# aLock vs App Lock

The clearest difference is monetization model: aLock at freemium against App Lock's subscription. aLock also leads on ads (none vs shown) and review sentiment (75% vs 58%). App Lock's advantage is ratings volume (5.2K vs 31). On price, rating, update cadence and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. aLock sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per 7 days and App Lock sells 6 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 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 — 4.6 for aLock against 4.5 for App Lock. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: App Lock has 5.2K ratings behind it against 31, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 75% of aLock's written reviews are positive against 58% of App Lock's.

aLock ships an update every 3 weeks, App Lock fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on August 30, 2026 and September 25, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | aLock | App Lock |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.6 (31 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/alock-app-lock/id1663668785/reviews)** | [4.5 (5.2K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/app-lock/id6448239603/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 31 | **5.2K** |
| Positive reviews | **75.0% of reviews** | 57.6% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | **Fortnightly** |
| Monetization | **Freemium** | Subscription |
| Size | 7 MB | 43 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.0 | 16.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [裕涛 兰](https://appshunter.io/developer/1624361053) | [Lilucat](https://appshunter.io/developer/1676061700) |

## What reviewers say

### aLock

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/alock-app-lock/id1663668785)

Manage your screen time effectively by setting usage limits for apps and automatically restricting them when limits are reached. This app helps users, including children, focus better by blocking distractions and inappropriate content. A free trial is available for premium features.

**Highlights:** Set app usage limits, Automatic app restriction, Manual app restriction/restoration, Focus enhancement for children, Distraction blocking, Free trial for premium features

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| App Lock for 1 week | $2.99 | per 7 days |
| App Lock for 1 year | $9.99 | per year |
| App Lock Premium | $19.99 | one-time |


### App Lock

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/app-lock/id6448239603)

Secure your sensitive applications and personal data with this privacy tool. Easily lock any app to prevent unauthorized access and keep your information out of sight from prying eyes. Enjoy enhanced device security and peace of mind.

**Highlights:** Lock any application, Hide sensitive apps, Block websites, Intuitive interface, Prevent unauthorized access, Enhance device privacy

**Features:** Family Sharing

**In-app purchases (6)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| App Lock | $4.99 | per month |
| App Lock | $7.99 | per 7 days |
| App Lock | $9.99 | per month |
| App Lock | $14.99 | per year |
| App Locker for iPhone | $29.99 | per year |
| App Lock | $59.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Helpful app
- 🔒 Provides app security
- 🔒 Locks apps with Face ID/Touch ID/PIN
- 👍 Great for keeping private information secure
- 👍 Useful for parents to restrict child access

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Home screen layout gets scrambled when app is turned off
- 🐛 App Blocker resets widget stacks
- 💰 Aggressive subscription push
- 🔒 Locked apps only unlocked for a limited time
- 🐛 Doesn't persist app blocking across phone restarts

**Reported bugs**

- Buttons at the bottom of the screen are inaccessible on some devices
- Prompts are not legible with larger font settings
- Locked apps can still be accessed by restarting the phone

**Requested features**

- Allow concealing the app locker
- Add scheduling/time-based locking
- Provide separate unlock code from phone passcode
- Improve usability when Dynamic Island is in use


## Frequently asked questions

### Is aLock free?

aLock 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, aLock or App Lock?

aLock is rated higher. aLock averages 4.6 out of 5 from 31 ratings, while App Lock averages 4.5 from 5.2K ratings.

### Do aLock or App Lock have ads?

App Lock shows ads; aLock does not.

### Which is updated more often, aLock or App Lock?

aLock ships an update every 3 weeks, and App Lock fortnightly. Most recently, aLock was updated on August 30, 2026 and App Lock on September 25, 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.*