# Message Lock vs Photo/Message Lock

The clearest difference is rating: Photo/Message Lock at 4.4 against Message Lock's 2.1. Photo/Message Lock also leads on review sentiment (43% vs 8%) and ratings volume (796 vs 50). Message Lock's advantage is monetization model (free with in-app purchases vs subscription) and update cadence (every 5 days vs monthly). 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 Photo/Message Lock sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Photo/Message Lock holds the better App Store score, 4.4 against 2.1. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Photo/Message Lock has 796 ratings behind it against 50, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 8% of Message Lock's written reviews are positive against 43% of Photo/Message Lock's.

Message Lock ships an update every 5 days, Photo/Message Lock monthly. The most recent releases landed on October 21, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Message Lock | Photo/Message Lock |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [2.1 (50 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/message-lock-hide-messages/id1303088165/reviews) | **[4.4 (796 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/photomessage-lock-safecloud/id1339555230/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 50 | **796** |
| Positive reviews | 8.3% of reviews | **43.2% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 5 days** | Monthly |
| Monetization | **Free with in-app purchases** | Subscription |
| Size | 35 MB | 54 MB |
| Requires iOS | **8.0** | 15.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [国媚 张](https://appshunter.io/developer/1504191475) | [Shesek LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1339555229) |

## 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 |


### Photo/Message Lock

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/photomessage-lock-safecloud/id1339555230)

Securely store private photos, videos, and messages in a personal cloud vault. Protect your sensitive data with multi-factor authentication and biometric unlock options. Easily import chats from popular messaging apps.

**Highlights:** Multi-factor authentication, Cloud storage for private data, Import chats from WhatsApp and Line, Biometric unlock (TouchID, FaceID), Optional cloud syncing, Password recovery via multi-factor authentication

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Premium Subscription | $9.99 | per month |
| Premium subscription | $59.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Easy to use
- 🔒 Secure data protection
- 💡 Innovative features

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Unreliable app performance
- 💔 Password recovery issues
- 🚫 Doesn't work as advertised

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes on launch
- Data loss issues
- Subscription management problems

**Requested features**

- Expand chat app support beyond WhatsApp
- Add password recovery option


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Message Lock free?

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

### Is Photo/Message Lock free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Message Lock or Photo/Message Lock?

Photo/Message Lock is rated higher. Message Lock averages 2.1 out of 5 from 50 ratings, while Photo/Message Lock averages 4.4 from 796 ratings.

### Do Message Lock or Photo/Message Lock have ads?

Neither Message Lock nor Photo/Message Lock shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Message Lock or Photo/Message Lock?

Message Lock ships an update every 5 days, and Photo/Message Lock monthly. Most recently, Message Lock was updated on October 21, 2026 and Photo/Message Lock on October 24, 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.*