Comparison

Cloak vs Burn After Read

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Cloak

Control access to your apps automatically based on location, schedule, or manual settings. Create custom modes to lock or make apps unavailable, with options to pause temporarily or resume later. Integrates with Apple Screen Time for robust control.

Highlights
  • Create custom app lock modes
  • Lock apps by place, schedule, or manual switch
  • Basic and Advanced lock styles
  • Pause app access temporarily
  • Location-based locking
  • Scheduled app locking
  • Live Activity for lock screen status
Features
Read full description

Cloak helps you control access to the apps that matter, automatically. Create Modes that lock selected apps by place, schedule, or a manual switch. When you need access again, pause with one tap and let Cloak resume on your terms. HOW IT WORKS - Pick the apps you want controlled - Create a Mode (Work, Focus, Personal, Travel…) - Choose when it runs: trusted areas, restricted areas, schedule, or manual TWO LOCK STYLES - Basic Lock: apps stay visible but won’t open while a mode is active - Advanced Lock: uses system behavior to make selected apps unavailable while active (iOS may adjust Home Screen layout when apps return) TRUSTED AREAS, RESTRICTED AREAS & SCHEDULES - Pause inside trusted places and lock again when you leave - Lock inside restricted areas (for specific places you choose) - Run on a repeating schedule (weekdays + time window) PAUSE WHEN YOU NEED TO - Pause for 15 minutes - Pause until you leave (temporary location hold) - Pause until you resume manually LOCK SCREEN STATUS - See whether Cloak is active or paused - View a countdown when paused (Live Activity) and resume quickly NOTES & REQUIREMENTS - Cloak uses Apple Screen Time controls to apply locks. You’ll be asked to grant Screen Time permission during setup. - Location-based modes require location permission. iOS limits region monitoring (typically up to 20 areas per app). - App selection limits can apply depending on the lock style and Apple system behavior. Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

About

Burn After Read

Create private, self-destructing notes that disappear after being read. Secure your messages with a password and set an expiration time. Share them via a secure link or QR code for ultimate privacy.

Highlights
  • Password-protected notes
  • Automatic expiry
  • Burn-after-reading
  • Secure link sharing
  • QR code sharing
  • Local privacy controls
Features
Read full description

Burn After Read lets you create private notes that disappear after they are read. Write a message, protect it with a password, choose an expiration time, and share it with a secure link or QR code. Once opened, the note is permanently destroyed. Features: • Password-protected notes • Automatic expiry and burn-after-reading • Share securely by link or QR code • Optional location and weather conditions • Local privacy controls

Screenshots

Cloak4 screens
Burn After Read3 screens

Verdict

The call

Cloak and Burn After Read both sit at 4.8 stars, but that hides the real split: 100% of Burn After Read's written reviews are positive against 50% of Cloak's. Burn After Read also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 6). Cloak's advantage is ratings volume (12 vs 1). On price, rating, update cadence and ads there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Cloak sells 6 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month. Burn After Read asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Burn After Read holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Cloak has 12 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 50% of Cloak's written reviews are positive against 100% of Burn After Read's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Cloak ships an update weekly, Burn After Read every 9 days. The most recent releases landed on November 3, 2026 and October 31, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
Cloak versus Burn After Read: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterCloakBurn After Read
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.8 (12 ratings)5.0 (1 ratings) — better
Positive reviews50.0% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings12 — better1
Update frequencyWeekly — betterEvery 9 days
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFreemiumFree — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad — betteriPhone
Requires iOS18.017.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size36 MB3 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperAilton Vieira Pinto Filho波 孙

Customer experience

Cloak

All ratings12 ratings
Positive91.7%
Neutral8.3%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews2 reviews
Positive50.0%
Neutral50.0%
Negative0.0%

Burn After Read

All ratings1 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews1 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

6 purchases

Cloak

Subscriptions6
  • Premium Monthly$1.991 Month
  • Premium Monthly$3.991 Month
  • Premium Monthly$4.991 Month
Show 3 more
  • Premium Yearly7 Days trial$19.901 Year
  • Premium Yearly7 Days trial$29.901 Year
  • Premium Yearly7 Days trial$39.901 Year
None

Burn After Read

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Cloak free?
Cloak is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Burn After Read free?
Burn After Read is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Cloak or Burn After Read?
Burn After Read is rated higher. Cloak averages 4.8 out of 5 from 12 ratings, while Burn After Read averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.
Do Cloak or Burn After Read have ads?
Neither Cloak nor Burn After Read shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Cloak or Burn After Read?
Cloak ships an update weekly, and Burn After Read every 9 days. Most recently, Cloak was updated on November 3, 2026 and Burn After Read on October 31, 2026.

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