# Diary with lock vs Simple Diary

The clearest difference is ads: Diary with lock at none against Simple Diary's shown. Simple Diary's advantage is rating (4.8 vs 4.3) and review sentiment (78% vs 66%). On price, ratings volume, update cadence and in-app purchases 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 Simple Diary sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Simple Diary holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.3. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 1.2K and 909 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 66% of Diary with lock's written reviews are positive against 78% of Simple Diary's.

Diary with lock ships an update every 6 weeks, Simple Diary every 2 months. Both last shipped on November 11, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Diary with lock | Simple Diary |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.3 (1.2K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/diary-with-lock/id1347511716/reviews) | **[4.8 (909 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/simple-diary-daily-journal/id1388195923/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **1.2K** | 909 |
| Positive reviews | 65.6% of reviews | **78.3% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Every 6 weeks** | Every 2 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 39 MB | 206 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | 15.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Tuyen Bui](https://appshunter.io/developer/1000285801) | [Komorebi Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/481596469) |

## 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


### Simple Diary

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/simple-diary-daily-journal/id1388195923)

This app provides a simple and convenient way to journal your thoughts and experiences. It allows you to add images, secure your entries with a passcode, and customize the app's appearance. Data backup and search functions ensure your memories are safe and easily accessible.

**Highlights:** Insert images into entries, Secure passcode lock (Face ID/Touch ID), Customizable theme colors and app icon, Data backup to iTunes/PC and cloud services, Tag-based search for entries, Adjustable text font size and color, Daily reminder notifications

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Family Sharing

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Premium (Monthly) | $3.99 | per month |
| Premium (Annual) | $19.99 | per year |
| Premium Service (Lifetime) | $69.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Simple and easy to use
- 📷 Ability to add photos
- 🔒 Password protection
- 🗓️ Organized by calendar view
- 🔍 Effective search functionality

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Occasional crashes or freezes
- 📁 Limited photo upload capacity
- 💰 Paywall for some features
- 🔄 Inconvenient manual backup/restore process
- 🎨 Limited font and theme options in free version

**Reported bugs**

- Some characters not displaying properly
- Calendar dates not always accurate
- Deleted entries not recoverable

**Requested features**

- Automatic iCloud/Google Drive sync
- More font and theme customization options
- Video recording and embedding
- Ability to add tags or categories to entries
- One-tap access to previous day's entry


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Diary with lock free?

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

### Is Simple Diary free?

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

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

Simple Diary is rated higher. Diary with lock averages 4.3 out of 5 from 1.2K ratings, while Simple Diary averages 4.8 from 909 ratings.

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

Simple Diary shows ads; Diary with lock does not.

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

Diary with lock ships an update every 6 weeks, and Simple Diary every 2 months. Most recently, Diary with lock was updated on November 11, 2026 and Simple Diary on November 11, 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.*