Calculator Vault Apps Compared (2026): Privacy Labels and Claims of 20 Apps
Calculator vault apps hide a photo vault behind a working calculator. We compared 20 calculator vault apps on the US App Store on October 30, 2026. 65% declare “Data Used to Track You” in their own App Store privacy label, only 10% declare “Data Not Collected”, and just 15% name AES encryption. Here’s the comparison, and what to look for beyond the disguise.
Disclosure: we make Easy Vault, which isn’t included in this data. Labels are the developers’ own declarations as shown on October 30, 2026. Part of our photo vault app privacy report; download the dataset.
Calculator vaults at a glance
| Measure | 20 calculator vault apps | All 69 vault apps |
|---|---|---|
| Declare Data Used to Track You | 65% | 62% |
| Declare Data Not Collected | 10% | 20% |
| Mention encryption | 40% | 42% |
| Name AES | 15% | 9% |
| Describe a decoy or fake passcode | 20% | 33% |
| Total ratings | 87,327 | 1.9 million |
The most-rated calculator vault apps
| App | Ratings | Stars | Strongest privacy category declared |
|---|---|---|---|
| Calculator# Hide Photos Videos | 28,933 | 4.4 | Data Used to Track You |
| Unlock - App & Photo Locker | 23,508 | 4.4 | Data Not Linked to You |
| Secret Photo Album ++ | 14,191 | 4.7 | No details provided |
| Photo Vault & App Lock - PicX | 6,570 | 4.2 | Data Used to Track You |
| Calculator Lock - Secure Vault | 6,541 | 4.6 | Data Used to Track You |
| Lock Master Photo Album | 6,108 | 3.8 | Data Used to Track You |
| Photo Vault: Secure Gallery | 472 | 4.4 | Data Used to Track You |
| Private Photos (Calculator%) | 457 | 4.1 | Data Not Collected |
| Photo Vault-Secret Calculator | 345 | 4.6 | Data Used to Track You |
| Calculator Vault Hide Photos + | 55 | 4.3 | Data Used to Track You |
“Calculator vault” here means the app’s name or description presents it as a calculator disguise.
Does the disguise still work?
A calculator icon helps against a quick glance at your Home Screen, but it’s well known, and the app’s real name usually still shows in Settings, the App Store, Screen Time and battery usage. Treat the disguise as a bonus, not the protection.
What actually protects your photos:
- Encryption, with a named cipher. See do photo vault apps actually encrypt?
- A passcode separate from your iPhone’s.
- A decoy passcode for when someone makes you open the app.
- A privacy label you’re comfortable with. See vault apps that don’t collect data.
Alternatives to a calculator disguise
- Hide the app with iOS: touch and hold it, then choose Require Face ID → Hide and Require Face ID. It moves to a locked Hidden folder.
- Use a discreet icon. Some vaults let you switch to a plain icon without pretending to be a calculator.
- Make a Shortcuts tile with any name and icon that opens the app.
Easy Vault, which we make, offers discreet icons (including a calculator-style one of our own design) rather than a fake calculator, plus encryption, a separate passcode, a decoy vault and a Data Not Collected label. For how calculator vaults work in general, see calculator apps that hide pictures.
Methodology
From the 69 photo vault apps in our October 30, 2026 App Store study, we kept the 20 whose name or description presents a calculator disguise. Privacy labels come from each app’s public App Store page; claims were matched in each description. Full method: privacy report.
Related
Frequently asked questions
What is a calculator vault app?
An app that looks and works like a calculator but opens a hidden photo vault when you type a secret code. The idea is that anyone glancing at your phone sees only a calculator.
Are calculator vault apps safe?
It varies, and the disguise says nothing about protection. Of 20 calculator vault apps on the US App Store in October 2026, 65% declared data used to track you in their privacy label, 40% mentioned encryption and 15% named AES.
Do calculator vault apps collect data?
Most do, by their own declaration. Only 2 of 20 calculator vault apps (10%) declared 'Data Not Collected' on the App Store in October 2026, while 13 (65%) declared 'Data Used to Track You'.
Does a calculator disguise fool anyone?
Less than it used to. Calculator vaults are well known, and the app's real name usually still appears in Settings, the App Store and Screen Time. A discreet icon helps against casual glances; encryption and a separate passcode are what actually protect photos.