# Secret Diary vs Elf Link

The clearest difference is monetization model: Elf Link at free with in-app purchases against Secret Diary's subscription. Elf Link also leads on rating (5.0 vs 4.8) and review sentiment (100% vs 91%). Secret Diary's advantage is ratings volume (112 vs 5) and device support (3 vs 1). On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Secret Diary sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month and Elf Link sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Elf Link holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Secret Diary has 112 ratings behind it against 5, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 91% of Secret Diary's written reviews are positive against 100% of Elf Link's.

Secret Diary ships an update fortnightly, Elf Link every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 27, 2026 and October 12, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Secret Diary | Elf Link |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.8 (112 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/secret-diary-with-lock/id1507194395/reviews) | **[5.0 (5 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/elf-link/id6790001895/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **112** | 5 |
| Positive reviews | 90.6% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Fortnightly** | Every 3 weeks |
| Monetization | Subscription | **Free with in-app purchases** |
| Size | 20 MB | 100 MB |
| Requires iOS | **14.0** | 16.4 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Nawal Amallou](https://appshunter.io/developer/1507194394) | [Matthew Dukes](https://appshunter.io/developer/1838959827) |

## What reviewers say

### 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


### Elf Link

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/elf-link/id6790001895)

Create and manage wishlists for kids for any occasion. Children can add items from any store, while parents get a private dashboard to organize, budget, and track purchased gifts without spoilers. Family members can securely view and claim gifts to avoid duplicates.

**Highlights:** Create wishlists for any occasion, Add items from any online store, Scan barcodes for in-store items, Parent dashboard with budgeting, Track purchased gifts, Family sharing for gift claims

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

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| ElfLink Premium (Monthly) | $2.99 | per month |
| ElfLink Premium (Yearly) | $29.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Secret Diary free?

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

### Is Elf Link free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Secret Diary or Elf Link?

Elf Link is rated higher. Secret Diary averages 4.8 out of 5 from 112 ratings, while Elf Link averages 5.0 from 5 ratings.

### Do Secret Diary or Elf Link have ads?

Neither Secret Diary nor Elf Link shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Secret Diary or Elf Link?

Secret Diary ships an update fortnightly, and Elf Link every 3 weeks. Most recently, Secret Diary was updated on October 27, 2026 and Elf Link on October 12, 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.*