Compare
VaultWell vs Samsung Secure Folder
How Samsung Secure Folder compares with VaultWell on Galaxy phones, feature by feature, with the trade-offs stated fairly.
Written as of October 2026 from Samsung's published Secure Folder support pages. Built-in features change with system updates, so check their current docs before deciding. If something here is out of date, we want to fix it.
At a glance
| Question | VaultWell | Samsung Secure Folder |
|---|---|---|
| Phones | iPhone and Android | Samsung Galaxy phones |
| What it protects | Photos, videos, files and notes | A separate space for apps and files |
| Own lock | A path per vault | Its own PIN, pattern, password or biometrics |
| Several separate hidden spaces | Yes | One Secure Folder |
| Can hide its icon | Disguise icons | Yes, it can be hidden from the apps screen |
| Cloud backup | No; you export encrypted files | Backup through Samsung's cloud |
| Duress option | Yes | No |
What Secure Folder does well
Secure Folder is a separate, encrypted space on Samsung Galaxy phones, built on Samsung Knox. It can hold its own copies of apps as well as files, with its own lock. You can hide it from the apps screen, and back it up through Samsung's cloud. Because it's part of the system, it can do things a regular app can't, such as running separate instances of apps.
Where VaultWell is different
- Works on iPhone and Android, and backups move between them.
- Several vaults, each with its own path, and no on-screen count.
- Duress vault that erases the others, and intruder snapshots.
- No account involved. Secure Folder may ask for a Samsung account for some features, such as backup or resetting a forgotten lock. VaultWell has no account at all.
Where Secure Folder is better
- It can protect whole apps, not just media and notes.
- It's built into the system and backed by Samsung's hardware security platform.
- It offers cloud backup.
Which to choose
On a Galaxy phone, Secure Folder is a strong choice if you want a second space for apps as well as files. VaultWell suits people who want a focused vault for media and notes, several hidden vaults, a duress option, or something that works the same across iPhone and Android. You can also use both.