Comparison

Shortcuts vs LockMe

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Shortcuts

Automate everyday tasks on your iPhone and iPad by creating custom workflows. Combine actions from your favorite apps to perform complex operations with a single tap, Siri command, or even automatically. Explore hundreds of built-in actions to streamline your digital life.

Highlights
  • Create custom automations
  • Hundreds of built-in actions
  • Integrates with favorite apps
  • Home Screen icons for quick access
  • Siri integration
  • Automatic task execution
  • Make animated GIFs
  • Create PDFs from Safari
Features
Read full description

Now, with Describe a Shortcut, you can automate daily tasks with a simple description. Just describe what you need, and Shortcuts creates an automation that connects actions across apps. Choose from hundreds of built-in actions in your favorite apps — like Calendar, Camera, Reminders, and more — to help you accomplish everyday tasks with a simple tap from the Home Screen, by asking Siri, or even automatically. Use the Shortcuts app to: • Add a Home Screen icon that calls a loved one • Make animated GIFs • Make PDFs from Safari And so much more... Shortcuts opens up incredible possibilities to automate things you do regularly on your iPhone and iPad.

About

LockMe

Control app usage on your device or for your children with time and location-based restrictions. Automate app blocking, minimize distractions, and protect sensitive information for a balanced digital life.

Highlights
  • Time-based app restrictions
  • Location-based app blocking
  • Automated app access control
  • Minimize distractions
  • Protect sensitive apps
  • App grouping management
Features
Read full description

Take charge of your apps usage or your child's digital world with LockMe. This cutting-edge app helps you to set precise time or location-based a Block restrictions on any apps on your iOS device. Ensure a privacy of your apps and balanced lifestyle and responsible device habits effortlessly for you or your children Amazing Benefits: - Restrict access to certain apps on your own device or your child device during specific hours or locations. - Automate the restriction or blocking of apps during specific time intervals. - Block access to your personal or sensitive apps with one click on specific times or location automatically - Minimize distractions during work hours by automatically Restrict access to social media or gaming apps, - Prevent unauthorized access to sensitive information on your device or your kids device. - Adjust your apps accessibility based on your location or time of the day, ensuring certain apps are restricted or locked in specific places. - Avoid constant disturbances apps notifications and temporarily disable there notifications automatically on specific time or location 1. Smart Time Controls: App lock lets you fine-tune apps access with custom time restrictions. Tailor usage limits for different apps during school hours, work time, home, study time, and bedtime. Encourage focused activities while preventing excessive screen time effortlessly. 2. Location-Based Management: Unlock the potential of location-based controls. Designate safe zones and customize app availability accordingly. Allow only the apps you choose to be active on a certain location of youre choice, 3. Apps Groups Management: With App Lock, Group apps into financial apps, social apps, education, games, entertainment, and more. Adjust access based on app types, ensuring a balanced blend of learning and leisure. The app offers Unlimited Access to all the features for auto renew Subscription: * Subscription payments will be charged to your iTunes account at confirmation of your purchase and upon commencement of each renewal term. Subscription with a free trial period will automatically renew to a paid subscription. You can cancel your subscription or free trial in the iTunes settings at least 24-hours before the end of the free trial period. The cancellation will take effect the day after the last day of the current subscription period and you will be downgraded to the free service. Privacy Policy: https://sites.google.com/view/tysongillprivacypolicy Terms of use: https://sites.google.com/view/tysontermsofuse

Screenshots

Shortcuts3 screens
LockMe4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Shortcuts at none against LockMe's 8. Shortcuts also leads on ratings volume (47K vs 229) and device support (4 vs 2). LockMe's advantage is update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 9 months). On price, rating, review sentiment and ads there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. LockMe sells 8 in-app purchases, starting at $7.99 per 7 days. Shortcuts asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.6 for Shortcuts against 4.6 for LockMe. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Shortcuts has 47K ratings behind it against 229, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 49% of Shortcuts's written reviews are positive against 47% of LockMe's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Shortcuts ships an update every 9 months, LockMe every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 18, 2026 and October 12, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
Shortcuts versus LockMe: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterShortcutsLockMe
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.6 (47K ratings)4.6 (229 ratings)
Positive reviews49.2% of reviews — better46.7% of reviews
Number of ratings47K — better229
Update frequencyEvery 9 monthsEvery 3 weeks — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree — betterSubscription
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple Watch — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS12.0 — better16.2
Further details — not scored
Size9 MB49 MB
Age rating17+4+
DeveloperApple Inc.Tyson Gill

Customer experience

Shortcuts

All ratings47,401 ratings
Positive88.7%
Neutral3.5%
Negative7.8%
Written reviews2,827 reviews
Positive49.2%
Neutral12.5%
Negative38.3%

LockMe

All ratings229 ratings
Positive90.4%
Neutral3.9%
Negative5.7%
Written reviews15 reviews
Positive46.7%
Neutral0.0%
Negative53.3%

User reviews

Shortcuts

From 47K App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🚀 Powerful automation capabilities
  • 👍 Customizable app icons and widgets
  • 🎨 Aesthetic customization options
  • 💡 Useful for home automation and productivity

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Buggy, crashes, and exhibits unexpected behavior
  • 🔍 Inaccessible and difficult to use
  • 🔕 Annoying notification banners
  • 🔌 Drains battery when running complex shortcuts

LockMe

From 229 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 👍 Great for protecting kids
  • 👍 Useful for restricting apps
  • 👍 Helps with homework focus
  • 👍 Good for safeguarding children
  • 👍 App ran smoothly (one instance)

Room to improve

  • 🐛 App freezes frequently
  • 🐛 App does not lock apps
  • 🐛 Cannot access app after forgetting PIN
  • 🐛 App requires premium for full functionality
  • 🐛 Misleading promo for free lifetime premium

Bugs and requests

Shortcuts

Reported bugs

4 issues
  • Shortcuts randomly stop working, requiring device restart
  • Inconsistent behavior when adding/removing actions in shortcuts
  • Shortcuts not syncing properly between devices
  • Automations not running automatically as expected

Requested features

4 requests
  • Add 'and' statement for automations
  • Allow toggling of silent mode on iPad and Apple Watch
  • Provide option to disable notification banners
  • Improve syncing and reliability between devices

LockMe

Reported bugs

6 issues
  • App does not lock apps
  • App freezes during use
  • App crashes when trying to turn on Face ID
  • App is locked out after setting passcode
  • App crashes when Face ID option is turned off
Show 1 more
  • Face ID unlock not getting enabled

Requested features

2 requests
  • Option to reset PIN
  • More free functionality

In-app purchases

None

Shortcuts

No in-app purchases

8 purchases

LockMe

Subscriptions7
  • App Lock Unlimited$7.997 Days
  • LockMe Pro$7.997 Days
  • App Lock Unlimited$9.991 Month
Show 4 more
  • LockMe Pro$12.991 Month
  • App Lock Unlimited$24.991 Year
  • Lock Unlimited Apps3 Days trial$49.991 Year
  • LockMe Pro3 Days trial$49.991 Year
One-time1
  • App Lock Unlimited$79.99

Questions

Is Shortcuts free?
Shortcuts is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is LockMe free?
LockMe is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Shortcuts or LockMe?
Shortcuts and LockMe are both rated 4.6 out of 5 on the App Store, from 47K and 229 ratings respectively.
Do Shortcuts or LockMe have ads?
Neither Shortcuts nor LockMe shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Shortcuts or LockMe?
Shortcuts ships an update every 9 months, and LockMe every 3 weeks. Most recently, Shortcuts was updated on October 18, 2026 and LockMe on October 12, 2026.

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