# Diary with lock vs Diary Secret

The clearest difference is ads: Diary with lock at none against Diary Secret's shown. Diary with lock also leads on review sentiment (66% vs 42%) and ratings volume (1.2K vs 158). Diary Secret's advantage is update cadence (weekly vs every 6 weeks) and monetization model (free vs free with in-app purchases). On price, in-app purchases, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Diary with lock sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per month and Diary Secret sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $4.99 per year. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Diary Secret holds the better App Store score, 4.5 against 4.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Diary with lock has 1.2K ratings behind it against 158, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 66% of Diary with lock's written reviews are positive against 42% of Diary Secret's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

Diary with lock ships an update every 6 weeks, Diary Secret weekly. Both last shipped on October 29, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Diary with lock | Diary Secret |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.3 (1.2K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/diary-with-lock/id1347511716/reviews) | **[4.5 (158 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/diary-secret/id1366079020/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **1.2K** | 158 |
| Positive reviews | **65.6% of reviews** | 41.9% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 6 weeks | **Weekly** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Size | 39 MB | 51 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.0** | 15.6 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Tuyen Bui](https://appshunter.io/developer/1000285801) | [Dat Hoang](https://appshunter.io/developer/1143718103) |

## What reviewers say

### Diary with lock

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/diary-with-lock/id1347511716)

Create a secure personal journal to record daily events, thoughts, and secrets. Protect your entries with a password or PIN code and customize the look with different colors and fonts. This app offers a simple, fast, and user-friendly way to document your life.

**Highlights:** Password & PIN code protection, Customizable background colors, Changeable font styles, Easy-to-use interface, Searchable entries, Unlimited entries, Multi-language support

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Cloud Sync Monthly | $9.99 | per month |
| Donate to Developer | $5.99 | one-time |
| Diary with lock-No Advertising | $8.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🔒 Secure with password protection
- ✨ Customizable fonts and colors
- 📝 Easy to write entries
- 💻 Convenient digital diary

**What reviewers complain about**

- 💸 Too many ads interrupting writing
- 🐛 Crashes and glitches when trying to write
- 💾 No backup or data recovery options
- 🔍 Partial visibility of entries even when locked

**Reported bugs**

- Entries randomly disappearing
- Constant redirects to ads when trying to write
- Login/password reset not working properly

**Requested features**

- Backup and sync entries across devices
- Fingerprint/Face ID support for locking
- Ability to change font size and color
- Option to disable ads for paid users


### Diary Secret

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/diary-secret/id1366079020)

This app provides a private and secure space to record personal thoughts, moments, and plans. It offers password protection, customizable themes, and easy navigation to ensure your entries remain confidential and accessible.

**Highlights:** Password protection, Customizable themes and fonts, Easy entry creation and editing, Search functionality, Reminders, Multiple diary uses (diet, travel)

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| My Diary Premium | $4.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Diary with lock free?

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

### Is Diary Secret free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Diary with lock or Diary Secret?

Diary Secret is rated higher. Diary with lock averages 4.3 out of 5 from 1.2K ratings, while Diary Secret averages 4.5 from 158 ratings.

### Do Diary with lock or Diary Secret have ads?

Diary Secret shows ads; Diary with lock does not.

### Which is updated more often, Diary with lock or Diary Secret?

Diary with lock ships an update every 6 weeks, and Diary Secret weekly. Most recently, Diary with lock was updated on October 29, 2026 and Diary Secret on October 29, 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.*