# Lock Notes vs Documents & PDF Scanner

The clearest difference is monetization model: Documents & PDF Scanner at free with in-app purchases against Lock Notes's subscription. Documents & PDF Scanner also leads on review sentiment (70% vs 57%). Lock Notes's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and iOS requirement (15.0 vs 18.0). On price, rating, ratings volume and update cadence 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 Documents & PDF Scanner sells 7 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Documents & PDF Scanner holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 4.4. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 137 and 63 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 57% of Lock Notes's written reviews are positive against 70% of Documents & PDF Scanner's.

Lock Notes ships an update every 10 days, Documents & PDF Scanner every 9 days. The most recent releases landed on September 22, 2026 and September 19, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Lock Notes | Documents & PDF Scanner |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.4 (137 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/lock-notes-private-journal/id1211884686/reviews) | **[4.6 (63 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/documents-and-pdf-scanner-fyle/id6740039121/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **137** | 63 |
| Positive reviews | 56.5% of reviews | **70.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 10 days | **Every 9 days** |
| Monetization | Subscription | **Free with in-app purchases** |
| Size | 15 MB | 75 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.0** | 18.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [LYKOV STUDIO LTD](https://appshunter.io/developer/1783754094) | [Manuel Fessen](https://appshunter.io/developer/1788065349) |

## 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 |


### Documents & PDF Scanner

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/documents-and-pdf-scanner-fyle/id6740039121)

Scan, organize, and analyze your documents with AI. This app offers smart scanning, OCR text recognition, and an AI assistant to help you find information and take action on your files. Enjoy secure, encrypted storage and a 1-week free trial of premium features.

**Highlights:** Automatic document scanning, AI-powered OCR text recognition, Searchable PDF documents, AI assistant for summaries and questions, Secure iCloud sync, Auto-tagging and archiving

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (7)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Pro | $0.99 | per 7 days |
| Pro | $1.99 | per 7 days |
| Pro | $2.99 | per month |
| Pro | $4.99 | per month |
| Pro (Offer) | $29.99 | per year |
| Pro | $39.99 | per year |
| Lifetime | $89.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Lock Notes free?

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

### Is Documents & PDF Scanner free?

Documents & PDF Scanner is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Lock Notes or Documents & PDF Scanner?

Documents & PDF Scanner is rated higher. Lock Notes averages 4.4 out of 5 from 137 ratings, while Documents & PDF Scanner averages 4.6 from 63 ratings.

### Do Lock Notes or Documents & PDF Scanner have ads?

Documents & PDF Scanner shows ads; Lock Notes does not.

### Which is updated more often, Lock Notes or Documents & PDF Scanner?

Lock Notes ships an update every 10 days, and Documents & PDF Scanner every 9 days. Most recently, Lock Notes was updated on September 22, 2026 and Documents & PDF Scanner on September 19, 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.*