Comparison

Lock Notes vs Shared 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 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
Read full description

Keep a personal notebook for your thoughts, diary entries, ideas and everyday lists. Lock Notes gives your writing its own space, with a passcode and supported biometric unlock to control access. WRITE THE WAY YOU THINK Give long notes structure with headings, bold and italic text, lists and checklists. Add photos directly into your writing, keep a simple journal, or capture an idea before it slips away. FIND WHAT MATTERS Search your notes and find text inside an open note. Automatic saving keeps your edits as you write and when you leave the editor. A clean layout keeps the focus on your text. TAKE YOUR WRITING WITH YOU Export notes as TXT or formatted PDF, share the notes you choose, and print a copy. Use exports for a personal archive, a draft to continue elsewhere, or a list to share. RECOVER AN ACCIDENTAL DELETION Recently Deleted keeps removed notes for up to 30 days, so you can restore one before it is permanently deleted. CHOOSE HOW YOU WORK Write with local storage, adjust the appearance, and use a light or dark interface. Optional cloud synchronization is available with Premium and a compatible cloud account. From a short memo to a longer personal journal, keep your writing easy to find and comfortable to read. - Privacy Policy: https://lykovstudio.io/privacy - Terms of Use: https://lykovstudio.io/terms

About

Shared Notes

This app helps couples and friends stay organized with shared lists and notes. It features AI tools to summarize, format, and correct text, along with private, password-protected notes and offline functionality.

Highlights
  • Shared grocery and to-do lists
  • AI summarization and grammar correction
  • Password-protected private notes
  • Offline note-taking and syncing
  • Real-time synchronization
  • Cross-platform compatibility
Features
Read full description

Shared Notes is the simple, secure way to keep your relationship and daily life in sync. Whether it’s a shared grocery list with your partner, a travel plan with friends, or private thoughts you want to lock away, everything is safe here. Now powered by Smart AI, you can tidy up messy notes, fix grammar, and summarize long texts in seconds. WHY COUPLES & FRIENDS LOVE SHARED NOTES: [+] Shared Grocery & To-Do Lists Stop asking "Did you buy the milk?" Create a shared list with your partner or flatmate. When you cross off an item, it syncs instantly to everyone’s phone. Perfect for groceries, household chores, and packing lists. [+] Smart AI Assistant (NEW) Turn messy thoughts into clear plans. • Summarize: Turn long notes into short, clear summaries. • Fix Grammar: Polish your spelling and sentences automatically. • Auto-Format: Convert a rough paragraph into a clean checklist with one tap. [+] Private & Password Protected Your thoughts belong to you. Lock sensitive notes or journals with a secure password so only you can access them. We prioritize privacy with offline-first storage and secure cloud syncing. [+] Works Offline Capture ideas on a plane or in the subway. Write offline, and the app will automatically sync your changes to the cloud the moment you are back online. KEY FEATURES: • Real-Time Sync: See changes as your partner types. • AI Tools: Summarize, spell-check, and format instantly. • Dark Mode: A beautiful interface that’s easy on the eyes. • Cross-Platform: Syncs seamlessly between iPhone, iPad, and Android. Simple. Secure. Shared. Download Shared Notes today and get in sync.

Screenshots

Lock Notes4 screens
Shared Notes4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is monetization model: Shared Notes at free with in-app purchases against Lock Notes's subscription. Lock Notes's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and ratings volume (138 vs 16). On price, rating, review sentiment and update cadence 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 7 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per 7 days and Shared Notes sells 5 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Shared Notes holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 4.4. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Lock Notes has 138 ratings behind it against 16, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 54% of Lock Notes's written reviews are positive against 50% of Shared Notes's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Lock Notes ships an update every 10 days, Shared Notes every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 2, 2026 and October 30, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
Lock Notes versus Shared Notes: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterLock NotesShared Notes
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.4 (138 ratings)4.6 (16 ratings) — better
Positive reviews54.2% of reviews — better50.0% of reviews
Number of ratings138 — better16
Update frequencyEvery 10 days — betterEvery 2 weeks
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationSubscriptionFree with in-app purchases — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS15.0 — better15.6
Further details — not scored
Size23 MB86 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperLYKOV STUDIO LTDJuanma Del Boca

Customer experience

Lock Notes

All ratings138 ratings
Positive83.3%
Neutral4.3%
Negative12.3%
Written reviews48 reviews
Positive54.2%
Neutral2.1%
Negative43.8%

Shared Notes

All ratings16 ratings
Positive87.5%
Neutral6.3%
Negative6.3%
Written reviews2 reviews
Positive50.0%
Neutral50.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

7 purchases

Lock Notes

Subscriptions5
  • Weekly$4.997 Days
  • Weekly3 Days trial$4.997 Days
  • Monthly$7.991 Month
Show 2 more
  • Annual$29.991 Year
  • Annual3 Days trial$29.991 Year
One-time2
  • Disable ads$0.99
  • Lifetime$39.99
5 purchases

Shared Notes

Subscriptions3
  • Monthly Subscription$2.991 Month
  • Half Year Subscription7 Days trial$4.996 Months
  • Yearly Subscription7 Days trial$14.991 Year
One-time2
  • Lifetime Pro + AI$29.99
  • Lifetime Pro + AI$59.99

Questions

Is Lock Notes free?
Lock Notes is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Shared Notes free?
Shared Notes is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Lock Notes or Shared Notes?
Shared Notes is rated higher. Lock Notes averages 4.4 out of 5 from 138 ratings, while Shared Notes averages 4.6 from 16 ratings.
Do Lock Notes or Shared Notes have ads?
Shared Notes shows ads; Lock Notes does not.
Which is updated more often, Lock Notes or Shared Notes?
Lock Notes ships an update every 10 days, and Shared Notes every 2 weeks. Most recently, Lock Notes was updated on November 2, 2026 and Shared Notes on October 30, 2026.

Other comparisons