# Smart Eye App vs App Lock

The clearest difference is monetization model: Smart Eye App at free with in-app purchases against App Lock's subscription. Smart Eye App also leads on ads (none vs shown) and review sentiment (91% vs 58%). App Lock's advantage is ratings volume (5.2K vs 47). On price, rating, update cadence and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Smart Eye App sells 5 in-app purchases, starting at $5.99 per month and App Lock sells 6 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

App Lock holds the better App Store score, 4.5 against 4.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: App Lock has 5.2K ratings behind it against 47, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 91% of Smart Eye App's written reviews are positive against 58% of App Lock's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on October 5, 2026 and October 20, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Smart Eye App | App Lock |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.3 (47 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/smart-eye-app/id1514398345/reviews) | **[4.5 (5.2K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/app-lock/id6448239603/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 47 | **5.2K** |
| Positive reviews | **90.9% of reviews** | 57.9% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Fortnightly | Fortnightly |
| Monetization | **Free with in-app purchases** | Subscription |
| Size | 59 MB | 43 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.4 | **16.0** |
| Devices | iPhone | **iPhone, iPad** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Smart Eye Technology, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1514398344) | [Lilucat](https://appshunter.io/developer/1676061700) |

## What reviewers say

### Smart Eye App

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/smart-eye-app/id1514398345)

This app offers end-to-end encrypted private messaging and group chats, ensuring only you and your recipient can view your conversations. It prioritizes user privacy with secure communication features.

**Highlights:** End-to-end encrypted conversations, Private direct messages, Private group chats, True privacy focus

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (5)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly Plan | $5.99 | per month |
| 20MB Storage | $9.99 | per month |
| 50MB Storage | $19.99 | per month |
| Unlimited Storage | $29.99 | per month |
| Yearly Plan | $29.99 | per year |


### App Lock

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/app-lock/id6448239603)

Secure your sensitive applications and personal data with this privacy tool. Easily lock any app to prevent unauthorized access and keep your information out of sight from prying eyes. Enjoy enhanced device security and peace of mind.

**Highlights:** Lock any application, Hide sensitive apps, Block websites, Intuitive interface, Prevent unauthorized access, Enhance device privacy

**Features:** Family Sharing

**In-app purchases (6)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| App Lock | $4.99 | per month |
| App Lock | $7.99 | per 7 days |
| App Lock | $9.99 | per month |
| App Lock | $14.99 | per year |
| App Locker for iPhone | $29.99 | per year |
| App Lock | $59.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Helpful app
- 🔒 Provides app security
- 🔒 Locks apps with Face ID/Touch ID/PIN
- 👍 Great for keeping private information secure
- 👍 Useful for parents to restrict child access

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Home screen layout gets scrambled when app is turned off
- 🐛 App Blocker resets widget stacks
- 💰 Aggressive subscription push
- 🔒 Locked apps only unlocked for a limited time
- 🐛 Doesn't persist app blocking across phone restarts

**Reported bugs**

- Buttons at the bottom of the screen are inaccessible on some devices
- Prompts are not legible with larger font settings
- Locked apps can still be accessed by restarting the phone

**Requested features**

- Allow concealing the app locker
- Add scheduling/time-based locking
- Provide separate unlock code from phone passcode
- Improve usability when Dynamic Island is in use


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Smart Eye App free?

Smart Eye App is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is App Lock free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Smart Eye App or App Lock?

App Lock is rated higher. Smart Eye App averages 4.3 out of 5 from 47 ratings, while App Lock averages 4.5 from 5.2K ratings.

### Do Smart Eye App or App Lock have ads?

App Lock shows ads; Smart Eye App does not.

### Which is updated more often, Smart Eye App or App Lock?

Smart Eye App ships an update fortnightly, and App Lock fortnightly. Most recently, Smart Eye App was updated on October 5, 2026 and App Lock on October 20, 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.*