# Strongbox Zero vs PrivacyNotes

The clearest difference is price: PrivacyNotes at Free against Strongbox Zero's $99.99. PrivacyNotes also leads on rating (5.0 vs 4.3) and update cadence (every 3 days vs every 2 weeks). Strongbox Zero's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 4) and ratings volume (21 vs 2). On ads there is nothing between them.

PrivacyNotes is free to download; Strongbox Zero costs $99.99 up front. PrivacyNotes sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per year. Strongbox Zero asks for nothing beyond the download.

PrivacyNotes holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Strongbox Zero has 21 ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two.

Strongbox Zero ships an update every 2 weeks, PrivacyNotes every 3 days. The most recent releases landed on October 6, 2026 and October 7, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Strongbox Zero | PrivacyNotes |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $99.99 | **Free** |
| Rating | [4.3 (21 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/strongbox-zero/id1581589638/reviews) | **[5.0 (2 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/privacynotes-zero-knowledge/id6785958812/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **21** | 2 |
| Positive reviews | 75.0% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 2 weeks | **Every 3 days** |
| Monetization | Paid | **Free with in-app purchases** |
| Size | 96 MB | 12 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.0** | 17.4 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac, Apple Watch** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Phoebe Code Limited](https://appshunter.io/developer/897283734) | [Lifetime Labs LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/6785958814) |

## What reviewers say

### Strongbox Zero

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/strongbox-zero/id1581589638)

This app securely stores and protects your passwords with a master password. It supports open-source formats and offers advanced security features like biometric unlock and hardware token protection. It's designed for users who prefer a local-only password management solution.

**Highlights:** Local-only password storage, Biometric and PIN unlock, YubiKey hardware token protection, Military-grade cryptography, Password auditing for weak passwords, Secure document attachment viewer, Import/Export via Files app and Email

**Features:** Apple Watch app, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


### PrivacyNotes

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/privacynotes-zero-knowledge/id6785958812)

Securely manage your notes, tasks, and journal with end-to-end encryption. This app ensures your data is private by design, with no trackers or ads. It works offline and syncs encrypted across your devices without requiring an account.

**Highlights:** Zero-knowledge encryption, Markdown-native notes, Task management, Private journaling, Offline functionality, Cross-device sync

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 1 GB Encrypted Storage | $4.99 | per year |
| 2 GB Encrypted Storage | $8.99 | per year |
| 5 GB Encrypted Storage | $17.99 | per year |
| PrivacyNotes Pro | $49.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Strongbox Zero free?

Strongbox Zero costs $99.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Is PrivacyNotes free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Strongbox Zero or PrivacyNotes?

PrivacyNotes is rated higher. Strongbox Zero averages 4.3 out of 5 from 21 ratings, while PrivacyNotes averages 5.0 from 2 ratings.

### Do Strongbox Zero or PrivacyNotes have ads?

Neither Strongbox Zero nor PrivacyNotes shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Strongbox Zero or PrivacyNotes?

Strongbox Zero ships an update every 2 weeks, and PrivacyNotes every 3 days. Most recently, Strongbox Zero was updated on October 6, 2026 and PrivacyNotes on October 7, 2026.

---

*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*