# App Lock vs Screen Time Control

The clearest difference is ads: Screen Time Control at none against App Lock's shown. App Lock's advantage is update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 5 months) and ratings volume (1.2K vs 4). On price, rating, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. App Lock sells 5 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month and Screen Time Control sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Screen Time Control holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: App Lock has 1.2K ratings behind it against 4, so its average is the more settled of the two.

App Lock ships an update every 3 weeks, Screen Time Control every 5 months. The most recent releases landed on October 19, 2026 and October 1, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | App Lock | Screen Time Control |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.6 (1.2K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/app-lock-applock-apps/id6452721618/reviews) | **[4.8 (4 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/screen-time-control-anchor/id6587558179/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **1.2K** | 4 |
| Positive reviews | 75.4% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | **Every 3 weeks** | Every 5 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Freemium |
| Size | 58 MB | 27 MB |
| Requires iOS | **16.0** | 17.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [俊杰 刘](https://appshunter.io/developer/1634755293) | [Stephen Fung](https://appshunter.io/developer/1505257864) |

## What reviewers say

### App Lock

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/app-lock-applock-apps/id6452721618)

Secure your personal privacy by locking any app with a password. This app also offers parental controls to monitor child's phone activity, prevent app deletion, and restrict new installations. Enhance your device's security by restricting account and password changes.

**Highlights:** App Lock, Password Lock, Parental Controls, Prevent App Deletion, Disable New App Installation, Restrict Account Changes

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

**In-app purchases (5)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly Membership | $4.99 | per month |
| Monthly Membership | $7.99 | per month |
| Yearly Membership | $9.99 | per year |
| Yearly Membership | $19.99 | per year |
| Lifetime Membership | $34.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Easy to use
- 🔒 Secure app locking
- 🚀 Efficient performance
- 💕 Provides peace of mind

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Occasional issues with app unlocking
- 🔒 Concerns about settings changes
- ⚠️ Potential to lock out users

**Reported bugs**

- Locked apps not showing in settings
- Missed calls and messages when app is locked

**Requested features**

- Paid version with more features
- Ability to lock more than 50 apps


### Screen Time Control

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/screen-time-control-anchor/id6587558179)

This app helps you build better focus habits by scheduling app blocking and managing screen time. It offers scheduled blocking, manual focus sessions, and usage insights to eliminate distractions and improve productivity.

**Highlights:** Scheduled app blocking, Manual focus sessions, Smart notifications, Usage insights, Privacy-focused design, Apple Screen Time framework integration

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Weekly | $3.99 | per 7 days |
| Monthly | $9.99 | per month |
| Lifetime | $29.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is App Lock free?

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

### Is Screen Time Control free?

Screen Time Control is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, App Lock or Screen Time Control?

Screen Time Control is rated higher. App Lock averages 4.6 out of 5 from 1.2K ratings, while Screen Time Control averages 4.8 from 4 ratings.

### Do App Lock or Screen Time Control have ads?

App Lock shows ads; Screen Time Control does not.

### Which is updated more often, App Lock or Screen Time Control?

App Lock ships an update every 3 weeks, and Screen Time Control every 5 months. Most recently, App Lock was updated on October 19, 2026 and Screen Time Control on October 1, 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.*