# Photo/Message Lock vs Self

The clearest difference is rating: Photo/Message Lock at 4.4 against Self's 2.8. Photo/Message Lock also leads on review sentiment (43% vs 14%) and ratings volume (796 vs 8). Self's advantage is monetization model (free with in-app purchases vs subscription) and iOS requirement (11.0 vs 15.0). On price, ads, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Photo/Message Lock sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per month and Self sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Photo/Message Lock holds the better App Store score, 4.4 against 2.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Photo/Message Lock has 796 ratings behind it against 8, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 43% of Photo/Message Lock's written reviews are positive against 14% of Self's.

## The numbers

| Metric | Photo/Message Lock | Self |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.4 (796 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/photomessage-lock-safecloud/id1339555230/reviews)** | [2.8 (8 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/self-destructing-messages/id1475409586/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **796** | 8 |
| Positive reviews | **43.2% of reviews** | 14.3% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Monthly | — |
| Monetization | Subscription | **Free with in-app purchases** |
| Size | 54 MB | 13 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | **11.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Shesek LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1339555229) | [Fanatic Development](https://appshunter.io/developer/488507501) |

## What reviewers say

### 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


### Self

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/self-destructing-messages/id1475409586)

Send messages that automatically disappear after a set time. Control message visibility and ensure sensitive information is deleted permanently from all devices. Integrates seamlessly with iMessage for easy sharing.

**Highlights:** Set message expiration times, Automatic message deletion, Securely share secrets, iMessage integration, No account required

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

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Unlimited messages | $0.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Photo/Message Lock free?

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

### Is Self free?

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

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

Photo/Message Lock is rated higher. Photo/Message Lock averages 4.4 out of 5 from 796 ratings, while Self averages 2.8 from 8 ratings.

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

Neither Photo/Message Lock nor Self shows ads.

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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.*