| Hushfold | Private Photo Vault | |
|---|---|---|
| Compression | Hardware HEVC, kept only if ≥ 15% smaller and PSNR ≥ 34 dB; side-by-side compare; 30-day undo | “Space Saver” — compresses and moves originals to its cloud; users report it is unclear what was lost |
| Account | None | Optional for cloud |
| Backup | Your own iCloud, free | Company cloud, paid tier |
| Privacy label | Data Not Collected | Usage data collected |
| Price | Free; then $24.99/year (7-day trial) or $34.99 once | Subscription or $39.99 one-time |
| Web browser inside the app | No (nothing to download, nothing to track) | Yes (16+ rating) |
| Viewing your own photos without paying | Always | Depends on tier |
Why the quality gate matters
Any app can make a file smaller. The question is what you gave up. Hushfold computes PSNR on sampled frames and shows you the number; below 34 dB it refuses. You then look at both versions in one player, at the same moment, before deciding. The original is kept for 30 days. Nothing about this requires trusting us.
Where Private Photo Vault is ahead
A built-in photo editor, a longer track record, and a company cloud for people who want someone else to run the backup. Hushfold deliberately runs no server.
Sources: Private Photo Vault’s App Store listing and reviews. Tell us if anything here is out of date.