# Secure Notes vs Focus Timer

The clearest difference is rating: Focus Timer at 5.0 against Secure Notes's 4.6. Secure Notes's advantage is ratings volume (719 vs 1) and update cadence (fortnightly vs every 2 months). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Secure Notes sells 6 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month and Focus Timer sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Focus Timer holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Secure Notes has 719 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two.

Secure Notes ships an update fortnightly, Focus Timer every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 8, 2026 and September 15, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Secure Notes | Focus Timer |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.6 (719 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/secure-notes-secret-and-lock/id1469517353/reviews) | **[5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/focus-timer-deep-work/id6760048027/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **719** | 1 |
| Positive reviews | 64.7% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Fortnightly** | Every 2 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Freemium |
| Size | 67 MB | 25 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.6 | **15.1** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [PixelPort LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1355467938) | [Ariel Agor](https://appshunter.io/developer/1882511308) |

## What reviewers say

### Secure Notes

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/secure-notes-secret-and-lock/id1469517353)

Safeguard your private thoughts, voice memos, and sensitive information with robust, multi-layered security. This app offers military-grade encryption, biometric locks, and secure voice recording to keep your data protected. Enjoy a distraction-free, ad-free experience with a powerful rich text editor and seamless iCloud syncing across devices.

**Highlights:** 3-Layer Security (app, folders, notes), Secure Voice Recording, Biometric Lock (Face ID, Touch ID, Passcode), iCloud Sync, Rich Text Editor with Markdown, Trash Recovery

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

**In-app purchases (6)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Secure Notes - 1 Month PRO | $4.99 | per month |
| Secure Notes - Pro Monthly | $6.99 | per month |
| Secure Notes Pro Monthly | $9.99 | per month |
| Secure Notes Pro Annual Offer | $19.99 | per year |
| Secure Notes - 1 Year PRO | $39.99 | per year |
| Secure Notes Pro - Lifetime | $99.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🔒 Secure notes and folders
- 👍 User-friendly interface
- 🚀 Efficient note-taking
- 💡 Innovative features like Love Voice Notes

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Glitchy performance after updates
- 🤯 Overly complicated UI changes
- 🔒 Difficulty resetting passwords/access
- 💸 Essential features locked behind paywall

**Reported bugs**

- Frequent app crashes
- Delayed text input and display
- Inability to access locked notes

**Requested features**

- Ability to move notes between folders
- Option to customize font, size, and colors
- Trash/Recycle bin for deleted notes
- Cloud sync/backup functionality


### Focus Timer

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/focus-timer-deep-work/id6760048027)

Enhance your concentration with a minimalist focus timer. Customize session lengths, enjoy ambient sounds, and track your progress to achieve deep work for studying, coding, or creative projects.

**Highlights:** Customizable focus sessions (5-120 min), Distraction-free interface, Session history tracking, Ambient background sounds, Smart break reminders, Dark mode support

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

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| MVAT Focus Pro | $0.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Secure Notes free?

Secure Notes is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Focus Timer free?

Focus Timer is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Secure Notes or Focus Timer?

Focus Timer is rated higher. Secure Notes averages 4.6 out of 5 from 719 ratings, while Focus Timer averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.

### Do Secure Notes or Focus Timer have ads?

Neither Secure Notes nor Focus Timer shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Secure Notes or Focus Timer?

Secure Notes ships an update fortnightly, and Focus Timer every 2 months. Most recently, Secure Notes was updated on October 8, 2026 and Focus Timer on September 15, 2026.

---

*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*