# Message Lock vs App Lock, Hide App & Lock Apps

The clearest difference is rating: App Lock, Hide App & Lock Apps at 4.4 against Message Lock's 2.1. App Lock, Hide App & Lock Apps also leads on review sentiment (39% vs 8%) and ratings volume (12K vs 50). Message Lock's advantage is monetization model (free with in-app purchases vs subscription) and iOS requirement (8.0 vs 11.0). On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Message Lock sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $2.99 per month and App Lock, Hide App & Lock Apps sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $6.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

App Lock, Hide App & Lock Apps holds the better App Store score, 4.4 against 2.1. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: App Lock, Hide App & Lock Apps has 12K 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 39% of App Lock, Hide App & Lock Apps's.

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 5 days. The most recent releases landed on October 21, 2026 and October 27, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Message Lock | App Lock, Hide App & Lock Apps |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [2.1 (50 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/message-lock-hide-messages/id1303088165/reviews) | **[4.4 (12K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/app-lock-hide-app-and-lock-apps/id1616433953/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 50 | **12K** |
| Positive reviews | 8.3% of reviews | **38.9% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 5 days | Every 5 days |
| Monetization | **Free with in-app purchases** | Subscription |
| Size | 35 MB | 124 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) | [KINGSMEN VIETNAM COMPANY LIMITED](https://appshunter.io/developer/1615149387) |

## 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 |


### App Lock, Hide App & Lock Apps

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/app-lock-hide-app-and-lock-apps/id1616433953)

Secure your digital life with this app that locks your applications, hides sensitive files like photos and videos, and manages your passwords. Protect your confidential information with a unique password and generate strong, random passwords for enhanced security.

**Highlights:** App Lock, Hide Apps, Photos Lock, Videos Lock, Secret Password Manager, Confidential Information Management, Generate Random Password

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

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| App Lock Premium Membership | $6.99 | per month |
| App Locker Yearly Premium | $19.99 | per year |
| Lifetime Premium Membership | $29.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 User-friendly interface
- 🔒 Effective app locking
- 🚀 Stable performance
- 💡 Separate security password
- 🔒 Ability to hide apps

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Doesn't actually hide apps
- 🐛 Doesn't work as advertised
- 💰 Expensive subscription
- 🐛 Crashes and bugs
- 🤖 Automated customer support responses

**Reported bugs**

- Apps still visible in App Library
- Stuck in tutorial mode
- Subscription issues after device reset

**Requested features**

- Trial period for app
- Ability to change app icon and name
- Option to recover deleted photos


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Message Lock free?

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

### Is App Lock, Hide App & Lock Apps free?

App Lock, Hide App & Lock Apps is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Message Lock or App Lock, Hide App & Lock Apps?

App Lock, Hide App & Lock Apps is rated higher. Message Lock averages 2.1 out of 5 from 50 ratings, while App Lock, Hide App & Lock Apps averages 4.4 from 12K ratings.

### Do Message Lock or App Lock, Hide App & Lock Apps have ads?

Neither Message Lock nor App Lock, Hide App & Lock Apps shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Message Lock or App Lock, Hide App & Lock Apps?

Message Lock ships an update every 5 days, and App Lock, Hide App & Lock Apps every 5 days. Most recently, Message Lock was updated on October 21, 2026 and App Lock, Hide App & Lock Apps on October 27, 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.*