# SnapVault

> SnapVault is an iOS photo and video backup app (App Store name: "SnapVault: Backup to S3 Cloud", publisher Black Box Code LLC) that copies your camera roll to an S3-compatible cloud bucket you own. You pay once for the app and pay your storage provider directly, typically a few dollars a month. Files upload straight from the phone to your bucket; SnapVault has no server that stores or can read them. Not related to NetApp SnapVault (enterprise snapshot replication).

Last updated: 2026-08-19

## Key facts
- Price: one-time in-app purchase (lifetime), priced per country in the App Store. No subscription. Free tier available with a weekly upload cap.
- Platforms: iOS 15.1 or later, live on the App Store since 2026-05-27 (current version 1.0.3). Android in development.
- Storage cost: billed by your provider, about $0.006 per GB per month at S3-compatible list prices (August 2026). A 200 GB library is roughly $1.20 per month.
- Five-year comparison at 200 GB: about $179 on a $2.99/month cloud storage plan versus about $72 in your own bucket.
- Supported storage: any S3-compatible endpoint, including Amazon S3, Cloudflare R2, Backblaze B2, Wasabi, and self-hosted MinIO. Multiple buckets and providers can be connected.
- Features: background sync, Wi-Fi-only option, duplicate detection (only new files upload), parallel uploads, photos and/or videos, completion notifications.
- Privacy: direct device-to-bucket uploads using your own access keys; SnapVault never sees, stores, or has access to your photos or storage account.
- Ownership: stop using the app and every file stays in your bucket under your account.

## Frequently asked
- Is it a one-time payment? Yes, a single purchase priced in your local App Store; the only ongoing cost is your storage provider's bill.
- What is an S3 bucket? Cloud storage you rent directly from a provider at wholesale prices, addressed through the Amazon S3 API that many providers support.
- Does SnapVault see my photos? No. Uploads go phone to bucket; there is no SnapVault server in the path.
- What if I stop using the app? Nothing changes; your files stay in the account you own.
- Is it on Android? Not yet; iOS only today.

## Pages
- [Home](https://snapvaultapp.com/): overview, definition, how it works, cost comparison, features, FAQ
- [What is SnapVault](https://snapvaultapp.com/#what): 140-word definition block
- [How it works](https://snapvaultapp.com/#how): three setup steps
- [Savings](https://snapvaultapp.com/#savings): one-time app vs monthly cloud storage plan, five-year math
- [FAQ](https://snapvaultapp.com/#faq): six questions and answers

## Compare (prices checked 2026-08-19, USD)
- [SnapVault vs cloud storage subscriptions](https://snapvaultapp.com/compare/): master table of iCloud+, Google One, Dropbox, Box, OneDrive and Amazon Photos vs SnapVault + R2/B2/S3 at 200 GB and 2 TB over 1 and 5 years, plus an S3 bucket cost explainer
- [SnapVault vs iCloud+](https://snapvaultapp.com/compare/snapvault-vs-icloud/): 200 GB over 5 years is about $79 in bucket storage with SnapVault + Backblaze B2 (plus the one-time app) vs $179.40 on iCloud+; at 2 TB iCloud+ ($599.40) is cheaper
- [SnapVault vs Google Photos (Google One)](https://snapvaultapp.com/compare/snapvault-vs-google-photos/): 200 GB needs AI Plus 400 GB at $4.99/month ($299.40 over 5 years) vs about $79 in storage with B2 plus the one-time app; at 2 TB Google One ($499.95) is cheaper
- [SnapVault vs Dropbox](https://snapvaultapp.com/compare/snapvault-vs-dropbox/): Dropbox's smallest paid plan is Plus 2 TB at $119.88/year ($599.40 over 5 years); cheaper than a bucket only once you fill the 2 TB
- [SnapVault vs Box](https://snapvaultapp.com/compare/snapvault-vs-box/): Box is team software; 200 GB needs a 3-seat Business plan at about $540/year
- [SnapVault vs OneDrive (Microsoft 365)](https://snapvaultapp.com/compare/snapvault-vs-onedrive/): 200 GB needs Microsoft 365 Personal 1 TB at $99.99/year; 2 TB needs an add-on, about $219.87/year
- [SnapVault vs Amazon Photos](https://snapvaultapp.com/compare/snapvault-vs-amazon-photos/): Prime includes unlimited full-resolution photos but only 5 GB of video; a 200 GB mixed library is $83.88/year on the 1 TB plan

## Links
- [App Store listing](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/snapvault-backup-to-s3-cloud/id6759338395)
- [Publisher: Black Box Code LLC](https://blackboxcode.io)
- [Privacy policy](https://blackboxcode.io/Privacy.html)
- Support: support@snapvaultapp.com