos and videos on iPhone](https://support.apple.com/guide/iphone/delete-or-hide-photos-and-videos-iphb4defbde9/ios), Apple iPhone User Guide, checked 23 October 2026 3. [iCloud data security overview](https://support.apple.com/en-us/102651), Apple Support, checked 23 October 2026 4. [Apple can no longer offer Advanced Data Protection in the United Kingdom to new users](https://support.apple.com/en-us/122234), Apple Support, checked 23 October 2026