# Lock Notes vs Chat Memo

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Chat Memo at none against Lock Notes's 3. Chat Memo also leads on review sentiment (100% vs 73%). Lock Notes's advantage is ratings volume (1.1K vs 9) and rating (4.5 vs 4.3). On price, update cadence, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Lock Notes sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $14.99 per year. Chat Memo asks for nothing beyond the download.

Lock Notes holds the better App Store score, 4.5 against 4.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Lock Notes has 1.1K ratings behind it against 9, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 73% of Lock Notes's written reviews are positive against 100% of Chat Memo's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

Lock Notes ships an update every 10 days, Chat Memo weekly. The most recent releases landed on October 14, 2026 and October 9, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Lock Notes | Chat Memo |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.5 (1.1K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/lock-notes-passcode-protect/id1033962570/reviews)** | [4.3 (9 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/chat-memo-simple-note-app/id1465757390/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **1.1K** | 9 |
| Positive reviews | 73.3% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 10 days | **Weekly** |
| Monetization | Subscription | **Free** |
| Size | 8 MB | 20 MB |
| Requires iOS | **13.0** | 15.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [JulyApps Ltd](https://appshunter.io/developer/427694580) | [Naoyuki Rikiji](https://appshunter.io/developer/1465757389) |

## What reviewers say

### Lock Notes

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/lock-notes-passcode-protect/id1033962570)

Securely store and protect your private notes with a passcode or Touch ID. Keep sensitive information like passwords, secrets, and diary entries safe from unauthorized access. Backup and sync notes across devices, customize their appearance, and even add images.

**Highlights:** Passcode and Touch ID protection, Security question recovery, iCloud backup and sync, Customizable font style and size, Insert images into notes, Print and share notes

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Auto Backup | $14.99 | per year |
| Unlimited Notes | $4.99 | one-time |
| Lock Notes Pro | $9.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🔒 Secure notes
- 👍 Easy to use
- 🚀 Convenient
- 🔑 Passcode/biometric protection
- 💾 Cloud backup

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🔒 Limited free notes
- 💰 Paywall for advanced features
- 🐛 Crashes and data loss issues
- 🔍 Lack of search functionality
- 📁 No folder organization

**Reported bugs**

- Notes disappearing after updates
- Inability to access notes after device reset
- Sync issues between devices

**Requested features**

- Advanced formatting options
- Ability to change passcode
- Improved search capabilities
- Folder/organization system
- Better backup and restore options


### Chat Memo

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/chat-memo-simple-note-app/id1465757390)

A straightforward note-taking app designed for intuitive, one-line entries. It offers widget support for home screen access, character counting, and easy line-by-line copying. The app prioritizes a clean, ad-free experience for efficient memo management.

**Highlights:** One-line memo registration, Widget support, Character counting, Line-by-line selection and copying, Passcode protection, Image registration, Strike-through for TODO lists

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Lock Notes free?

Lock Notes is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Chat Memo free?

Chat Memo is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Lock Notes or Chat Memo?

Lock Notes is rated higher. Lock Notes averages 4.5 out of 5 from 1.1K ratings, while Chat Memo averages 4.3 from 9 ratings.

### Do Lock Notes or Chat Memo have ads?

Neither Lock Notes nor Chat Memo shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Lock Notes or Chat Memo?

Lock Notes ships an update every 10 days, and Chat Memo weekly. Most recently, Lock Notes was updated on October 14, 2026 and Chat Memo on October 9, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*