# Diary vs Diary Journal with Lock

The clearest difference is rating: Diary at 5.0 against Diary Journal with Lock's 3.3. Diary also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 3) and ads (none vs shown). Diary Journal with Lock's advantage is update cadence (every 2 weeks vs every 6 months) and ratings volume (4 vs 1). On price and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Diary Journal with Lock sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per 7 days. Diary asks for nothing beyond the download.

Diary holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 3.3. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 1 and 4 respectively.

Diary ships an update every 6 months, Diary Journal with Lock every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 3, 2026 and October 30, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Diary | Diary Journal with Lock |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/diary-personal-diary/id1537365072/reviews)** | [3.3 (4 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/diary-journal-with-lock/id6748128912/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 1 | **4** |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 6 months | **Every 2 weeks** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 4 MB | 99 MB |
| Requires iOS | **10.0** | 17.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [daican tu](https://appshunter.io/developer/1434662200) | [Yash Baraiya](https://appshunter.io/developer/1701081026) |

## What reviewers say

### Diary

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/diary-personal-diary/id1537365072)

Record your thoughts and memories with a straightforward journaling app. It supports mixed media, including photos and videos, and allows you to add location tags. Easily share your entries as PDFs or pictures.

**Highlights:** Mixed graphic arrangement, Video support, Geographical location tagging, Shareable entries (PDF, Picture), Simple interface

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


### Diary Journal with Lock

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/diary-journal-with-lock/id6748128912)

Capture your thoughts, track your mood, and build a journaling habit in a secure, customizable space. This app offers guided prompts, mood insights, and expressive tools to help you reflect and grow.

**Highlights:** Daily journal and notes, Private diary lock (PIN, pattern, fingerprint), Customizable themes, colors, and fonts, Mood tracker with insightful charts, Smart templates for guided writing, Diary streaks and habit tracking, Auto backup and sync

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

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Weekly Subscription | $4.99 | per 7 days |
| Monthly Subscription | $14.99 | per month |
| Yearly Subscription | $29.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Diary free?

Diary is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Diary Journal with Lock free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Diary or Diary Journal with Lock?

Diary is rated higher. Diary averages 5.0 out of 5 from 1 ratings, while Diary Journal with Lock averages 3.3 from 4 ratings.

### Do Diary or Diary Journal with Lock have ads?

Diary Journal with Lock shows ads; Diary does not.

### Which is updated more often, Diary or Diary Journal with Lock?

Diary ships an update every 6 months, and Diary Journal with Lock every 2 weeks. Most recently, Diary was updated on November 3, 2026 and Diary Journal with Lock 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.*