Compare
Silo vs your phone's hidden album or locked folder
| Silo | Hidden album or locked folder | |
|---|---|---|
| What it does to the files | Encrypts every photo, video and file on the phone before it is written to storage (XChaCha20-Poly1305, 256-bit keys). | Usually moves items out of the main grid. Whether the files are encrypted at rest varies by phone and version.How to check: Look up your phone maker's security notes for the feature, and see whether it says the files are encrypted or only hidden. |
| What opens it | A PIN of 6 or more digits, or a passphrase (Pro), plus optional face or fingerprint unlock. | Often your phone's screen lock, including face or fingerprint. Some locked folders have their own PIN.How to check: Open the hidden area, then ask yourself who else knows your screen PIN. |
| Account needed | No. There is no sign-up, no email and no server account. | Not for the feature itself, though it may sit inside a photo app tied to your phone or cloud account.How to check: Open the feature in airplane mode and see whether it asks you to sign in. |
| Works offline | Yes. Everything runs on the phone. | Yes for viewing what is already on the phone.How to check: Turn on airplane mode and open a hidden item. |
| If you forget the PIN | Your 12, 6 or 2-word recovery phrase gets you back in. Nobody at Silo can reset it for you. | Usually your phone's own screen-lock recovery applies, and the phone maker or your account may be able to help. Varies.How to check: Read what the lock screen offers after too many wrong tries. |
| Verified import | Yes. Each item is read back and compared before Silo offers to remove the original. | Usually a move or hide inside the same library, so there is no separate copy to check.How to check: Hide a test photo and look for any step that confirms a copy was made. |
| Export everything | Yes, on any plan, including after a plan ends. | The files stay in your phone's library, so your usual photo export and share options apply.How to check: Try to share one hidden item out, and see whether you can do it in bulk. |
| Published format and decrypt tool | Yes. The vault format is public, and a free independent decrypt tool reads a vault copy plus your phrase. | Not applicable, because the files are usually ordinary library files. |
| Backup and who holds the keys | Arriving with launch: encrypted on the phone, then sent to your own cloud storage. Silo's developer cannot read it. | Hidden items often travel with your phone's normal photo backup or sync, and the cloud provider can usually read them. Varies by setting.How to check: Check your photo backup settings and whether hidden items are included. |
| What happens on uninstall | The vault lives inside the app, so removing the app removes it. Export first, or keep a backup. | Nothing to uninstall, because the feature is part of your phone.How to check: Not needed. The feature has no app to remove. |
| Ads and tracking | No ads. The only data collected is described in the privacy policy, and diagnostics are off unless you agree in setup. | No ads in the feature itself. |
| Platforms | iPhone and Android 11 and later. | Built into each phone, but the feature and its name differ between iPhone and Android makers. |
| Price | Free for up to 100 photos and 10 videos. Pro from $1.99 a week, $19.99 a year or $39.99 once. | Free. |
Most people never need more than a hidden album. It takes a few taps, costs nothing and is already on your phone. If the worry is someone scrolling past a photo while you hand over your phone, it does the job.
Why people choose a hidden album or locked folder
- It is already there. Nothing to install, nothing to learn.
- It is free. No limits, no plan, no trial.
- It opens with the lock you already use. No second PIN to remember.
- Your phone maker maintains it. It gets updates with the phone.
When a hidden album or locked folder is enough
Be honest with yourself about the risk. A built-in hidden area is a good fit when:
- the worry is a casual look, a child with your phone, or an awkward slideshow moment;
- the people around you don’t know your screen PIN;
- nothing in there would cause real harm if it were found;
- you are happy for it to follow your normal photo backup.
For these cases, use it. Adding another app only adds something to forget.
Where it falls short
Hidden is not the same as encrypted. Hiding changes where a photo shows up. It doesn’t always change how the file is stored. Some phones protect the hidden area well; others only tuck it away. Because you can’t easily tell which, treat it as privacy from a glance, not from a determined person.
Anyone who knows your screen PIN may get in. On many phones the hidden area opens with the same lock as the phone. A partner, parent or friend who has seen you type your PIN can open it.
Backup can carry hidden items along. If your photos back up or sync to a cloud account, hidden items often go too, and the provider can usually read them. Check your own settings rather than assuming.
There is no separate recovery or exit. The hidden area is part of your phone’s photo library, not a vault you can carry away. If you lose access to your phone account, your hidden photos are tied to it.
What Silo changes
Silo is a separate vault. Files are encrypted on the phone before they are saved, so a copy of the storage alone doesn’t show them. It has its own PIN, a recovery phrase you keep, and no account that could be reset by someone else. Imports are verified before you remove the originals, and you can export everything.
How to decide
Ask three questions.
- Who am I keeping this from? A curious glance: a hidden album is fine. Someone who knows your screen PIN, or who could get hold of your phone: use something with its own lock.
- Does it need to be encrypted? For documents, ID scans or anything sensitive, yes.
- Can I live without a company that can reset things? A recovery phrase puts you in charge, and also in charge of keeping it safe.
You can also use both. Keep casual photos in the hidden album and the sensitive ones in a vault.
Questions
Is a hidden album secure?
It is secure enough to keep photos from a casual glance. Whether the files are encrypted varies by phone, and many hidden areas open with your screen lock, so it is weaker against someone who knows your PIN.
Do hidden photos still back up to the cloud?
Often yes. If photo backup or sync is on, hidden items usually go along with the rest, and the provider can generally read them. Check your own backup settings.
Do I need Silo if I already use a locked folder?
Not for casual privacy. Silo makes sense when you want encrypted files, a recovery phrase you control, verified import and the ability to export everything.
Can I use a hidden album and Silo together?
Yes. Keep everyday photos in the hidden album and sensitive ones in Silo. They don't interfere with each other.