# App Lock vs Smart Daddy

The clearest difference is rating: App Lock at 4.5 against Smart Daddy's 3.0. App Lock also leads on ratings volume (5.3K vs 2). Smart Daddy's advantage is monetization model (free with in-app purchases vs subscription) and ads (none vs shown). On price, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. App Lock sells 6 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month and Smart Daddy sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $7.00 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

App Lock holds the better App Store score, 4.5 against 3.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: App Lock has 5.3K ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two.

App Lock ships an update fortnightly, Smart Daddy every 3 days. The most recent releases landed on October 22, 2026 and October 6, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | App Lock | Smart Daddy |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.5 (5.3K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/app-lock/id6448239603/reviews)** | [3.0 (2 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/smart-daddy-parental-control/id6476419602/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **5.3K** | 2 |
| Positive reviews | 57.9% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Fortnightly | **Every 3 days** |
| Monetization | Subscription | **Free with in-app purchases** |
| Size | 43 MB | 46 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.0 | **14.0.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Lilucat](https://appshunter.io/developer/1676061700) | [SMART DADDY (SMC-PRIVATE) LIMITED](https://appshunter.io/developer/1691579578) |

## What reviewers say

### 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


### Smart Daddy

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/smart-daddy-parental-control/id6476419602)

This app provides parents with real-time monitoring of their child's notifications and photos to ensure online safety. It offers features like message tracking, photo monitoring, screen time management, and web filtering to promote responsible digital citizenship.

**Highlights:** Real-time notification monitoring, Photo monitoring, Screen time management, App usage tracking, Web filtering and blocking, Intuitive interface

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

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Basic Plan | $7.00 | per month |
| Standard (Small Family) Plan | $18.00 | per 3 months |
| Premium (Large Family) Plan | $36.00 | per 6 months |
| Premium+ (Save Max%) | $72.00 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is App Lock free?

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

### Is Smart Daddy free?

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

### Which has better reviews, App Lock or Smart Daddy?

App Lock is rated higher. App Lock averages 4.5 out of 5 from 5.3K ratings, while Smart Daddy averages 3.0 from 2 ratings.

### Do App Lock or Smart Daddy have ads?

App Lock shows ads; Smart Daddy does not.

### Which is updated more often, App Lock or Smart Daddy?

App Lock ships an update fortnightly, and Smart Daddy every 3 days. Most recently, App Lock was updated on October 22, 2026 and Smart Daddy on October 6, 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.*