Comparison

Photo/Message Lock vs Hidden Message Dot App

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Photo/Message Lock

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
Read full description

Have messages, photos or videos that are so private you want to keep on a separate safe cloud only you could access? This app is for you! The only app that enables multi-factor authentication to access your cloud stored private data! Easily backup your popular application's messages (including videos, photos etc) in the cloud securely and safely. Currently fully support importing chats from WhatsApp and Line. Other chats, photos & videos could be imported manually. Make any of your conversation, photos or videos private easily and keep those behind a lock only you have access to. You can unlock your saved chats, photos or videos using TouchID, FaceID or a passcode (depend on your device capability) Store all your private conversations, photos and videos on a secure cloud which could be unlocked by you only. Syncing your data with our cloud and login is optional. If you decide to store your data in our cloud and you forget your password you can restore it by multiple factor authentications so you would have access to this private data always. To have access to the cloud data you would need to have access to the email and phone number you have provided. Important: The app doesn't add a lock to the original app, it is used to store your sensitive data and chats in a safe cloud. It is your responsibility to delete those chats from the original device. ----------------------------------- Information about the auto-renewable nature of the subscription - If you want to use our service, we offer you cloud archiving service. With subscribing you will get 10GB cloud disk space. - Subscription period is monthly or yearly. Every month or year your subscription renews. - Prices for subscriptions depends on which package you choose and will be seen in payment screen. - Payment will be charged to iTunes Account at confirmation of purchase. - Subscription automatically renews unless auto-renew is turned off at least 24-hours before the end of the current period. - Account will be charged for renewal within 24-hours prior to the end of the current period, and identify the cost of the renewal. - Subscriptions may be managed by the user and auto-renewal may be turned off by going to the user's Account Settings after purchase. - Any unused portion of a free trial period, if offered, will be forfeited when the user purchases a subscription to that publication, where applicable. - You can cancel your subscription via this url: https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT202039 - Privacy policy: http://privacy.safecloudapp.com - Term of use: http://tos.safecloudapp.com - Subscription Information : http://subscription.safecloudapp.com ----------------------------------- DISCLAIMER Unofficial Product. Any product names, logos, brands, and other trademarks or images featured or referred to within this app are the property of their respective trademark holders. Any of these trademark holders are not affiliated with us, our products, or our apps. They do not sponsor or endorse this app or any of our online products. Get updates also on our Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/SafeCloudApp

About

Hidden Message Dot App

Send secret messages that appear normal to others but reveal a hidden part only to your intended recipient. Protect your conversations with an optional passcode for enhanced privacy. Supports numerous messaging platforms and email.

Highlights
  • Hidden message functionality
  • Passcode protection
  • Supports iMessage, WhatsApp, Telegram, and more
  • Works with emails and websites
  • No server or internet usage
  • Data privacy focused
Features
Read full description

While looking just like an ordinary message for an outsider, a message created with "Hidden Message" has a hidden part that is visible only to you and your friend. This hidden message is shown neither in the message history nor on the lock screen. To keep it even more private, you can set a passcode to access your private messages. This app is useful for maintaining your everyday privacy as well as for protecting your business correspondence. "Hidden Message" supports all popular IM services: iMessage, LinkedIn, WhatsApp, Viber, Facebook Messenger, VK, Hangouts, WeChat, Talk, Telegram, Line and others, it even support emails, websites, any place you can put text message in it. "Hidden Message" respects privacy, we don't use servers or internet, your message is really hidden, we don't use any third party code or collect any data. Remember to use this for private use and not to misuse.

Screenshots

Photo/Message Lock4 screens
Hidden Message Dot App4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is monetization model: Hidden Message Dot App at free with in-app purchases against Photo/Message Lock's subscription. Hidden Message Dot App also leads on review sentiment (77% vs 43%) and update cadence (every 5 days vs monthly). On price, rating, ratings volume and ads there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

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

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.4 for Photo/Message Lock against 4.5 for Hidden Message Dot App. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 796 and 431 respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 43% of Photo/Message Lock's written reviews are positive against 77% of Hidden Message Dot App's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

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

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
Photo/Message Lock versus Hidden Message Dot App: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterPhoto/Message LockHidden Message Dot App
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.4 (796 ratings)4.5 (431 ratings) — better
Positive reviews43.2% of reviews76.7% of reviews — better
Number of ratings796 — better431
Update frequencyMonthlyEvery 5 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationSubscriptionFree with in-app purchases — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS15.014.1 — better
Further details — not scored
Size54 MB3 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperShesek LLCi4islam

Customer experience

Photo/Message Lock

All ratings787 ratings
Positive84.5%
Neutral5.5%
Negative10.0%
Written reviews44 reviews
Positive43.2%
Neutral6.8%
Negative50.0%

Hidden Message Dot App

All ratings429 ratings
Positive87.2%
Neutral4.4%
Negative8.4%
Written reviews30 reviews
Positive76.7%
Neutral6.7%
Negative16.7%

User reviews

Photo/Message Lock

From 796 App Store ratings

What we love

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

Room to improve

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

Hidden Message Dot App

From 431 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 💡 Innovative concept for secret messaging
  • 👍 Easy to use once understood
  • ✨ Cool and hidden messaging alternative
  • ✍️ Good for writing private letters
  • 🤫 Effective for hiding messages

Room to improve

  • ❌ App is completely useless
  • 🐛 Jank and defective
  • 🐛 Lags a lot
  • 🐛 Not compatible with VoiceOver
  • 🐛 Paid feature not working

Bugs and requests

Photo/Message Lock

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • App crashes on launch
  • Data loss issues
  • Subscription management problems

Requested features

2 requests
  • Expand chat app support beyond WhatsApp
  • Add password recovery option

Hidden Message Dot App

Reported bugs

4 issues
  • Paid passcode feature does not work
  • Messages lead to 'no server found' error
  • App is not compatible with VoiceOver
  • App lags significantly

Requested features

3 requests
  • Add support for older devices (iPhone 6, iOS 12)
  • Add password protection between parties
  • Consider encryption through steganography (hidden messages in pictures with password protection)

In-app purchases

2 purchases

Photo/Message Lock

Subscriptions2
  • Premium Subscription7 Days trial$9.991 Month
  • Premium subscription7 Days trial$59.991 Year
1 purchases

Hidden Message Dot App

One-time1
  • Lock Feature$1.99

Questions

Is Photo/Message Lock free?
Photo/Message Lock is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Hidden Message Dot App free?
Hidden Message Dot App is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Photo/Message Lock or Hidden Message Dot App?
Hidden Message Dot App is rated higher. Photo/Message Lock averages 4.4 out of 5 from 796 ratings, while Hidden Message Dot App averages 4.5 from 431 ratings.
Do Photo/Message Lock or Hidden Message Dot App have ads?
Neither Photo/Message Lock nor Hidden Message Dot App shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Photo/Message Lock or Hidden Message Dot App?
Photo/Message Lock ships an update monthly, and Hidden Message Dot App every 5 days. Most recently, Photo/Message Lock was updated on October 24, 2026 and Hidden Message Dot App on October 21, 2026.

Other comparisons