# Diary with lock vs Journal for iPad

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Journal for iPad at none against Diary with lock's 3. Journal for iPad also leads on update cadence (every 2 weeks vs every 6 weeks). Diary with lock's advantage is iOS requirement (15.0 vs 17.0). On price, ads 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. Journal for iPad asks for nothing beyond the download.

Diary with lock ships an update every 6 weeks, Journal for iPad every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 26, 2026 and October 25, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Diary with lock | Journal for iPad |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.3 (1.2K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/diary-with-lock/id1347511716/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **1.2K** | — |
| Positive reviews | 65.6% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 6 weeks | **Every 2 weeks** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | — |
| Size | 39 MB | 36 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.0** | 17.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Tuyen Bui](https://appshunter.io/developer/1000285801) | [Alexei Ilin](https://appshunter.io/developer/799686570) |

## 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


### Journal for iPad

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/journal-for-ipad/id6743798696)

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Diary with lock free?

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

### Is Journal for iPad free?

Journal for iPad is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Do Diary with lock or Journal for iPad have ads?

Neither Diary with lock nor Journal for iPad shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Diary with lock or Journal for iPad?

Diary with lock ships an update every 6 weeks, and Journal for iPad every 2 weeks. Most recently, Diary with lock was updated on October 26, 2026 and Journal for iPad on October 25, 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.*