Cloak vs Burn After Read
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
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.
- 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
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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/
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.
- Password-protected notes
- Automatic expiry
- Burn-after-reading
- Secure link sharing
- QR code sharing
- Local privacy controls
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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
Verdict
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
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.
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.
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.
| Parameter | Cloak | Burn After Read |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.8 (12 ratings) | 5.0 (1 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 50.0% of reviews | 100.0% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 12 — better | 1 |
| Update frequency | Weekly — better | Every 9 days |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | No — better |
| Monetization | Freemium | Free — better |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad — better | iPhone |
| Requires iOS | 18.0 | 17.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 36 MB | 3 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Ailton Vieira Pinto Filho | 波 孙 |
Customer experience
Cloak
Burn After Read
In-app purchases
Cloak
- Premium Monthly$1.991 Month
- Premium Monthly$3.991 Month
- Premium Monthly$4.991 Month
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- Premium Yearly7 Days trial$19.901 Year
- Premium Yearly7 Days trial$29.901 Year
- Premium Yearly7 Days trial$39.901 Year
Burn After Read
No in-app purchases









