TuckVault vs Samsung Secure Folder
Samsung Secure Folder is a Knox-backed private space for Galaxy phones. TuckVault is a vault for photos, videos and documents on any phone. Which one fits you?
Samsung’s Secure Folder deserves respect. It is a Knox-backed, encrypted private space that can hold whole apps — a second Instagram, a second gallery, a second Files — with its own lock and its own icon. For a Galaxy owner who wants to separate work from personal, or keep a set of apps away from prying eyes, it is close to the best built-in option on any phone.
It is also a bigger tool than most people need, and a tool that only exists on one brand of phone.
Side by side
| Samsung Secure Folder | TuckVault | |
|---|---|---|
| Availability | Samsung Galaxy phones and tablets | Any Android phone and iPhone |
| What it holds | Apps, files, photos, contacts — a separate profile | Photos, videos and documents in a vault |
| Lock | PIN, pattern, password; biometrics optional | Separate PIN or pattern |
| Can be set to the same lock as the phone | Yes (and commonly is) | Designed to be different |
| Encryption | Knox-backed encrypted container | AES encryption applied by the app |
| Backup | Samsung Cloud / Smart Switch to another Samsung | None — stays on the phone |
| Moves to a non-Samsung phone | No | Yes, same app on any phone |
| Storage cleaner included | No | Yes — duplicates, large videos, contacts |
| Setup effort | Several minutes, Samsung account required | Under a minute |
Where Secure Folder is stronger
- It is a whole environment. A second copy of any app, with separate data. Nothing else on Android does this as well.
- Knox hardware backing. The container is tied to the device’s security hardware.
- Backup and transfer within Samsung. Samsung Cloud and Smart Switch can carry it to your next Galaxy.
Where TuckVault fits better
- You just want to lock photos and documents. Secure Folder makes you think about profiles, duplicate apps and a Samsung account; TuckVault makes you pick a PIN.
- Your lock should be different from the phone’s. Secure Folder lets you choose the same credential as the device, and most people do, which means anyone with your phone’s PIN is in. TuckVault’s lock is separate by design.
- You might change phones. A vault that only exists on Samsung is a vault you have to empty before you buy a Pixel or an iPhone.
- You also want the cleanup. TuckVault’s duplicate, video and contact cleanup is the other half of the app.
Recommendation
On a Galaxy, use Secure Folder for apps you want separated and for anything that benefits from a full second profile. Use TuckVault for the photos, videos and documents you want behind a lock nobody else knows — and keep using it when the next phone is not a Samsung. For the Android how-to, see how to hide photos on Android.
Lock what's private. Clear what isn't.
TuckVault keeps your private photos, videos and documents behind a PIN or pattern with AES encryption on your device — and cleans up duplicates, large videos and messy contacts on the same phone. Free to download for iPhone and Android.
Frequently asked questions
Is Samsung Secure Folder encrypted?
Yes. Secure Folder is built on Samsung Knox and keeps its apps and files in a separate, encrypted container with its own lock type (PIN, pattern, password or biometrics). It is one of the strongest built-in options on any phone.
So why use TuckVault on a Samsung?
Three reasons: you want a simpler tool just for photos and documents rather than a second copy of every app; you want the same vault on a non-Samsung phone or an iPhone; or you have set Secure Folder's lock to match your phone's lock and want a vault with a lock nobody else knows.
Can I move Secure Folder to a new phone?
Only to another Samsung, via Smart Switch or Samsung Cloud backup. Moving to a Pixel or an iPhone means exporting everything out of Secure Folder first. TuckVault's vault is tied to no brand.
Can I use both?
Yes. Some people keep work apps in Secure Folder and private photos in TuckVault. They do not interfere with each other.