# Lock Notes vs Secure Notes

The clearest difference is monetization model: Secure Notes at free with in-app purchases against Lock Notes's subscription. Secure Notes also leads on review sentiment (65% vs 54%) and ratings volume (716 vs 138). On price, rating, update cadence and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Lock Notes sells 7 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per 7 days and Secure Notes sells 6 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Secure Notes holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 4.4. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Secure Notes has 716 ratings behind it against 138, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 54% of Lock Notes's written reviews are positive against 65% of Secure Notes's.

Lock Notes ships an update every 10 days, Secure Notes fortnightly. Both last shipped on October 21, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Lock Notes | Secure Notes |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.4 (138 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/lock-notes-private-journal/id1211884686/reviews) | **[4.6 (716 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/secure-notes-secret-and-lock/id1469517353/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 138 | **716** |
| Positive reviews | 54.2% of reviews | **64.7% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 10 days** | Fortnightly |
| Monetization | Subscription | **Free with in-app purchases** |
| Size | 23 MB | 67 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.0** | 16.6 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [LYKOV STUDIO LTD](https://appshunter.io/developer/1783754094) | [PixelPort LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1355467938) |

## What reviewers say

### Lock Notes

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/lock-notes-private-journal/id1211884686)

Securely store private thoughts, passwords, and reminders with biometric authentication. Enjoy a simple, elegant interface with iCloud sync, customizable themes, and backup options. Your data remains private and encrypted.

**Highlights:** Biometric authentication (Face ID, Touch ID), Encrypted note storage, iCloud sync across devices, Customizable themes and dark mode, Backup and restore functionality, Ad-free minimalist interface

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

**In-app purchases (7)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Weekly | $4.99 | per 7 days |
| Weekly | $4.99 | per 7 days |
| Monthly | $7.99 | per month |
| Annual | $29.99 | per year |
| Annual | $29.99 | per year |
| Disable ads | $0.99 | one-time |
| Lifetime | $39.99 | one-time |


### Secure Notes

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/secure-notes-secret-and-lock/id1469517353)

Safeguard your private thoughts, voice memos, and sensitive information with robust, multi-layered security. This app offers military-grade encryption, biometric locks, and secure voice recording to keep your data protected. Enjoy a distraction-free, ad-free experience with a powerful rich text editor and seamless iCloud syncing across devices.

**Highlights:** 3-Layer Security (app, folders, notes), Secure Voice Recording, Biometric Lock (Face ID, Touch ID, Passcode), iCloud Sync, Rich Text Editor with Markdown, Trash Recovery

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

**In-app purchases (6)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Secure Notes - 1 Month PRO | $4.99 | per month |
| Secure Notes - Pro Monthly | $6.99 | per month |
| Secure Notes Pro Monthly | $9.99 | per month |
| Secure Notes Pro Annual Offer | $19.99 | per year |
| Secure Notes - 1 Year PRO | $39.99 | per year |
| Secure Notes Pro - Lifetime | $99.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🔒 Secure notes and folders
- 👍 User-friendly interface
- 🚀 Efficient note-taking
- 💡 Innovative features like Love Voice Notes

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Glitchy performance after updates
- 🤯 Overly complicated UI changes
- 🔒 Difficulty resetting passwords/access
- 💸 Essential features locked behind paywall

**Reported bugs**

- Frequent app crashes
- Delayed text input and display
- Inability to access locked notes

**Requested features**

- Ability to move notes between folders
- Option to customize font, size, and colors
- Trash/Recycle bin for deleted notes
- Cloud sync/backup functionality


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Lock Notes free?

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

### Is Secure Notes free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Lock Notes or Secure Notes?

Secure Notes is rated higher. Lock Notes averages 4.4 out of 5 from 138 ratings, while Secure Notes averages 4.6 from 716 ratings.

### Do Lock Notes or Secure Notes have ads?

Neither Lock Notes nor Secure Notes shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Lock Notes or Secure Notes?

Lock Notes ships an update every 10 days, and Secure Notes fortnightly. Most recently, Lock Notes was updated on October 21, 2026 and Secure Notes on October 21, 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.*