# Photo/Message Lock vs Black Box

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Black Box at none against Photo/Message Lock's 2. Black Box also leads on update cadence (every 3 days vs monthly) and rating (4.8 vs 4.4). Photo/Message Lock's advantage is ratings volume (787 vs 37) and device support (3 vs 1). On price, ads and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Photo/Message Lock sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per month. Black Box asks for nothing beyond the download.

Black Box holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.4. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Photo/Message Lock has 787 ratings behind it against 37, 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 67% of Black Box's.

Photo/Message Lock ships an update monthly, Black Box every 3 days. The most recent releases landed on September 23, 2026 and August 28, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Photo/Message Lock | Black Box |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.4 (787 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/photomessage-lock-safecloud/id1339555230/reviews) | **[4.8 (37 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/black-box-lock-restrict-apps/id6547836962/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **787** | 37 |
| Positive reviews | 43.2% of reviews | **66.7% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Monthly | **Every 3 days** |
| Monetization | Subscription | **Free** |
| Size | 54 MB | 68 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.0** | 16.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Shesek LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1339555229) | [俊涛 刘](https://appshunter.io/developer/1702439770) |

## 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


### Black Box

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/black-box-lock-restrict-apps/id6547836962)

Secure your phone by locking and restricting access to sensitive applications. Protect your private data with advanced password protection and prevent unauthorized app usage or in-app purchases. Enjoy comprehensive digital privacy with an easy-to-use interface.

**Highlights:** App locking with password protection, App disappearance for hidden access, App usage restrictions, Secure privacy with advanced passwords, Payment locking for in-app purchases, Intuitive interface

**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 Black Box free?

Black Box is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

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

Black Box is rated higher. Photo/Message Lock averages 4.4 out of 5 from 787 ratings, while Black Box averages 4.8 from 37 ratings.

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

Neither Photo/Message Lock nor Black Box shows ads.

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

Photo/Message Lock ships an update monthly, and Black Box every 3 days. Most recently, Photo/Message Lock was updated on September 23, 2026 and Black Box on August 28, 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.*