# AppLock vs Black Box

AppLock and Black Box both sit at 4.5 stars, but that hides the real split: 67% of Black Box's written reviews are positive against 21% of AppLock's. Black Box also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 7) and ads (none vs shown). AppLock's advantage is ratings volume (1.4K vs 44). On price, rating, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. AppLock sells 7 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per 7 days. Black Box asks for nothing beyond the download.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.5 for AppLock against 4.5 for Black Box. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: AppLock has 1.4K ratings behind it against 44, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 21% of AppLock's written reviews are positive against 67% of Black Box's.

AppLock ships an update every 3 weeks, Black Box every 3 days. The most recent releases landed on November 3, 2026 and November 4, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | AppLock | Black Box |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.5 (1.4K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/applock-lock-and-guard-private/id6450743069/reviews) | **[4.5 (44 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/black-box-lock-restrict-apps/id6547836962/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **1.4K** | 44 |
| Positive reviews | 21.4% of reviews | **66.7% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | **Every 3 days** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Size | 264 MB | 68 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.0 | 16.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad** | iPhone |
| Age rating | 17+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [CEM SOFTWARE LTD](https://appshunter.io/developer/1664408786) | [俊涛 刘](https://appshunter.io/developer/1702439770) |

## What reviewers say

### AppLock

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/applock-lock-and-guard-private/id6450743069)

Secure your apps, photos, and notes with advanced locking mechanisms. Block distractions, customize themes, and catch intruders to protect your personal data and enhance productivity.

**Highlights:** Lock all apps, Distraction blocking, Scheduled blocking, Customizable themes, Intruder selfie, Private web browser, Hide photos, contacts, notes

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

**In-app purchases (7)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| AppLock Premium | $4.99 | per 7 days |
| AppLock Premium | $4.99 | per 7 days |
| Lock Apps Premium | $9.99 | per month |
| AppLock - Lock Premium | $9.99 | per month |
| AppLock Yearly Subscription | $29.99 | per year |
| Sale Off | $29.99 | per year |
| App Lock Yearly  Discount | $79.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 🔒 Safe and secure
- 🔒 Private browsing and app locking
- 👍 Easy to use

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Difficult to follow instructions
- 🐛 App doesn't work as expected
- 💰 Requires payment to unlock full functionality

**Reported bugs**

- App doesn't lock all apps as promised
- App caused loss of contacts

**Requested features**

- Make the app free to use
- Improve instructions and user interface


### Black Box

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/black-box-lock-restrict-apps/id6547836962)

Secure your phone by locking and restricting access to sensitive applications. Protect your private data with advanced password protection and prevent unauthorized app usage or in-app purchases. Enjoy comprehensive digital privacy with an easy-to-use interface.

**Highlights:** App locking with password protection, App disappearance for hidden access, App usage restrictions, Secure privacy with advanced passwords, Payment locking for in-app purchases, Intuitive interface

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is AppLock free?

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

### Is Black Box free?

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

### Which has better reviews, AppLock or Black Box?

Black Box is rated higher. AppLock averages 4.5 out of 5 from 1.4K ratings, while Black Box averages 4.5 from 44 ratings.

### Do AppLock or Black Box have ads?

AppLock shows ads; Black Box does not.

### Which is updated more often, AppLock or Black Box?

AppLock ships an update every 3 weeks, and Black Box every 3 days. Most recently, AppLock was updated on November 3, 2026 and Black Box on November 4, 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.*