Comparison

Lock Notes vs Private Notes.

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Lock Notes

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
Read full description

FINALLY AN APP FOR ALL YOUR PRIVATE NOTES! Keep your most valuable, private, and secret notes away from prying eyes. Keep them all totally secret and safe. Store passwords, secrets, contacts or just keep your diary private. KEY FEATURES: • Use Touch ID or passcode to safely lock access to your private notes. • Set a security question and answer in case you forget your passcode. • Safely Backup your valuable notes to iCloud. • Quickly Sync notes between iPhone & iPad with iCloud. • Sort notes list by name, date or manual. • Select notes font style and size. • Insert images & photos into notes. • Print your notes. • Send notes via text message or email. • Save notes to Camera Roll. • Support for Emoji Emoticons. This app allows you to automatically backup your notes for $9.99 a year through an auto-renewing subscription. Subscriptions will be charged to your credit card through your iTunes account. Your subscription will automatically renew unless cancelled at least 24 hours before the end of the current period You will not be able to cancel a subscription during the active period. You can manage your subscriptions in the Account Settings after purchase. Terms of use: http://www.katans.com/terms-of-use Privacy policy: http://www.katans.com/privacy-policy This app can be freely used up to two notes. A SINGLE PURCHASE COVERS ALL YOUR IPHONE AND IPAD DEVICES.

About

Private Notes.

Securely store your personal thoughts, ideas, and text with a passcode or biometric authentication. This app offers intuitive text editing tools and a straightforward interface for organizing timestamped notes.

Highlights
  • Biometric and passcode security
  • Intuitive copy/paste/cut
  • Text formatting (underline, bold, italic)
  • Timestamped notes
  • Straightforward user interface
Features
Read full description

Have personal notes you would like to keep secret? Look no further. With this app you can safely secure personal thoughts, ideas or any text with with Apple’s touch/Face ID or a passcode. FEATURES: -Intuitive copy/paste/cut functions are at your disposal. -Underline, embolden or change any word in italic. -Straight forward user interface allows you to quickly organize your timestamped notes.

Screenshots

Lock Notes4 screens
Private Notes.3 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Lock Notes at 73% against Private Notes.'s 14%. Lock Notes also leads on ads (none vs shown) and update cadence (every 10 days vs every 2 months). Private Notes.'s advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 3). On price, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

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

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Lock Notes ships an update every 10 days, Private Notes. every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on September 23, 2026 and August 22, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
Lock Notes versus Private Notes.: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterLock NotesPrivate Notes.
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.5 (1.1K ratings) — better—
Positive reviews73.3% of reviews — better14.3% of reviews
Number of ratings1.1K — better—
Update frequencyEvery 10 days — betterEvery 2 months
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationSubscriptionAd-supported — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS13.012.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size8 MB16 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperJulyApps LtdWALABOK LLC

Customer experience

Lock Notes

All ratings1,149 ratings
Positive89.6%
Neutral1.4%
Negative9.0%
Written reviews831 reviews
Positive73.3%
Neutral6.1%
Negative20.6%

Private Notes.

Written reviews7 reviews
Positive14.3%
Neutral0.0%
Negative85.7%

Bugs and requests

Lock Notes

Reported bugs

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

Requested features

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

Private Notes.

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

3 purchases

Lock Notes

Subscriptions1
  • Auto Backup$14.991 Year
One-time2
  • Unlimited Notes$4.99
  • Lock Notes Pro$9.99
None

Private Notes.

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Lock Notes free?
Lock Notes is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Private Notes. free?
Private Notes. is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do Lock Notes or Private Notes. have ads?
Private Notes. shows ads; Lock Notes does not.
Which is updated more often, Lock Notes or Private Notes.?
Lock Notes ships an update every 10 days, and Private Notes. every 2 months. Most recently, Lock Notes was updated on September 23, 2026 and Private Notes. on August 22, 2026.

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