# Photo/Message Lock vs Lock Vault

The clearest difference is rating: Photo/Message Lock at 4.4 against Lock Vault's 3.0. Photo/Message Lock also leads on ads (none vs shown) and ratings volume (795 vs 4). Lock Vault's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 2) and iOS requirement (12.0 vs 15.0). On price 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. Lock Vault asks for nothing beyond the download.

Photo/Message Lock holds the better App Store score, 4.4 against 3.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Photo/Message Lock has 795 ratings behind it against 4, so its average is the more settled of the two.

Photo/Message Lock ships an update monthly, Lock Vault every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on November 13, 2026 and November 3, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Photo/Message Lock | Lock Vault |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.4 (795 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/photomessage-lock-safecloud/id1339555230/reviews)** | [3.0 (4 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/lock-vault-notes-hider/id1620750362/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **795** | 4 |
| Positive reviews | 43.2% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Monthly** | Every 3 months |
| Monetization | Subscription | **Ad-supported** |
| Size | 54 MB | 20 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | **12.0** |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Shesek LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1339555229) | [Super Fast Unlimited Apps](https://appshunter.io/developer/1594770371) |

## 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


### Lock Vault

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/lock-vault-notes-hider/id1620750362)

Securely manage and protect your private photos, videos, contacts, and documents. This tool offers a simple PIN creation and an emergency unlock feature for forgotten passwords, ensuring your sensitive data remains private.

**Highlights:** Manage private photos/videos, Create secret contacts, Protect private documents, Store all passwords, Easy PIN creation, Emergency password recovery

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Photo/Message Lock free?

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

### Is Lock Vault free?

Lock Vault is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

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

Photo/Message Lock is rated higher. Photo/Message Lock averages 4.4 out of 5 from 795 ratings, while Lock Vault averages 3.0 from 4 ratings.

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

Lock Vault shows ads; Photo/Message Lock does not.

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

Photo/Message Lock ships an update monthly, and Lock Vault every 3 months. Most recently, Photo/Message Lock was updated on November 13, 2026 and Lock Vault on November 3, 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.*