# Photo Vault & App Lock vs App lock

The clearest difference is ads: App lock at none against Photo Vault & App Lock's shown. App lock also leads on update cadence (every 2 weeks vs every 5 weeks). Photo Vault & App Lock's advantage is ratings volume (6.6K vs 763) and review sentiment (24% vs 13%). On price, rating, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Photo Vault & App Lock sells 8 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per 7 days and App lock sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.2 for Photo Vault & App Lock against 4.1 for App lock. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Photo Vault & App Lock has 6.6K ratings behind it against 763, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 24% of Photo Vault & App Lock's written reviews are positive against 13% of App lock's.

Photo Vault & App Lock ships an update every 5 weeks, App lock every 2 weeks. Both last shipped on November 3, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Photo Vault & App Lock | App lock |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.2 (6.6K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/photo-vault-and-app-lock-picx/id1545937424/reviews)** | [4.1 (763 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/app-lock-passcode-lock-apps/id1592938462/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **6.6K** | 763 |
| Positive reviews | **23.8% of reviews** | 12.5% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Every 5 weeks | **Every 2 weeks** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 207 MB | 35 MB |
| Requires iOS | **13.0** | 14.1 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 17+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [MatechMobile Software JSC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1567017153) | [Changsha baixing Network Technology Co., Ltd](https://appshunter.io/developer/1588591156) |

## What reviewers say

### Photo Vault & App Lock

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/photo-vault-and-app-lock-picx/id1545937424)

Secure your digital life with a private vault for photos and videos, app locking capabilities, and a password manager. Protect sensitive information, browse privately, and deter unauthorized access with advanced security features.

**Highlights:** Secret photo and video vault, App locker with PIN, Face ID, Touch ID, Password manager, Private browser, Break-in alerts, Fake icons and PINs

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

**In-app purchases (8)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Weekly Secret Photo Pro | $2.99 | per 7 days |
| Secret Photo Pro \| Weekly | $4.99 | per 7 days |
| Weekly Premium | $4.99 | per 7 days |
| 1 Week Premium | $5.99 | per 7 days |
| Monthly Secret Photo Pro | $9.99 | per month |
| Yearly Premium | $24.99 | per year |
| 1 Year Premium | $29.99 | per year |
| Lifetime App | $49.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Great app idea
- 🔒 Ability to change passcode
- 👍 Fun to design Lock Screen

**What reviewers complain about**

- 💰 Requires payment to use full features
- 📢 Excessive ads
- 🐛 Confusing UI and functionality

**Reported bugs**

- Login/restore purchase issues
- Inability to set custom Lock Screen

**Requested features**

- Free access to live wallpaper
- More customization options
- Compatibility with older devices


### App lock

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/app-lock-passcode-lock-apps/id1592938462)

Secure your apps with custom passwords and personalized icons. This utility allows you to hide apps, change their appearance, and set up biometric unlocking for enhanced privacy and a unique device aesthetic.

**Highlights:** Lock and hide apps, Customize app icons with photos or built-in library, Personalize app names, Set passcode locks, Support TouchID/FaceID unlocking, Batch customization of icons and names

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 应用图标锁高级版月订阅 | $3.99 | per month |
| 应用图标锁高级版包季订阅 | $5.99 | per 3 months |
| 应用图标锁一次性购买永久解锁划算 | $14.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🔒 Secure app locking
- 💡 Customization options

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🚫 Requires subscription for basic features
- 🌐 Non-English interface
- ⚠️ Unreliable functionality
- 💰 Expensive pricing

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes frequently
- Locked apps can still be accessed
- Subscription issues

**Requested features**

- Add English language support
- Improve user interface
- Provide free trial option


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Photo Vault & App Lock free?

Photo Vault & App Lock 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, Photo Vault & App Lock or App lock?

Photo Vault & App Lock is rated higher. Photo Vault & App Lock averages 4.2 out of 5 from 6.6K ratings, while App lock averages 4.1 from 763 ratings.

### Do Photo Vault & App Lock or App lock have ads?

Photo Vault & App Lock shows ads; App lock does not.

### Which is updated more often, Photo Vault & App Lock or App lock?

Photo Vault & App Lock ships an update every 5 weeks, and App lock every 2 weeks. Most recently, Photo Vault & App Lock was updated on November 3, 2026 and App lock on November 3, 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.*