# Best Secret Folder vs Photo/Message Lock

The clearest difference is monetization model: Best Secret Folder at free with in-app purchases against Photo/Message Lock's subscription. Best Secret Folder also leads on rating (4.7 vs 4.4) and review sentiment (66% vs 43%). Photo/Message Lock's advantage is ads (none vs shown). On price, update cadence, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Best Secret Folder sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $14.99 per year and Photo/Message Lock sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Best Secret Folder holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.4. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Best Secret Folder has 13K ratings behind it against 796, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 66% of Best Secret Folder's written reviews are positive against 43% of Photo/Message Lock's.

Best Secret Folder ships an update every 6 weeks, Photo/Message Lock monthly. The most recent releases landed on November 5, 2026 and November 2, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Best Secret Folder | Photo/Message Lock |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.7 (13K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/best-secret-folder/id488030828/reviews)** | [4.4 (796 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/photomessage-lock-safecloud/id1339555230/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **13K** | 796 |
| Positive reviews | **65.8% of reviews** | 43.2% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Every 6 weeks | **Monthly** |
| Monetization | **Free with in-app purchases** | Subscription |
| Size | 112 MB | 54 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | 15.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [RV AppStudios LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/340181308) | [Shesek LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1339555229) |

## What reviewers say

### Best Secret Folder

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/best-secret-folder/id488030828)

Securely hide your private photos and videos with advanced security features. Protect your media with password, pattern, FaceID, or TouchID locks, and receive alerts for unauthorized access attempts. Organize your content with unlimited folders and multiple view options.

**Highlights:** Discreet app icon, Password, Pattern, FaceID, TouchID locks, Intruder alerts with photo and location capture, Unlimited media folders, Import/export and share media, Break-in attempt logging

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Yearly VIP Premium | $14.99 | per year |
| Yearly VIP Plus | $14.99 | per year |
| Remove Ads | $0.99 | one-time |
| Upgrade To Pro | $1.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🔒 Secure storage
- 👍 Easy to use
- 🚀 Efficient
- 🔒 Keeps private content safe
- 👍 Great for hiding photos and videos

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Crashes and freezes
- 🔒 Password protection not robust enough
- 🔒 Difficult to recover lost data
- 💰 Expensive subscription model
- 🔍 Obvious app icon gives away its purpose

**Reported bugs**

- Inability to add photos/videos after update
- Passcode reset issues
- Sudden data loss after app updates
- Compatibility problems with newer iOS versions
- Ads interfering with app usage

**Requested features**

- Ability to organize files and folders
- Option to hide app icon
- Landscape mode support
- Improved export and backup functionality
- Biometric authentication (Touch ID/Face ID)


### Photo/Message Lock

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/photomessage-lock-safecloud/id1339555230)

Securely store private photos, videos, and messages in a personal cloud vault. Protect your sensitive data with multi-factor authentication and biometric unlock options. Easily import chats from popular messaging apps.

**Highlights:** Multi-factor authentication, Cloud storage for private data, Import chats from WhatsApp and Line, Biometric unlock (TouchID, FaceID), Optional cloud syncing, Password recovery via multi-factor authentication

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Premium Subscription | $9.99 | per month |
| Premium subscription | $59.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Easy to use
- 🔒 Secure data protection
- 💡 Innovative features

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Unreliable app performance
- 💔 Password recovery issues
- 🚫 Doesn't work as advertised

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes on launch
- Data loss issues
- Subscription management problems

**Requested features**

- Expand chat app support beyond WhatsApp
- Add password recovery option


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Best Secret Folder free?

Best Secret Folder is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Photo/Message Lock free?

Photo/Message Lock is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Best Secret Folder or Photo/Message Lock?

Best Secret Folder is rated higher. Best Secret Folder averages 4.7 out of 5 from 13K ratings, while Photo/Message Lock averages 4.4 from 796 ratings.

### Do Best Secret Folder or Photo/Message Lock have ads?

Best Secret Folder shows ads; Photo/Message Lock does not.

### Which is updated more often, Best Secret Folder or Photo/Message Lock?

Best Secret Folder ships an update every 6 weeks, and Photo/Message Lock monthly. Most recently, Best Secret Folder was updated on November 5, 2026 and Photo/Message Lock on November 2, 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.*