# Message Lock vs Message Vault

The clearest difference is rating: Message Vault at 3.0 against Message Lock's 2.1. Message Lock's advantage is monetization model (free with in-app purchases vs subscription) and update cadence (every 5 days vs every 48 months). On price, ads, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Message Lock sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $2.99 per month and Message Vault sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Message Vault holds the better App Store score, 3.0 against 2.1. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Message Lock has 50 ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 8% of Message Lock's written reviews are positive against 0% of Message Vault's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

Message Lock ships an update every 5 days, Message Vault every 48 months. The most recent releases landed on September 16, 2026 and September 20, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Message Lock | Message Vault |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [2.1 (50 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/message-lock-hide-messages/id1303088165/reviews) | **[3.0 (2 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/message-vault/id1336869355/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **50** | 2 |
| Positive reviews | **8.3% of reviews** | 0.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 5 days** | Every 48 months |
| Monetization | **Free with in-app purchases** | Subscription |
| Size | 35 MB | 5 MB |
| Requires iOS | **8.0** | 11.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [国媚 张](https://appshunter.io/developer/1504191475) | [Rohit Iyer](https://appshunter.io/developer/1150989827) |

## What reviewers say

### Message Lock

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/message-lock-hide-messages/id1303088165)

Secure your private conversations by locking them with a password or fingerprint. Easily export and back up chats to keep them hidden. Access archived conversations only after authentication.

**Highlights:** Lock messages with password, Fingerprint authentication, Export chats, Backup conversations, Archive chats, Ad-free experience

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

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Chat Locker With Free Trial | $2.99 | per month |


### Message Vault

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/message-vault/id1336869355)

Securely back up and archive your chat conversations in the cloud. Access your messages with fingerprint or password protection. This service offers cloud archiving and does not alter original messaging apps.

**Highlights:** Cloud message archiving, Password and Touch ID lock, Fingerprint access, 20GB cloud storage, Multiple subscription plans

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Weekly Pack | $2.99 | per 7 days |
| Monthly Pack | $9.99 | per month |
| 6 Months Pack | $49.99 | per 6 months |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Message Lock free?

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

### Is Message Vault free?

Message Vault is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Message Lock or Message Vault?

Message Vault is rated higher. Message Lock averages 2.1 out of 5 from 50 ratings, while Message Vault averages 3.0 from 2 ratings.

### Do Message Lock or Message Vault have ads?

Neither Message Lock nor Message Vault shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Message Lock or Message Vault?

Message Lock ships an update every 5 days, and Message Vault every 48 months. Most recently, Message Lock was updated on September 16, 2026 and Message Vault on September 20, 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.*