# Lock Notes vs VarCo

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: VarCo at none against Lock Notes's 7. VarCo also leads on iOS requirement (13.0 vs 15.0). On price, update cadence, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Lock Notes sells 7 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per 7 days. VarCo asks for nothing beyond the download.

Lock Notes ships an update every 10 days, VarCo every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 10, 2026 and November 7, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Lock Notes | VarCo |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.4 (138 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/lock-notes-private-journal/id1211884686/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **138** | — |
| Positive reviews | 52.9% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 10 days** | Every 3 weeks |
| Monetization | Subscription | — |
| Size | 23 MB | 165 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | **13.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [LYKOV STUDIO LTD](https://appshunter.io/developer/1783754094) | [iSchool Bulgaria OOD](https://appshunter.io/developer/1488481481) |

## 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 |


### VarCo

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/varco/id1563161622)

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Lock Notes free?

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

### Is VarCo free?

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

### Do Lock Notes or VarCo have ads?

Neither Lock Notes nor VarCo shows ads.

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

Lock Notes ships an update every 10 days, and VarCo every 3 weeks. Most recently, Lock Notes was updated on November 10, 2026 and VarCo on November 7, 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.*