# App Lock™ vs aLock

App Lock™ and aLock both sit at 4.5 stars, but that hides the real split: 75% of aLock's written reviews are positive against 19% of App Lock™'s. aLock also leads on monetization model (freemium vs subscription) and ads (none vs shown). App Lock™'s advantage is ratings volume (2.6K vs 31). On price, rating, update cadence and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. App Lock™ sells 6 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per 7 days and aLock sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.5 for App Lock™ against 4.6 for aLock. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: App Lock™ has 2.6K ratings behind it against 31, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 19% of App Lock™'s written reviews are positive against 75% of aLock's.

App Lock™ ships an update every 5 weeks, aLock every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 20, 2026 and October 16, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | App Lock™ | aLock |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.5 (2.6K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/app-lock-locked-apps-vault/id1481979331/reviews) | **[4.6 (31 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/alock-app-lock/id1663668785/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **2.6K** | 31 |
| Positive reviews | 18.9% of reviews | **75.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Every 5 weeks | **Every 3 weeks** |
| Monetization | Subscription | **Freemium** |
| Size | 41 MB | 7 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.0 | 16.0 |
| Devices | iPhone | **iPhone, iPad** |
| Age rating | 17+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Plane Cubes](https://appshunter.io/developer/1712487303) | [裕涛 兰](https://appshunter.io/developer/1624361053) |

## What reviewers say

### App Lock™

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/app-lock-locked-apps-vault/id1481979331)

Secure your digital life by locking apps, protecting photos and videos in a private vault, and browsing the web anonymously. Store contacts, passwords, and notes safely with passcode protection.

**Highlights:** Lock Apps, Photo & Video Vault, Private Browser, Secure Notes & Passwords, Passcode Protection, Custom Albums

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

**In-app purchases (6)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Premium Access Weekly | $3.99 | per 7 days |
| Hide Apps Pro Week | $4.99 | per 7 days |
| Premium Access Monthly | $7.99 | per month |
| Premium Access Yearly | $19.99 | per year |
| Start 7 Day Trial | $19.99 | per year |
| Hide Apps Pro Year | $39.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- ⭐ Amazing
- 🔒 Privacy-focused
- 📂 Useful for storing files

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🔐 Locked content behind paywall
- 🤑 Expensive subscription
- 🔍 Misleading app description
- 🐛 Bugs and glitches
- 🤯 Frustrating user experience

**Reported bugs**

- Content locked after free trial ends
- Unable to access stored files even after subscription
- App crashes or freezes frequently

**Requested features**

- Allow access to stored content without subscription
- Provide clear information about subscription requirements
- Improve app stability and fix bugs


### aLock

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/alock-app-lock/id1663668785)

Manage your screen time effectively by setting usage limits for apps and automatically restricting them when limits are reached. This app helps users, including children, focus better by blocking distractions and inappropriate content. A free trial is available for premium features.

**Highlights:** Set app usage limits, Automatic app restriction, Manual app restriction/restoration, Focus enhancement for children, Distraction blocking, Free trial for premium features

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| App Lock for 1 week | $2.99 | per 7 days |
| App Lock for 1 year | $9.99 | per year |
| App Lock Premium | $19.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is App Lock™ free?

App Lock™ is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is aLock free?

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

### Which has better reviews, App Lock™ or aLock?

aLock is rated higher. App Lock™ averages 4.5 out of 5 from 2.6K ratings, while aLock averages 4.6 from 31 ratings.

### Do App Lock™ or aLock have ads?

App Lock™ shows ads; aLock does not.

### Which is updated more often, App Lock™ or aLock?

App Lock™ ships an update every 5 weeks, and aLock every 3 weeks. Most recently, App Lock™ was updated on October 20, 2026 and aLock on October 16, 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.*