Comparison

Sticky Widgets vs LockNotes

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Sticky Widgets

Easily add customizable sticky notes to your home screen and lock screen. Sync notes across devices with iCloud and integrate with Siri and Shortcuts for quick access and updates. Personalize your notes with various fonts, colors, and styles.

Highlights
  • Home screen sticky notes
  • Lock screen pinning (premium)
  • iCloud sync
  • Customizable appearance (color, font, size)
  • Siri and Shortcuts integration
  • Multiple widget sizes
Features
Read full description

"It's perfect, honestly." - Myke Hurley, Connected "What makes Sticky Widgets great is the simplicity of the experience." - Ryan Christoffel, MacStories "This is a great concept." - Dave Mark, The Loop Welcome to Sticky Widgets, the absolute easiest way to put a sticky note on your home screen and edit it quickly. Add as many Sticky Widgets as you'd like, in every widget size. It's simple! It works on iPad! You can even pin notes to your Lock Screen with a premium subscription so they're visible even when your phone is locked! 1. Add a Sticky Widget to your home screen 2. Tap on the widget to edit it 3. That's about it! But that's not all. Once you have a widget in place, you can customize it: change color, background, font, alignment, size, even rotation! And your widgets now sync to your iCloud account, meaning you can put a note on multiple devices logged into the same Apple ID and they'll stay in sync. Sticky Widgets supports deep system integration with Siri, Shortcuts, the Dynamic Island, and more so there are even more ways to view and update your notes and lists. Sticky Widgets is free to download and use. You get unlimited widgets, three classic background colors, three fonts, iCloud sync, Siri and Shortcuts integration, and full control over alignment, size, and rotation: all without paying a thing. An optional upgrade unlocks everything else: the full color picker with any color you want, gradients and mesh gradients, hundreds of additional fonts, custom text colors, Lock Screen pinning, separate styling for light and dark mode, saved presets, the ability to restore archived notes, scheduled reminders, and no ads. Premium features can be accessed with a monthly, quarterly, or annual subscription, or with a one-time purchase. The Sticky Widgets Terms of Use and Privacy Policy can be found at https://www.tylerhillsman.com/privacy-sw/. The Apple EULA can be found at https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

About

LockNotes

Pin notes, to-dos, reminders, and quotes directly to your iPhone Lock Screen. Access important information at a glance without unlocking your device. Customize your notes with different fonts and styles.

Highlights
  • Notes on Lock Screen
  • Quick Note Taking
  • Customizable Fonts & Styles
  • Event & Countdown Tracking
  • Inspirational Quotes
Read full description

LockNotes – Sticky Notes on Your iPhone Lock Screen Stay organized and never forget what matters! With LockNotes, you can pin your notes, to-dos, reminders, or even motivational quotes directly to your iPhone Lock Screen. No need to unlock your phone — your important info is always right in front of you. Why you’ll love LockNotes: • Notes on Lock Screen – Keep tasks, reminders, and ideas instantly visible. • Quick Note Taking – Capture thoughts in seconds. • Customizable Fonts & Styles – Personalize your notes to match your style. • Perfect for Events & Countdowns – Track birthdays, deadlines, or daily goals. • Stay Inspired – Add quotes or affirmations to boost your day. Make your Lock Screen more useful than ever. Download LockNotes now and keep your life organized at a glance!

Screenshots

Sticky Widgets4 screens
LockNotes4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Sticky Widgets at 4.6 against LockNotes's 2.7. Sticky Widgets also leads on ads (none vs shown) and update cadence (every 2 weeks vs every 3 months). LockNotes's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 5). On price, review sentiment and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Sticky Widgets sells 5 in-app purchases, starting at $1.49 per month. LockNotes asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Sticky Widgets holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 2.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Sticky Widgets has 30K ratings behind it against 29, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews split almost evenly too, at 40% and 41% positive.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Sticky Widgets ships an update every 2 weeks, LockNotes every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on October 14, 2026 and October 1, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard7 real differences · 3 level
Sticky Widgets versus LockNotes: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSticky WidgetsLockNotes
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.6 (30K ratings) — better2.7 (29 ratings)
Positive reviews40.3% of reviews40.5% of reviews — better
Number of ratings30K — better29
Update frequencyEvery 2 weeks — betterEvery 3 months
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFreemiumAd-supported — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, Vision Pro — betteriPhone
Requires iOS17.016.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size93 MB83 MB
Age rating4+9+
Developer1881 Digital, LLCCao Tran

Customer experience

Sticky Widgets

All ratings29,582 ratings
Positive88.9%
Neutral4.0%
Negative7.2%
Written reviews931 reviews
Positive40.3%
Neutral11.0%
Negative48.8%

LockNotes

All ratings24 ratings
Positive45.8%
Neutral0.0%
Negative54.2%
Written reviews37 reviews
Positive40.5%
Neutral2.7%
Negative56.8%

Bugs and requests

Sticky Widgets

Reported bugs

4 issues
  • Notes randomly disappearing
  • Editing issues where changes don't save
  • Widgets not updating properly
  • Crashes and freezes after recent updates

Requested features

5 requests
  • Add checklist functionality
  • Improve syncing across devices
  • Allow rearranging of notes
  • Provide better note organization options
  • Add support for more languages

LockNotes

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

5 purchases

Sticky Widgets

Subscriptions3
  • Upgrade - Monthly7 Days trial$1.491 Month
  • Upgrade - Quarterly7 Days trial$2.993 Months
  • Upgrade - Annual7 Days trial$8.991 Year
One-time2
  • Classic$2.99
  • Upgrade - One-Time Option$19.99
None

LockNotes

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Sticky Widgets free?
Sticky Widgets is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is LockNotes free?
LockNotes is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Sticky Widgets or LockNotes?
Sticky Widgets is rated higher. Sticky Widgets averages 4.6 out of 5 from 30K ratings, while LockNotes averages 2.7 from 29 ratings.
Do Sticky Widgets or LockNotes have ads?
LockNotes shows ads; Sticky Widgets does not.
Which is updated more often, Sticky Widgets or LockNotes?
Sticky Widgets ships an update every 2 weeks, and LockNotes every 3 months. Most recently, Sticky Widgets was updated on October 14, 2026 and LockNotes on October 1, 2026.

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