# Calculator AppLock vs Shade

The clearest difference is monetization model: Shade at free with in-app purchases against Calculator AppLock's subscription. Shade also leads on review sentiment (100% vs 71%) and rating (5.0 vs 4.8). Calculator AppLock's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and ratings volume (594 vs 4). On price, update cadence, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Calculator AppLock sells 8 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per 7 days and Shade sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Shade holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Calculator AppLock has 594 ratings behind it against 4, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 71% of Calculator AppLock's written reviews are positive against 100% of Shade's.

Calculator AppLock ships an update every 2 weeks, Shade fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on October 27, 2026 and October 28, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Calculator AppLock | Shade |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.8 (594 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/calculator-applock-lock-apps/id6446371405/reviews) | **[5.0 (4 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/shade-app-lock-and-blocker/id6747080452/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **594** | 4 |
| Positive reviews | 71.4% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 2 weeks | **Fortnightly** |
| Monetization | Subscription | **Free with in-app purchases** |
| Size | 84 MB | 88 MB |
| Requires iOS | **16.0** | 17.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad** | iPhone |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [香兰 张](https://appshunter.io/developer/1618793401) | [Appsalt](https://appshunter.io/developer/1828173779) |

## What reviewers say

### Calculator AppLock

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/calculator-applock-lock-apps/id6446371405)

This app helps manage children's device usage by limiting game time and blocking inappropriate content. It offers features like app locking, facial recognition unlock, and home screen widgets for convenient control. The tool prioritizes privacy with local data storage and an ad-free experience.

**Highlights:** Limit game time, Block inappropriate content, App locking, Facial recognition unlock, Home screen widgets, Scheduled locking/unlocking, Disguise app icons

**Features:** Family Sharing

**In-app purchases (8)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Weekly Pro | $4.99 | per 7 days |
| Weekly Pro | $4.99 | per 7 days |
| Monthly Pro | $12.99 | per month |
| Monthly Pro | $12.99 | per month |
| Yearly Pro | $39.99 | per year |
| Yearly Pro | $39.99 | per year |
| Lifetime Premium | $89.99 | one-time |
| Alock Pro | $99.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Hides apps effectively
- 🔒 Protects privacy
- 🤩 Amazing app
- 👍 Customer service is responsive
- 👍 Works well

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 App doesn't hide apps sometimes
- 🐛 Can only lock 2 apps for free
- 🐛 Requires upgrade to pro for full functionality
- 🐛 Can't open hidden apps
- 🐛 Paid for lifetime subscription but can't get past calculator lock

**Reported bugs**

- App doesn't hide apps on home screen
- Takes multiple tries to properly lock apps
- Cannot open hidden apps
- Cannot get past calculator lock screen after paying for lifetime subscription
- Deleted app but apps remained hidden, cannot recover them

**Requested features**

- Allow locking more than 2 apps for free
- Make app available on MacBook
- Add an icon switch for less obvious appearance
- Make the app function as a calculator when clicked on


### Shade

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/shade-app-lock-and-blocker/id6747080452)

This app helps you manage your phone usage by setting daily limits for applications. Once limits are reached, access is automatically restricted, promoting focus and a healthier digital rhythm. It offers location-based and scheduled restrictions for personalized control.

**Highlights:** Set daily app limits, Automatic app restriction, Location-based restrictions (Smart Zones), Scheduled blocks and restores, iOS Shortcuts and Widgets integration, Face ID/Passcode protection

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

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Weekly Subscription Trial | $1.99 | per 7 days |
| Weekly Subscription | $1.99 | per 7 days |
| Monthly Subscription | $4.99 | per month |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Calculator AppLock free?

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

### Is Shade free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Calculator AppLock or Shade?

Shade is rated higher. Calculator AppLock averages 4.8 out of 5 from 594 ratings, while Shade averages 5.0 from 4 ratings.

### Do Calculator AppLock or Shade have ads?

Shade shows ads; Calculator AppLock does not.

### Which is updated more often, Calculator AppLock or Shade?

Calculator AppLock ships an update every 2 weeks, and Shade fortnightly. Most recently, Calculator AppLock was updated on October 27, 2026 and Shade on October 28, 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.*