# Charging Engine vs AppLock

The clearest difference is monetization model: AppLock at free with in-app purchases against Charging Engine's subscription. Charging Engine's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and review sentiment (52% vs 21%). On price, update cadence, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Charging Engine sells 12 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per 7 days and AppLock sells 7 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Charging Engine holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Charging Engine has 11K ratings behind it against 1.4K, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 52% of Charging Engine's written reviews are positive against 21% of AppLock's.

Charging Engine ships an update every 6 weeks, AppLock every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 25, 2026 and September 22, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Charging Engine | AppLock |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.8 (11K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/charging-engine-4kwallpapers/id1602309907/reviews)** | [4.5 (1.4K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/applock-lock-and-guard-private/id6450743069/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **11K** | 1.4K |
| Positive reviews | **51.6% of reviews** | 21.4% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 6 weeks | **Every 3 weeks** |
| Monetization | Subscription | **Free with in-app purchases** |
| Size | 112 MB | 264 MB |
| Requires iOS | **12.0** | 16.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [Bluewolf Technology Limited](https://appshunter.io/developer/1477300424) | [CEM SOFTWARE LTD](https://appshunter.io/developer/1664408786) |

## What reviewers say

### Charging Engine

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/charging-engine-4kwallpapers/id1602309907)

Enhance your phone's charging experience with dynamic, futuristic animations and live wallpapers. Visualize battery performance and enjoy regular content updates to keep your device looking fresh and engaging.

**Highlights:** Futuristic charging animations, High-definition dynamic screensavers, Dozens of 3D charging wallpapers, Live wallpaper collections, Battery performance monitor, Regular content updates

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

**In-app purchases (12)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| ChargingEngine Subscription | $3.99 | per 7 days |
| ChargingEngine Subscription | $3.99 | per 7 days |
| Weekly subscription | $4.99 | per 7 days |
| ChargingEngine Subscription | $19.99 | per month |
| ChargingEngine Subscription | $19.99 | per month |
| ChargingEngine Subscription | $19.99 | per month |
| ChargingEngine Subscription | $23.99 | per month |
| ChargingEngine Subscription | $23.99 | per month |
| ChargingEngine Subscription | $69.99 | per year |
| ChargingEngine Subscription | $69.99 | per year |
| ChargingEngine Subscription | $69.99 | per year |
| ChargingEngine lifetime | $69.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Charging animations are cool
- 👍 Variety of wallpaper options
- 💡 Customizable charging experience

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🔒 Requires subscription to access full features
- 🐛 Buggy and crashes frequently
- 🔋 Drains battery when app is open
- 💸 Misleading about free trial, charges immediately

**Reported bugs**

- Wallpapers don't work as advertised
- App only functions when kept open during charging
- Subscription cannot be easily canceled

**Requested features**

- Add search bar to find desired wallpapers
- Allow users to upload their own photos/videos
- Provide option to mute sound effects
- Make app fully free without subscription


### AppLock

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/applock-lock-and-guard-private/id6450743069)

Secure your apps, photos, and notes with advanced locking mechanisms. Block distractions, customize themes, and catch intruders to protect your personal data and enhance productivity.

**Highlights:** Lock all apps, Distraction blocking, Scheduled blocking, Customizable themes, Intruder selfie, Private web browser, Hide photos, contacts, notes

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

**In-app purchases (7)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| AppLock Premium | $4.99 | per 7 days |
| AppLock Premium | $4.99 | per 7 days |
| Lock Apps Premium | $9.99 | per month |
| AppLock - Lock Premium | $9.99 | per month |
| AppLock Yearly Subscription | $29.99 | per year |
| Sale Off | $29.99 | per year |
| App Lock Yearly  Discount | $79.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 🔒 Safe and secure
- 🔒 Private browsing and app locking
- 👍 Easy to use

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Difficult to follow instructions
- 🐛 App doesn't work as expected
- 💰 Requires payment to unlock full functionality

**Reported bugs**

- App doesn't lock all apps as promised
- App caused loss of contacts

**Requested features**

- Make the app free to use
- Improve instructions and user interface


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Charging Engine free?

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

### Is AppLock free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Charging Engine or AppLock?

Charging Engine is rated higher. Charging Engine averages 4.8 out of 5 from 11K ratings, while AppLock averages 4.5 from 1.4K ratings.

### Do Charging Engine or AppLock have ads?

AppLock shows ads; Charging Engine does not.

### Which is updated more often, Charging Engine or AppLock?

Charging Engine ships an update every 6 weeks, and AppLock every 3 weeks. Most recently, Charging Engine was updated on September 25, 2026 and AppLock on September 22, 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.*