Arca vs Calculator vault apps
Calculator-style hider apps disguise themselves as a working calculator and reveal a hidden gallery when you type a secret code. The disguise can be clever, but it's mostly security-by-obscurity: the encryption underneath varies enormously, and many store files with weak or no protection.
“Calculator vault” refers to a category of apps, not one product. Quality varies widely — always verify a specific app's encryption.
Where Arca stands
Arca doesn't rely on a disguise. It relies on cryptography you can describe: AES-256-GCM per file, an Argon2id-derived key, and no server. If you do want deniability, the decoy vault provides it on top of real encryption — not instead of it.
Questions
Are calculator vault apps safe? +
The calculator disguise hides the app's purpose, but it doesn't encrypt anything by itself. Safety depends entirely on the underlying encryption, which is often weak or undocumented. Check for real, described encryption.
Does Arca have a disguise mode? +
Arca focuses on real encryption first. Its decoy vault gives you plausible deniability — a second PIN opens a harmless vault — layered on top of AES-256 encryption rather than replacing it.
More comparisons
Your photos. Truly private.
Download Arca and lock your first photos away in under a minute. No account, no cloud, no one but you.
Free to download · iPhone · iOS 18+