# Locks and Shades vs Ember

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Locks and Shades at 100% against Ember's 52%. Locks and Shades also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 15) and ads (none vs shown). Ember's advantage is update cadence (weekly vs every 62 months). On price and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Ember sells 15 in-app purchases, starting at $14.99 per month. Locks and Shades asks for nothing beyond the download.

Locks and Shades ships an update every 62 months, Ember weekly. The most recent releases landed on October 7, 2026 and October 30, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Locks and Shades | Ember |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | — | **[4.6 (709 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ember-for-couples/id6744977130/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | — | **709** |
| Positive reviews | **100.0% of reviews** | 51.8% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 62 months | **Weekly** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Subscription |
| Size | 45 MB | 172 MB |
| Requires iOS | **13.0** | 16.4 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPod** | iPhone |
| Age rating | 4+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [locks and shades limited](https://appshunter.io/developer/1508984253) | [Ember Couples Ltd](https://appshunter.io/developer/1810271790) |

## What reviewers say

### Locks and Shades

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/locks-and-shades/id1508984254)

Easily book your next salon appointment anytime, anywhere. View team profiles, select your preferred stylist, and manage your booking history. Register and manage your account for a seamless experience.

**Highlights:** Book appointments 24/7, Meet the team, Choose favorite stylist, Appointment history, Account management

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Apple Wallet

**In-app purchases:** none


### Ember

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ember-for-couples/id6744977130)

This app provides AI-powered coaching to help couples improve communication and connection. It offers tools for analyzing conversations, daily prompts for connection, and research-backed plans for relationship growth. Designed for proactive relationship care.

**Highlights:** AI couples coaching sessions, Real-time argument analysis, Daily conversation prompts, Research-backed relationship plans, Text communication analysis, Relationship style quiz

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

**In-app purchases (15)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly | $14.99 | per month |
| Monthly | $14.99 | per month |
| Full Access - Monthly | $19.99 | per month |
| Monthly | $19.99 | per month |
| Full Access - Monthly | $24.99 | per month |
| Full Access - Quarterly | $44.99 | per 3 months |
| Quarterly | $44.99 | per 3 months |
| Full Access - Quarterly | $54.99 | per 3 months |
| Annual | $59.99 | per year |
| Yearly | $59.99 | per year |
| Full Access - Yearly | $109.99 | per year |
| Yearly | $154.99 | per year |
| Full Access - Yearly | $167.99 | per year |
| 1 Hour of conversation credits | $19.99 | one-time |
| 10 hours of conversation credits | $109.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🤖 Helpful AI coach
- 👍 Positive and encouraging feedback
- 💬 Improved communication with difficult contacts
- 🤝 Felt like talking to a friend

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🕰️ Strict time window for message exchange
- 🚫 Not suitable for busy/entrepreneurial people
- 🤔 Promotes unhealthy attachment styles

**Reported bugs**

- AI coach sometimes fails to understand context
- App can feel repetitive and impersonal

**Requested features**

- Upload feature to share files/images
- More customization options


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Locks and Shades free?

Locks and Shades is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Ember free?

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

### Do Locks and Shades or Ember have ads?

Ember shows ads; Locks and Shades does not.

### Which is updated more often, Locks and Shades or Ember?

Locks and Shades ships an update every 62 months, and Ember weekly. Most recently, Locks and Shades was updated on October 7, 2026 and Ember on October 30, 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.*