# Diary with lock vs Secret Diary

The clearest difference is monetization model: Diary with lock at free with in-app purchases against Secret Diary's subscription. Diary with lock also leads on ratings volume (1.2K vs 112) and iOS requirement (15.0 vs 18.0). Secret Diary's advantage is rating (4.8 vs 4.3) and review sentiment (91% vs 66%). On price, ads, in-app purchases and device support 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 Secret Diary sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Secret Diary holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Diary with lock has 1.2K ratings behind it against 112, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 66% of Diary with lock's written reviews are positive against 91% of Secret Diary's.

Diary with lock ships an update every 6 weeks, Secret Diary every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 2, 2026 and November 3, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Diary with lock | Secret Diary |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.3 (1.2K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/diary-with-lock/id1347511716/reviews) | **[4.8 (112 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/secret-diary-with-lock/id1507194395/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **1.2K** | 112 |
| Positive reviews | 65.6% of reviews | **90.6% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 6 weeks | **Every 2 weeks** |
| Monetization | **Free with in-app purchases** | Subscription |
| Size | 39 MB | 263 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.0** | 18.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | +4 |
| Developer | [Tuyen Bui](https://appshunter.io/developer/1000285801) | [Nawal Amallou](https://appshunter.io/developer/1507194394) |

## 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


### Secret Diary

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/secret-diary-with-lock/id1507194395)

Securely record your daily thoughts, memories, and secrets. This app allows you to add photos and track your moods, all protected by a passcode. Personalize your journal with themes and easily search past entries.

**Highlights:** Save memories, notes, and ideas, Add photos and mood emojis, Unlimited photo storage, Personalize UI with themes, Passcode protection and data encryption, Powerful search and filter functions

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

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly Plan | $2.99 | per month |
| Annual Plan | $17.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 User-friendly interface
- 🔒 Good for keeping secrets
- ❤️ Love the app
- ✍️ Great for writing thoughts
- 💯 Free to use

**What reviewers complain about**

- 💰 Some features are pricey
- 💸 Advanced stuff is locked
- 😩 Too many ads
- 🤔 Unclear if entries are private
- 💸 Have to pay for certain things

**Reported bugs**

- Forgot password not working
- Password glitch
- App shuts out sometimes
- App cuts out and needs restarting
- Password input issues (0-9 vs 1-4)

**Requested features**

- Make fingerprint ID free
- Make advanced features free
- More color options
- More features


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Diary with lock free?

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

### Is Secret Diary free?

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

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

Secret Diary is rated higher. Diary with lock averages 4.3 out of 5 from 1.2K ratings, while Secret Diary averages 4.8 from 112 ratings.

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

Neither Diary with lock nor Secret Diary shows ads.

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

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