Vaultaire and DotSafe are built on the same idea: you draw a pattern on a 5 by 5 grid, and each pattern opens its own vault. Both have no account and no ads, and both encrypt on the device. The differences are in the price, the backup, the records and the data that each app collects.
The short answer
| Feature | DotSafe | Vaultaire |
|---|---|---|
| No account | Yes | Yes |
| No ads | Yes | Yes |
| Unlock5 × 5 grid | Pattern4 dots or more | Pattern6 dots or more |
| Every pattern opens a vaultNo wrong code | Yes | Yes |
| Encryption | AES-256-GCM | AES-256-GCM |
| Forgotten pattern | NoNo recovery | YesRecovery phrase |
| Duress pattern | YesFree and Pro | YesPro |
| Encrypted iCloud backup | YesPro | YesFree and Pro |
| Sync across devices | YesPro | YesPro |
| Share a vault | YesPro, many people | YesPro, one person |
| Edit a shared vaultChanges sync to all members | Yes | NoRead-only copy |
| Logins, cards and IDs | Yes | Not listed |
| Data collected by the app | None | Usage and crash dataOn by default |
| Free plan | 3 vaults100 items in each | 3 vaults100 photos in total |
| Yearly | $29.99 | $19.99 |
| Lifetime | $79.99 | $39.99 |
Where Vaultaire is the better choice
- Price. Vaultaire costs less for a year and for lifetime. It also has weekly and family plans. DotSafe has neither.
- Free backup. Vaultaire keeps an encrypted backup in iCloud on the free plan. In DotSafe, iCloud backup is part of Pro.
- Recovery. Vaultaire gives each vault a recovery phrase. If you forget a pattern in DotSafe, that vault is lost.
Where DotSafe is different
- Records. DotSafe keeps logins, cards, passports, licences, bank accounts and Wi-Fi details next to your photos and files. Secrets stay hidden until you tap, and copies clear after 60 seconds. See Passwords, cards and IDs.
- A duress pattern on Free. The duress pattern erases all vaults on the device. It protects a person who is forced to open the app, so DotSafe does not charge for it.
- Sharing in both directions. Share one vault with more than one person, and give each person view or edit access. When a person with edit access adds or changes an item, the change syncs to all members. In Vaultaire, one person gets a read-only copy. See Sharing a vault safely.
- No data collection. The app sends no usage data and no crash reports. It connects only to Apple and to our help pages.
- No recovery, on purpose. A recovery phrase is a second key. Someone can find it or make you give it. DotSafe has only the pattern.
Which one to choose
If the price and a free backup matter most to you, Vaultaire is a good choice. If you want passwords and IDs in the same vault, a duress pattern on the free plan, or an app that collects no data, choose DotSafe. Both apps are free to try.
Sources
We checked these pages on 2 November 2026. Apps and prices change. Prices are in US dollars on the US App Store. If something on this page is wrong, write to dotsafe@mobiusly.com and we will correct it.
