Comparison
Pixel Gallery vs 1Gallery
Verdict: Pick 1Gallery if an encrypted vault with a disguised calculator lock is your top priority. Pick Pixel Gallery if you want no ads, face grouping, smart search and cleanup on the phone.
1Gallery is a gallery with an AES-encrypted vault, disguised lock modes and an editor, funded by ads. Pixel Gallery has no ads and focuses on on-device AI.
Last updated . 1Gallery website
Pixel Gallery vs 1Gallery at a glance
| Capability | Pixel Gallery | 1Gallery |
|---|---|---|
| Photos stay on the phone | Yes Pixel Gallery never uploads your photos or videos. | Partly Local gallery; optional Google Drive backup of encrypted hidden (vault) files |
| Works without an account | Yes | Yes No account; the vault asks for an email used as a local encryption key, per the privacy policy |
| On-device smart search | Yes SigLIP2 model, ~375 MB optional download. | No Listing mentions search for file management only; no content search documented |
| Face grouping | Yes Runs on the phone. | No Not mentioned in the Play listing or website |
| Duplicate and similar cleanup | Yes | No No duplicate or similar-photo finder documented |
| Encrypted metadata database | Yes | Not documented Not documented; AES encryption is described for hidden files, not the app's index |
| No ads | Yes | No Contains ads (Google AdMob and Meta Audience Network per privacy policy) |
| No subscription | Yes Free, plus an optional one-time Premium purchase. | Not documented Free with ads and in-app purchases; whether these are one-time or subscriptions is not documented |
| Cloud backup | No Pixel Gallery has no cloud. Backup is up to you. | Partly Only encrypted hidden files, to your own Google Drive |
| Open source | No | No No public source code found |
| Encrypted vault for hidden photos | Partly Blurs items behind a biometric lock; files are not encrypted. | Yes |
| Disguised lock (calculator mode) | No | Yes |
| Vault backup to Google Drive | No | Yes |
| Home screen photo widget | Yes | Yes |
| Stories and memories | Yes | No |
Sources (4)
- 1Gallery on Google Play, accessed
- 1Gallery data safety on Google Play, accessed
- 1Gallery official site, accessed
- 1Gallery privacy policy (updated 2024-12-02), accessed
Is Pixel Gallery a good 1Gallery alternative?
It depends on what you value. 1Gallery’s strength is privacy for hidden files: an AES-encrypted vault, several lock modes including a disguised calculator, and Google Drive backup of the vault. It is funded by ads. Pixel Gallery shows no ads and focuses on understanding your library on the phone.
What does 1Gallery do better?
- Encrypted vault. Hidden photos, videos and documents encrypted with AES.
- Disguised lock. PIN, pattern, fingerprint or calculator mode.
- Vault backup. Move the vault to a new phone through Google Drive.
What does Pixel Gallery do better?
- No ads. 1Gallery uses ad networks, according to its privacy policy.
- On-device AI. People, search by what a photo shows, text recognition.
- Cleanup. Duplicates, similar shots and low-quality photos with swipe review.
- An encrypted index. The metadata database of faces, places and text is encrypted.
Who should pick which?
Pick 1Gallery if a disguised, encrypted vault is the main reason you want a gallery app. Pick Pixel Gallery for an ad-free gallery that organizes your library for you.
How to switch from 1Gallery
Unhide files from the 1Gallery vault you want indexed, install Pixel Gallery and allow photo access.
What makes Pixel Gallery different
-
On-device AI
Faces, semantic search, text recognition and captions run on the phone. Gemini Nano captions on supported devices.
-
Never uploads your photos
Pixel Gallery never uploads your photos or videos. No account, no cloud library.
-
Encrypted metadata database
The index of faces, places, text and embeddings is encrypted on the device.
-
No ads, no subscription
Free to use with no ads. Premium is a one-time purchase.
Beyond the table
19 more things Pixel Gallery does
The table sticks to where Pixel Gallery and 1Gallery differ most. This is the rest of the app, all on the phone. Features marked Premium are part of the one-time purchase.
On-device AI
Search & discover
Organize
Create & edit
Insights
Experiences
Gallery basics
Pixel Gallery vs 1Gallery: questions
Is there a 1Gallery alternative without ads?
Yes. Pixel Gallery has no ads and adds face grouping, semantic search and cleanup on the phone.
Does 1Gallery really encrypt hidden photos?
1Gallery says it encrypts hidden files with AES. The Pixel Gallery sensitive-media vault blurs items behind a biometric lock but does not encrypt the files.
Does 1Gallery have face recognition?
Face grouping is not documented for 1Gallery. Pixel Gallery groups faces on the phone.
Free on Google Play
Requires Android 13 or newer. No account. Optional one-time Premium upgrade.