Hidegrid vs the iPhone Hidden album
An honest look at how Hidegrid and the iPhone Hidden album differ, so you can pick the right one for you.
The short answer
The Hidden album in the Photos app is free and, since iOS 16, locks with Face ID, Touch ID or your passcode. Anyone who knows your iPhone passcode can open it. Hidegrid adds a separate pattern per vault, its own encryption key and a secure camera, so private photos stay apart from your main library.
Hidegrid and the iPhone Hidden album side by side
| Feature | Hidegrid | the iPhone Hidden album |
|---|---|---|
| How you unlock | Pattern on a 5×5 grid | Face ID, Touch ID or device passcode |
| Encryption details published | Yes: AES-256-GCM, key from PBKDF2 with 600,000 iterations | iCloud Photos is end-to-end encrypted only with Advanced Data Protection on |
| Account needed | No | Uses your Apple Account |
| Backup and sync | Encrypted backup to your own iCloud; iPhone and iPad sync (Pro, coming in a free update) | iCloud Photos, hidden on all your devices |
| Decoy or duress option | Duress pattern that silently erases a vault (Pro) | No |
| Break-in photo alerts | No | No |
| Disguised app icon | Yes (Pro) | Album can be hidden from view |
| Private in-app camera | Yes | No; photos are taken in your normal library |
| Separate vaults with separate keys | Yes, each with its own pattern | No; one Hidden album |
| Platforms | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad, Mac |
| Pricing model | Free plan; Pro as subscription or one-time purchase | Free; iCloud storage is paid separately |
We checked the iPhone Hidden album against its public App Store listing, website or support pages on 28 October 2026. Features and prices change, so check the current listing. If something here is out of date, tell us and we will fix it.
Sources: support.apple.com · support.apple.com
Where the iPhone Hidden album is strong
The Hidden album is built in, costs nothing, syncs with iCloud Photos and is good enough to keep photos out of your main grid.
Where Hidegrid is different
Hidegrid needs its own pattern, not your device passcode, so someone who knows your passcode still cannot open it. Each vault has its own key, the camera saves straight into a vault, and files and documents can be stored too.
Which one should you choose?
- Keep using the Hidden album if you only want to keep photos out of sight and nobody else knows your passcode.
- Choose Hidegrid if you share your passcode, want separate vaults, or need to store documents as well as photos.
Questions
Is the iPhone Hidden album secure?
Since iOS 16 it needs Face ID, Touch ID or your passcode. Anyone who knows your passcode can open it. See our full guide on the blog.
Can I move photos from the Hidden album to Hidegrid?
Yes. Import them into a vault from the Photos picker, then delete them from Photos and Recently Deleted.
Does Hidegrid replace iCloud Photos?
No. Hidegrid is for the photos and files you want to keep separate. It can back them up to your iCloud in encrypted form.
Keep private things private
Download Hidegrid and set up your first vault in under a minute.
Coming soon to the App StoreFree to start. No account needed.