# Notepad vs LOCK MEMO

The clearest difference is rating: LOCK MEMO at 4.7 against Notepad's 2.7. LOCK MEMO also leads on review sentiment (74% vs 41%) and ratings volume (494 vs 10). Notepad's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 1) and update cadence (every 2 weeks vs monthly). On price, ads and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. LOCK MEMO sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $0.99 per month. Notepad asks for nothing beyond the download.

LOCK MEMO holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 2.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: LOCK MEMO has 494 ratings behind it against 10, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 41% of Notepad's written reviews are positive against 74% of LOCK MEMO's.

Notepad ships an update every 2 weeks, LOCK MEMO monthly. The most recent releases landed on September 20, 2026 and September 22, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Notepad | LOCK MEMO |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [2.7 (10 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/notepad/id495125972/reviews) | **[4.7 (494 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/lock-memo-secure-notes/id1070901429/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 10 | **494** |
| Positive reviews | 40.7% of reviews | **74.5% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Every 2 weeks** | Monthly |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 26 MB | 31 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.1** | 17.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [YONGSEOK LEE](https://appshunter.io/developer/453718968) | [EasterEggs](https://appshunter.io/developer/553389214) |

## What reviewers say

### Notepad

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/notepad/id495125972)

Capture fleeting thoughts and precious memories with a focus on simple recording and easy retrieval. Features include instant note-taking, automatic saving, categorization, keyword search, and customizable themes and font sizes.

**Highlights:** Instant note-taking, Automatic saving, Categorization, Keyword search, Customizable themes, Adjustable font size

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 💡 Fantastic - sort order choices works great
- 👍 Simple and very comfortable!
- 👍 Easy to use for writing stories and notes
- 👍 Great for just simple notes or essays

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Updated app. NOW ALL MY NOTES ARE GONE!!!!
- 🐛 Cannot flip back and forth from a source to copy/paste without running into annoying ads
- 🐛 Why is there no longer a "scrolling signifier" on the side
- 🐛 The search feature option disappears when in use
- 🐛 Notepad Update gone bad

**Reported bugs**

- Updated app. NOW ALL MY NOTES ARE GONE!!!!
- Cannot flip back and forth from a source to copy/paste without running into annoying ads
- The search feature option disappears when in use
- The new update is causing crashes
- App not opening saved notes anymore

**Requested features**

- Add search feature for easier finding in notes
- Add pictures and videos, and let us resize them
- Add landscape mode
- Add undo button
- Add dark mode option


### LOCK MEMO

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/lock-memo-secure-notes/id1070901429)

This app offers a straightforward way to create and manage private notes with robust passcode protection. It's designed for intuitive use, requiring no complex setup to keep your personal information, ideas, and daily entries secure and organized.

**Highlights:** Passcode protection, Create and edit notes, Folder management, Search notes, iCloud backup, Adjustable font size

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Premium Plan | $0.99 | per month |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Very easy to use and intuitive
- 🔒 Password protection and security features
- 💾 Reliable for storing notes and important information
- ⚡ Simple and lightweight application
- 📝 Great for quick memos and memory jogger

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Notes disappearing unexpectedly
- 🐛 Edit function stops working after extended use
- 📱 Compatibility issues with newer iOS versions
- ❌ No alphabetical sorting capability
- ❌ No search functionality

**Reported bugs**

- Notes disappearing from folders
- Edit function becomes unavailable
- App incompatible with newer iOS versions
- Touch ID not functioning despite advertised
- Password recovery issues

**Requested features**

- Alphabetical sorting of notes
- Search functionality
- Touch ID/biometric authentication
- Text formatting options (bold, underline, italics)
- Ability to share or export notes


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Notepad free?

Notepad is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is LOCK MEMO free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Notepad or LOCK MEMO?

LOCK MEMO is rated higher. Notepad averages 2.7 out of 5 from 10 ratings, while LOCK MEMO averages 4.7 from 494 ratings.

### Do Notepad or LOCK MEMO have ads?

Both Notepad and LOCK MEMO show ads.

### Which is updated more often, Notepad or LOCK MEMO?

Notepad ships an update every 2 weeks, and LOCK MEMO monthly. Most recently, Notepad was updated on September 20, 2026 and LOCK MEMO 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.*