Comparison

Lock Launcher vs Pixel Pals Widget Pet Game

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Lock Launcher

Instantly launch apps, websites, and shortcuts from your lock screen or control center. Customize widgets with tinted icons and access features like camera control and health data with a single tap.

Highlights
  • Lock screen widgets
  • Control Center integration
  • App and shortcut launching
  • Customizable icons
  • Camera control
  • Health data widgets
  • Dynamic Island features
Features
Read full description

No extra redirects—open apps instantly! Lock Launcher is a iOS 26/27 lock screen widget. You can add anything on the lock screen and launch it instantly with just one touch. It perfectly supports various Apps, Websites, Shortcuts and custom URL Scheme. ▶ Featured on the App Store Homepage ◀ ▶ Featured in App Store Trending Searches ◀ ▶ Chosen by over 4 million users ◀ 【iOS 27 Liquid Glass & Control Center & Camera Control & Action Button】 - Quickly launch any Apps, Shortcut, URL Scheme, Webpage, Music, etc., from the Control Center, Lock Screen Button and Action Button, you can also customize the tinted icon beautification, making it both efficient and practical. - Supports quick Camera Control for iPhone 16, allowing for fast one-tap access to any launch actions, such as: scan, payment code, etc. ▶ Featured on App Store Today ◀ 【Features】 - iOS 27 Extra-large Home screen Widget - Minimalist Dumb Phone Launcher Theme & Classic Grid Theme - Control Center Widget - Quick Search to Result Page - Quick Scan QR Code - iOS 17 interactive small widgets 2×2 / 3×3 / 4×4 - Home screen widget with transparent background - Favorites support group management - Auto-refresh Start Live Activity and Dynamic Island with Shortcut Automation - Lock screen Text Widget supports custom Launcher and text - Dynamic Island supports Date and Week - Island CPU, Memory, Refresh Rate, FPS, Download/Upload Speed - Dynamic Island Launcher - Live Activities Launcher - Lock Screen Memo & Clock - Dynamic Island Clock - Dynamic Island Pure Mode for taking screenshot - Health Data: Step / Fitness / Heart Rate - Current weather data - Picture-in-Picture Mode - Music Actions - Dock Transparent Blur Style - NFC action read and write 【Features】 - Hot Apps Collection - Lightning Payment - Dynamic Island Launcher - Home Screen Launchpad Widget - Dynamic Battery Widget - Custom Icons - Custom URL Scheme - Favorite Launchers - Efficient Shortcuts - Powerful Web Apps - Save to Home Screen - Add Home Screen Widgets - One-Click Image - Dynamic Clock Widget - Auto iCloud Backup & Restore - Quick access web page - 15 Pro Action Button 18 - App Clip Encourage us with five stars, More powerful features will be developed. Also, feedback are welcome to tell me on Twitter:@LockLauncherApp / LockLauncherApp@gmail.com Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ * Subscription payments will be charged to your iTunes account at confirmation of your purchase. * Subscriptions will automatically renew and payment will be charged to your iTunes account unless auto-renew is turned off at least 24 hours prior to the end of the current Privacy Policy: https://locklauncher.com/privacy/

About

Pixel Pals Widget Pet Game

Bring adorable pixel art pets to your Home Screen, Lock Screen, and Live Activities. Customize your chosen companions and enjoy their presence as you navigate your device, adding a touch of joy to every interaction. A variety of animals are available to personalize and name.

Highlights
  • Customizable pixel art pets
  • Home Screen widgets
  • Lock Screen customization
  • Live Activities integration
  • Variety of animal companions
  • Name customization
Features
Read full description

Pixel Pals is an incredible app for customizing your Home Screen and Lock Screen, as well as Live Activities, allowing you to place adorable pets called Pixel Pals that you can customize and enjoy as you swipe through your apps or unlock your phone, making each interaction just that much happier! They're beautiful pixel art renditions of animals, a nostalgic art style that's really delightful to take in. Pixel Pals includes a variety of animals for you to customize and enjoy: - Dog (named Rupert) - Cat (named Hugo) - Hedgehog (named Chortley) - Fox (named Finnegan) - Axolotl (named Mochi) - Otter (named Nugget) - Bat (named Fu-Fu) - Parrot (named Kiwi) - Tiger (named Herbert) - Platypus (named Penny) - Panda (named Poe) - Raccoon (named Oliver) - Butterfly (named Freya) - T-Rex (named Rory) - Bunny (named Thumper) - Red Panda (named Bao) - Pet Rock (named Dwayne) - Penguin (named Bubbles) You can also change any of the names! The dog and cat are included for all, and Pixel Pals Premium includes the other pals, as well as the option to pin two animals at once for supported devices. This app offers subscriptions for "Pixel Pals Premium". They're available (in United States pricing) for $1.49 monthly or $9.99 yearly. Subscriptions will automatically renew unless auto-renew is turned off at least 24 hours before the end of the current period (and charged to your iTunes account). You can turn off auto-renew/manage subscriptions in your iTunes Account Settings after purchase. Terms of Use can be found at https://pixelpals.app/terms and Privacy Policy can be found at https://pixelpals.app/privacy

Screenshots

Lock Launcher4 screens
Pixel Pals Widget Pet Game4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is monetization model: Pixel Pals Widget Pet Game at freemium against Lock Launcher's subscription. Pixel Pals Widget Pet Game also leads on update cadence (every 2 days vs every 9 days) and ratings volume (37K vs 4K). Lock Launcher's advantage is review sentiment (80% vs 47%) and iOS requirement (16.0 vs 18.3). On price, rating, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Lock Launcher sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $1.49 per month and Pixel Pals Widget Pet Game sells 8 in-app purchases, starting at $1.59 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Lock Launcher holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Pixel Pals Widget Pet Game has 37K ratings behind it against 4K, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 80% of Lock Launcher's written reviews are positive against 47% of Pixel Pals Widget Pet Game's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Lock Launcher ships an update every 9 days, Pixel Pals Widget Pet Game every 2 days. Both last shipped on October 25, 2026.

Scorecard5 real differences · 6 level
Lock Launcher versus Pixel Pals Widget Pet Game: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterLock LauncherPixel Pals Widget Pet Game
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.7 (4K ratings) — better4.6 (37K ratings)
Positive reviews80.5% of reviews — better47.2% of reviews
Number of ratings4K37K — better
Update frequencyEvery 9 daysEvery 2 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationSubscriptionFreemium — better
Best chart rank#134 — better#160
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad
Requires iOS16.0 — better18.3
Further details — not scored
Size105 MB29 MB
Age rating4+4+
Developer6X Studio LLCChristian Selig

Customer experience

Lock Launcher

All ratings3,951 ratings
Positive94.2%
Neutral2.1%
Negative3.7%
Written reviews665 reviews
Positive80.5%
Neutral8.0%
Negative11.6%

Pixel Pals Widget Pet Game

All ratings36,266 ratings
Positive88.7%
Neutral4.1%
Negative7.2%
Written reviews765 reviews
Positive47.2%
Neutral14.4%
Negative38.4%

User reviews

Lock Launcher

From 4K App Store ratings

What we love

  • 👍 Customizable Lock Screen and Dynamic Island
  • 🚀 Efficient use of Live Activities
  • 💡 Innovative app launcher on Lock Screen
  • 🤩 Lots of free features
  • 🔥 Great for power users

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Occasional crashes or bugs
  • 🔄 Needs to be reopened periodically
  • 🤔 Confusing setup for some users
  • 🤖 Lacks support for certain apps

Pixel Pals Widget Pet Game

From 37K App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🚀 Cute and fun
  • 👍 Great use of Dynamic Island
  • 👍 Customizable pets
  • 👍 Smooth integration with Apollo

Room to improve

  • 💰 Expensive subscription
  • 🐛 Buggy and unreliable
  • 🔒 Limited free features
  • 📵 Doesn't work well outside of app

Bugs and requests

Lock Launcher

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • Dynamic Island countdown issues
  • Live Activities sometimes stop working
  • Launcher not always appearing on Lock Screen

Requested features

4 requests
  • Ability to keep Live Activities always on
  • More customization options for Lock Screen widgets
  • Shortcuts integration for automation
  • Transparent background support for iPad

Pixel Pals Widget Pet Game

Reported bugs

4 issues
  • Resets progress and pets when phone restarts
  • Transparent background not working
  • Subscription issues and locked features
  • Pets disappearing from Dynamic Island

Requested features

4 requests
  • More free pet options
  • Ability to interact with pets outside of app
  • Syncing between Apollo and Pixel Pals
  • Customizable pet animations and behaviors

In-app purchases

4 purchases

Lock Launcher

Subscriptions2
  • Pro (Monthly)$1.491 Month
  • Pro (Yearly)3 Days trial$6.991 Year
One-time2
  • Pro (Lifetime)$9.99
  • Pro (Activate)$9.99
8 purchases

Pixel Pals Widget Pet Game

Subscriptions4
  • Pixel Pals Premium Monthly BF$1.591 Month
  • Pixel Pals Premium (Monthly)3 Days trial$1.991 Month
  • Pixel Pals Premium Yearly BF$11.991 Year
Show 1 more
  • Pixel Pals Premium (Yearly)3 Days trial$14.991 Year
One-time4
  • Food Pack Small$0.99
  • Food Pack Large$4.99
  • Premium Lifetime Black Friday$48.49
Show 1 more
  • Pixel Pals Premium (Lifetime)$49.99

Questions

Is Lock Launcher free?
Lock Launcher is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Pixel Pals Widget Pet Game free?
Pixel Pals Widget Pet Game is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Lock Launcher or Pixel Pals Widget Pet Game?
Lock Launcher is rated higher. Lock Launcher averages 4.7 out of 5 from 4K ratings, while Pixel Pals Widget Pet Game averages 4.6 from 37K ratings.
Do Lock Launcher or Pixel Pals Widget Pet Game have ads?
Neither Lock Launcher nor Pixel Pals Widget Pet Game shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Lock Launcher or Pixel Pals Widget Pet Game?
Lock Launcher ships an update every 9 days, and Pixel Pals Widget Pet Game every 2 days. Most recently, Lock Launcher was updated on October 25, 2026 and Pixel Pals Widget Pet Game on October 25, 2026.
Which is more popular, Lock Launcher or Pixel Pals Widget Pet Game?
Lock Launcher currently peaks at #134 in the App Store charts, and Pixel Pals Widget Pet Game at #160. Chart position reflects recent download velocity rather than total install base.

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