# Diary vs Diary with lock

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Diary at none against Diary with lock's 3. Diary also leads on rating (4.5 vs 4.3) and review sentiment (81% vs 66%). Diary with lock's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and update cadence (every 6 weeks vs every 5 months). On price, ratings volume, monetization model and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Diary with lock sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per month. Diary asks for nothing beyond the download.

Diary holds the better App Store score, 4.5 against 4.3. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 1.7K and 1.2K respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 81% of Diary's written reviews are positive against 66% of Diary with lock's.

Diary ships an update every 5 months, Diary with lock every 6 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 23, 2026 and October 26, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Diary | Diary with lock |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.5 (1.7K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/diary-journal-with-password/id1259894631/reviews)** | [4.3 (1.2K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/diary-with-lock/id1347511716/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **1.7K** | 1.2K |
| Positive reviews | **80.9% of reviews** | 65.6% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Every 5 months | **Every 6 weeks** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 28 MB | 39 MB |
| Requires iOS | **12.0** | 15.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Aurel Criste](https://appshunter.io/developer/1190603157) | [Tuyen Bui](https://appshunter.io/developer/1000285801) |

## What reviewers say

### Diary

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/diary-journal-with-password/id1259894631)

This app provides a secure and beautiful space to record your thoughts, plans, and life moments. Protect your entries with a password and enjoy a customizable interface with features like image support and PDF export.

**Highlights:** Password protection with PIN, Add/edit/remove images, Search functionality, Export entries to PDF, Customizable color and font styles, Reminders, Auto-lock for privacy

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

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Awesome app
- 🔒 Password protected
- 👍 Customizable font, color, and theme
- 💡 Ability to add photos
- 💡 Ability to set reminders

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Entries disappear without warning
- 🐛 Password issues, unable to reset
- 🐛 Scrolling/jumping text when writing longer entries
- 🔋 Excessive ads
- 🐛 Unable to recover deleted entries

**Reported bugs**

- Password not working consistently
- Entries disappearing or not saving properly
- Scrolling/jumping text when writing longer entries
- Inability to recover deleted entries

**Requested features**

- Backup and sync across devices
- More customization options (fonts, colors, backgrounds)
- Ability to export entries
- Night mode/dark theme
- Voice-to-text entry


### Diary with lock

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/diary-with-lock/id1347511716)

Create a secure personal journal to record daily events, thoughts, and secrets. Protect your entries with a password or PIN code and customize the look with different colors and fonts. This app offers a simple, fast, and user-friendly way to document your life.

**Highlights:** Password & PIN code protection, Customizable background colors, Changeable font styles, Easy-to-use interface, Searchable entries, Unlimited entries, Multi-language support

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Cloud Sync Monthly | $9.99 | per month |
| Donate to Developer | $5.99 | one-time |
| Diary with lock-No Advertising | $8.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🔒 Secure with password protection
- ✨ Customizable fonts and colors
- 📝 Easy to write entries
- 💻 Convenient digital diary

**What reviewers complain about**

- 💸 Too many ads interrupting writing
- 🐛 Crashes and glitches when trying to write
- 💾 No backup or data recovery options
- 🔍 Partial visibility of entries even when locked

**Reported bugs**

- Entries randomly disappearing
- Constant redirects to ads when trying to write
- Login/password reset not working properly

**Requested features**

- Backup and sync entries across devices
- Fingerprint/Face ID support for locking
- Ability to change font size and color
- Option to disable ads for paid users


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Diary free?

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

### Is Diary with lock free?

Diary with lock is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Diary or Diary with lock?

Diary is rated higher. Diary averages 4.5 out of 5 from 1.7K ratings, while Diary with lock averages 4.3 from 1.2K ratings.

### Do Diary or Diary with lock have ads?

Diary shows ads; Diary with lock does not.

### Which is updated more often, Diary or Diary with lock?

Diary ships an update every 5 months, and Diary with lock every 6 weeks. Most recently, Diary was updated on October 23, 2026 and Diary with lock on October 26, 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.*