# Photo Diary vs Diary with Lock

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Photo Diary at 44% against Diary with Lock's 0%. Photo Diary also leads on update cadence (every 2 weeks vs every 3 months) and monetization model (free vs freemium). Diary with Lock's advantage is iOS requirement (13.0 vs 15.6). On price, ratings volume, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Photo Diary sells 2 one-off in-app purchases and Diary with Lock sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $9.99 per year. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Photo Diary holds the better App Store score, 4.5 against 4.2. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 17 and 19 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 44% of Photo Diary's written reviews are positive against 0% of Diary with Lock's.

Photo Diary ships an update every 2 weeks, Diary with Lock every 3 months. Both last shipped on November 3, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Photo Diary | Diary with Lock |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.5 (17 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/photo-diary-journal-with-lock/id1585453689/reviews)** | [4.2 (19 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/diary-with-lock-idiary/id1625609721/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 17 | **19** |
| Positive reviews | **43.8% of reviews** | 0.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 2 weeks** | Every 3 months |
| Monetization | **Free** | Freemium |
| Size | 98 MB | 58 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.6 | **13.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Naohito Muraoka](https://appshunter.io/developer/1509204317) | [Heyou Co., Ltd.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1480358223) |

## What reviewers say

### Photo Diary

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/photo-diary-journal-with-lock/id1585453689)

This app allows you to create a private journal with photos, thoughts, and daily moments. It offers a simple, offline experience with customizable themes, fonts, and a secure passcode lock. You can also sync your entries to Google Drive for backup and cross-device access.

**Highlights:** Photo diary with editor, Password lock for privacy, Offline journaling, Google Drive backup, Customizable themes and fonts, Multiple diary books, Timeline view

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Additional fonts | $2.00 | one-time |
| プレミアムサービス | $7.99 | one-time |


### Diary with Lock

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/diary-with-lock-idiary/id1625609721)

Capture and cherish life's moments in a secure, beautifully designed digital journal. Add text, photos, and videos, track your mood and weather, and protect your entries with a passcode. Back up your memories to iCloud and export them as PDFs.

**Highlights:** Photo and text diary entries, Lock screen passcode protection, iCloud backup, Mood and weather tracking, Font customization, Intruder snapshots, PDF export

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

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| iDiary Pro | $9.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Photo Diary free?

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

### Is Diary with Lock free?

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

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

Photo Diary is rated higher. Photo Diary averages 4.5 out of 5 from 17 ratings, while Diary with Lock averages 4.2 from 19 ratings.

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

Neither Photo Diary nor Diary with Lock shows ads.

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

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