Where Kistvault is different
- It's an encryption boundary, not just a locked view. Locked Folder keeps items out of your grid behind your device lock; Kistvault encrypts each file under a key derived from your secret, so the files are unreadable ciphertext without it. See our guide on zero-knowledge vs hidden albums.
- Documents too. Locked Folder holds photos and videos; Kistvault also protects passports, contracts, tax records and other documents.
- No account, no ecosystem. Locked Folder lives inside Google Photos and your Google account. Kistvault needs neither, and isn't tied to Google or Apple.
- Portable + printed recovery. Export your vault as a container and carry it anywhere; recover with a printed Kit instead of a device/account path.
Where Locked Folder shines
Locked Folder is genuinely handy: it's free, already on your phone, and solves the everyday "don't scroll into the next photo" problem in seconds. Items in it aren't backed up or shown in the grid, and it's protected by your device lock. For keeping a handful of personal photos out of casual view with zero setup, it's exactly enough — just not an encryption boundary in the zero-knowledge sense.
Bottom line: Locked Folder is perfect for tidiness and casual privacy at no cost. Kistvault is for when the files must be genuinely encrypted — including documents — portable across platforms, and recoverable on your own terms.