Obscura Photo Vault
Obscura Photo Vault stores photos and videos in encrypted vaults on iOS.
What Obscura Photo Vault is
Obscura Photo Vault stores photos and videos in encrypted vaults on iOS. It uses AES-256-GCM and derives vault keys with 600,000 rounds of PBKDF2-HMAC-SHA256. The maker says the app works without network access, has no server or account system, and collects no installation, usage, or analytics data. It offers ten encrypted vault slots, Face ID and Touch ID unlock, configurable auto-lock, progressive delays after failed attempts, and memory clearing when a vault locks. Photo tools include editing, collages, tags, favorites, manual arranging, duplicate detection, and Live Photo frame extraction. Users can import from the camera roll and export a vault as a password-protected encrypted .obscura file. Vault data is included in iCloud Backup by default and remains encrypted there. The free plan costs nothing and allows up to 50 photos in one vault. Pro Monthly is $6.99 a month; Pro Yearly is $29.99 a year after a 7-day free trial; Pro Lifetime is $39.99, paid once-time payment. After a subscription ends, saved media remains accessible, but imports pause once the free 50-photo limit is reached. Forgotten vault passwords cannot be recovered.
Good
- Uses AES-256-GCM encryption
- Works without network access, according to the maker
- Supports Face ID and Touch ID unlock
- Includes photo editing and duplicate detection
- Encrypted vault data is included in iCloud Backup
Watch out
- Free plan is limited to 50 photos
- Forgotten vault passwords cannot be recovered
- After subscription ends, imports pause at the free limit
Who it suits
It suits iOS users who want encrypted photo and video storage with local access and photo organization tools. Consider the 50-photo free limit and unrecoverable forgotten passwords before choosing a vault.
Verdict
Obscura combines encrypted vault storage with tools for organizing and exporting media. Its password recovery limit and free-plan cap are key tradeoffs, while paid options include monthly, yearly, and one-time plans.
Plans and prices
From Obscura Photo Vault's own pricing page, checked 15 Oct 2026.
| Plan | Price | What it gives you |
|---|---|---|
| Free | Free | up to 50 photos · one vault · $0 |
| Pro Monthly | $6.99 a month | unlimited photos and videos · unlimited vaults · $6.99 USD monthly |
| Pro Yearly | $29.99 a year | unlimited photos and videos · unlimited vaults · $29.99 USD billed yearly after a 7-day free trial |
| Pro Lifetime | $39.99, paid once | unlimited photos and videos · unlimited vaults · $39.99 USD one payment, no renewals |
The facts
Each one read from Obscura Photo Vault's own pages, with the date it was checked.
Where it runs
- App privacy
- Apple's privacy label says the developer reports collecting no data from the app.checked 15 Oct 2026
- App size
- The iOS listing reports an app size of 10.2 MB.checked 15 Oct 2026
What it does
- Backup
- The maker says vault data is included in iCloud Backup by default and remains encrypted there.checked 2 Oct 2026
- Biometric unlock
- Face ID and Touch ID unlock are supported through iOS Secure Enclave and Keychain protections.checked 15 Oct 2026
- Command-line tool
- The repository includes an obscura CLI that can create vaults, encrypt and decrypt media, change passwords and extract backup contents.checked 15 Oct 2026
- Developer package
- ObscuraCrypto implements password derivation, media encryption, folder protection and .obscura backup reading using Swift and Apple frameworks.checked 15 Oct 2026
- Developer requirements
- Building the public package requires a Mac with Xcode or Swift toolchain version 6 or later, and it has no third-party dependencies.checked 15 Oct 2026
- Documentation depth
- The security paper documents key hierarchy, file formats, chunked media, folder protection, export format, threat limitations and testing procedures.checked 15 Oct 2026
- Encrypted export
- Vaults can be exported as password-protected .obscura files for storage or transfer.checked 15 Oct 2026
- Encryption
- The app uses AES-256-GCM with 600,000 PBKDF2 key-derivation rounds.checked 15 Oct 2026
- Folder passwords
- Folders can receive a second password and an additional encryption layer.checked 15 Oct 2026
- Hidden vaults
- The app maintains ten encrypted vault slots, while the security document says the indistinguishability property applies only under stated threat-model bounds.checked 2 Oct 2026
- iCloud backup
- Vault data is included in iCloud Backup by default, but the backup contains encrypted data and can be disabled in iOS settings.checked 15 Oct 2026
- Import and export
- Users can import photos and videos from the camera roll and export a vault as a password-protected encrypted .obscura file.checked 2 Oct 2026
- Licence
- The public ObscuraCrypto repository is licensed under GNU GPL version 3.0 or later.checked 15 Oct 2026
- Limit: iPhone focus
- An independent comparison characterizes Obscura as iPhone-only and notes that Calculator Mode was removed in version 1.13.3.checked 15 Oct 2026
- Limit: no independent audit
- The official safety guide states that no outside security firm has independently audited the app or its encryption code.checked 15 Oct 2026
- Limit: password loss
- The Vaultaire review identifies irreversible loss after a forgotten password as the main tradeoff of the no-recovery design.checked 15 Oct 2026
The company
- Company activity
- Crunchbase describes Orlio as building Shopify inventory software alongside mobile utility and security applications including Obscura Photo Vault.checked 15 Oct 2026
- Company headquarters
- Crunchbase lists Orlio's headquarters in Calgary, Alberta, Canada.checked 15 Oct 2026
- Company legal name
- Crunchbase lists the maker's legal name as Orlio Inc.checked 15 Oct 2026
- Company size
- Crunchbase reports an employee range of 1 to 10 people.checked 15 Oct 2026
- Headquarters
- Calgary, Alberta, Canadachecked 28 Sep 2026
Money
- Limit: free-tier cap
- An App Store reviewer complained that the 50-photo free limit was too small and made the free listing feel misleading.checked 15 Oct 2026
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