SV - Private Photo Vault PRO Reviews

by NYCgiirl

I’ve been using the PAID version of SV for 6 years and it was great. But they updated SV 2 weeks ago and it wiped out all of my “decoy” folders -it no longer recognizes my decoy password. “Support” takes forever to reply and when they did, they blamed me for supposedly “forgetting” my own password (which I did not). Their update caused the problem and they don’t care. Disgusting lack of concern on the part of the developer. Look elsewhere for a working app with actual support when you pay for an app like this. Developer, you have my info. If you fix the problem NOW and my data shows up, I’ll update this review.

by Blanknickname152033

I have used SV for a while. I set up a recovery email so that in the case that I forget my password I could still use SV . Well I recently forgot my password and the prompt asked me if I would like an email with my password. I said yes and went to find the email. THEY DID NOT SEND ANYTHING. I tried it again several times and still no email. They have my correct email address and it says “message sending”, but I didn’t get anything. (Yes, I checked the spam folder and all the other folders). I sent in a complaint about it and they said that they would get back to me, but I have heard nothing. I’m very frustrated, because I set up the recovery email, so why isn’t it working??

by Stopaskingformydamnname!

The previous version of SV was very stable between updates and I’ve been able to add and edit large numbers of photos without problems on my Ipad ever since I bought the pro version nearly 3 years ago. Well lo and behold my Ipad somehow turned on auto update in SV Store without my express permission and installs this train wreck of an app. I am unable to move pictures around in my albums without SV crashing and not saving my changes. Also when I scroll through an album random thumbnails will turn white and I have to scroll up or down on the screen to restore the thumbnail images. Restarting my Ipad does nothing to resolve the issues and reinstalling SV is completely unreasonable due to the amount of pictures I’d have to back up somewhere and reinstall. I also am not a fan of the edit toolbar changes. It isn’t as intuitive as the last version. The crop tool in particular is very buggy and the image keeps moving around on my screen when I try to adjust what I want to crop. This is very disappointing because I used SV extensively and there aren’t really any better alternatives on SV Store. I hope someone is actually reading these reviews (although I seriously doubt it) and gets to work on repairing this “update”. Otherwise I think I’m done using SV for good.

Device info: Ipad Pro non cellular version
256GB storage capacity
130GB used
purchased in 2018
IOS version 12.1.1

by Cant Hide My Pics

I have the standard and Pro versions of SV and I never make complaints. I have used SV exclusively for years and have always been very happy with it. It’s sort of “bare bones” but it did what it was supposed to do and did it well. It was easy to import pics just like you want. The only complaint I ever had was that you couldn’t sort or organize folders. Any new folder just gets placed at the end and you can’t make sub-folders.

Since applying the last update, it jumbles pics up and they get all unorganized in the import. If you need the pics to be in order, you now have to manually do that after the update. I’ve given the developer 4 months to fix it and nothing. They must know because there are a lot of other complaints about the same thing.

If anyone has a recommendation for a good app for securely storing pics let me know.

by Lux2412

Great app does what it promises and the Import From Clipboard (aka Pasting the pic without downloading it is EXTRA useful) HOWEVER when I’m in the Gallery on my iPhone, select multiple images and try to Import them from the Share panel it tries to load them in the popup but crashes, only works for 1pic at a time. App and software is both updated to latest, tried removing and re-adding app from Share panel, rebooting my phone nothing worked. Reinstalling is not an option since there are so many pics i would have to migrate. Importing multiple photos from app works but isn’t as conveniet. Developer pls fix.

by XRad91

After the last update many of the videos no longer have a screenshot to identify the video (the “snapshot is blank). As a result you now have to open each video to find the one you are looking for. Very frustrating. Just as important, I emailed the company to ask that they update SV to fix this problem (the way it was prior to the update)and after a number of weeks I have NOT received a response. Perhaps they will respond to a review?

by Clark Battle

Ive been using SV (pro version) for many years now and its never lost a pic. The photo editor is amazing! Sometimes ill even import a photo just to edit it and then export it because the editor is so much more capable than the stock iOS photo editor. I use SV every day. It's persisted photos over bricked phones with no worries. Rock solid.

My only complaint is that it requires way too many button clicks to do most things. For example, to import a photo from you library it requires nine button clicks! The worst it the three dialogs that must be dismissed after every import. Two of them could easily be removed. The experienced user doesn’t need to read those warnings every single time. Editing a photo also requires way too many clicks. Taking a photo within SV is a great feature but each photo requires four clicks! It should be one.

SV is stable and well coded but it smells like the software developer was also the UX Designer. If thats the case it could really use a dedicated designer. Developers think from the perspective of the technology (for example the photo library they chose). Designers think from the perspective of the user. It's a huge difference and it shows.

One missing feature is nested directories. Even two levels would be enough.

Another missing feature is multiple (more than two) alternate vaults. There's no reason why there should be only two.

by Road Dog Three

For years i’ve been compiling photos and videos without any categorization. SV, allows you to save, categorize, crop picture, Display as a slideshow, lock album files, export import from iPhone to computer and vice versa and much more.
Once the files have been Uploaded to photo vault, one has the option of deleting them from photo album on iPhone or keeping them.
Don’t waste your time on the free app of this version, it doesn’t work properly, nor allow full upload of the pictures.
One problem I’ve experienced thus far, is the creation of albums. Sometimes I have to tap numerous times for the creation of the album. For four bucks, it’s money well spent.

by Awsnyde

This is an update to a prior, much lower rated review, as the prior sync issues I had apparently were an issue with their server and haven’t happened again recently.

Overall SV is very good. The primary issue I continue to have also has to do with syncing new pictures to their cloud vault, a premium feature. Any time SV is started anew, the sync won’t happen automatically. I have to hit the View Details option, pause the sync, then restart it in order to get it to actually take place. This has been happening since I subscribed to the Pro option, and continues to happen with every update.

If not for the relatively minor issue described in the previous paragraph, this would be a five star app.

by Usp45x

The new update is full of bugs and crashes when you turn on the sync to cloud. You can’t select specific folders to back up, it just does everything. The only work around is to turn off your WiFi and then you can use SV . Once you turn it back on it will try and sync then it will crash. Since the dev only does one update a year, don’t expect this to be fixed anytime soon. **Developer has resolved issues. Appreciate their quick resolutions.

by Elrubioo

I've used many vault apps before, this is by far the best, trust! Pros: replays videos on loop, dummy (fake) vault, folder creation to organize files , easy to delete/uploaded videos, & deletes videos from camera roll automatically after uploading to app (if desired). Cons: haven't found any yet. I've had SV for three days and I'm extremely happy with it. They didn't ask me to leave feedback. I literally searched for SV in the AppStore to do so on my own accord. That's how good it is. Enjoy!

by Brent.Marsh

Does everything one would hope for at a minimum to keep photos, gifs, videos, etc. secure: passcode protection; easy import/export; albums for organizing; slideshow mode; and even a built-in web browser to make surfing for and downloading images easy and secure.

A few suggestions for advanced features to consider for future versions: facial recognition; finding duplicates; “tagging” (with names, categories, genres, etc) and to search/sort by such tags; and the holy grail of all: easily downloading videos.

by Drpkckjo

So, I bought SV yesterday after reading all the good reviews. Well today, I looked through the photos I had, and some wouldn’t show up?!? Just this picture of a wave like graphic. You can see the photo in the menus, but when you click to enlarge it, that generic graphic comes up.

So thanks for that. I knew those reviews looked sketchy. Probably reviews made up by the company.

Sure it’s easy to use, but is SV doesn’t keep the photos I put in it, what use is it? Pure garbage.

by Anon2568

I have been using SV to store stuff for several years now. Everything still works fine after all this time and it’s not hard to transfer data to another apple device. The built in web browser also adds a nice layer of privacy and convenience. Thank you developers.

I also like the data transfer and option to delete files the moment you move them to this app.

by Frequent Flyer 4321

PVP crushes all competitors with outstanding functionality and smooth integration including excellent management of photo storage, (completely independent of Apple photo library), killer photo edit features, a good browser, and easy uploads and downloads. CONS No browser tabs which make it very difficult to use with some websites, no resume video from last location, no multiple photo select with an easy tap and swipe motion, no user assigned photo attributes such as favorites.

by Letterb

Well worth the price. 2nd photo account is useful. Breakin reports are awesome too.
This is great for all kinds of things you don't want on your normal camera roll like memes or crude things, and it's great for albums like Simpsons or your favorite show quotes, receipts or recipes, notes from class.
Then your camera roll can be just an unorganized photo dump.
New interface is great, lots of new useful features.
I love the alarm that catches people who put in the wrong pin.

by Knitpicker59

I have searched for months to find a secure photo app that actually works and isn’t another of the many bait and switch apps that barely function. SV works, it is easy to use, and it perfectly uploads photos from my computer and it is easy to sync between my PC and Apple devices. The best thing is that there is a real developer behind this who is dedicated to responding to questions and continuously improving the program. Thank you so much!!!

by Sad Foodie

Update 11.4 ruined a reasonable product. It used to be the only glitch was loss of selected picture sequence when adding over 2K photos in a folder. But now, when SV boots up, random pictures from the content flash by, yep, before the login. Hope you didn’t save anything embarrassing! To top it off, the web browser no longer shows the entered web page, just the log of where I tried to go. It hasn’t laughed at me yet, but I know it’s coming. Try a newer, solid app and kiss your current collection good bye…

by Giacomo1954

This is a review of the Premium version of SV. I am now very happy with the way the cloud backup is working. The latest version of the software fixed the problem I was having before where I could not back up my data.

I have been using this software for a few years now and it is very stable and reliable.

Requests: Please bring back the frames you used to have in the older versions. The current frames available are just not very appealing.

And, perhaps make is so that the folders are automatically placed in alphabetical order? That would be so nice. Also, how about making so you can have different color folders?

The decoy Folder is excellent by the way.

That’s all. Keep up the good work!

by ScrewyLouie 47

I had the same problem I got a new iPhone and when everything backed up from iCloud onto it my photo vault app was empty and I lost precious pictures of my grandchildren and other memories that I cannot get back. It’s sad. Now I bought this brand new iPhone and the same thing happened again my pictures are gone and all I have is a clean photo vault to start with. SV and I think I paid $1.99 for it I can’t remember is a rip off and it screwed me over on my memories that I can no longer get back to show somebody or see ever again.

by RathaDWC

The Old Photo Vault got all these good reports. Your new one has no blemish controls, or and the filter are not as good as the older app.
Others who feel the same way state your experiences. Maybe we all can get the Photo Vault people to offer the old one. Also why can a app company change an app without notice. When I purchase an app I should have some say if I want to upgrade. Bring back the old Photo Vault.