# App Lock vs Screen Time Control

The clearest difference is rating: Screen Time Control at 4.5 against App Lock's 3.8. Screen Time Control also leads on update cadence (fortnightly vs every 2 months) and ratings volume (33 vs 4). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. App Lock sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per month and Screen Time Control sells 6 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Screen Time Control holds the better App Store score, 4.5 against 3.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Screen Time Control has 33 ratings behind it against 4, so its average is the more settled of the two.

App Lock ships an update every 2 months, Screen Time Control fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on September 19, 2026 and September 21, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | App Lock | Screen Time Control |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.8 (4 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/app-lock-secure-folder/id6456267824/reviews) | **[4.5 (33 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/screen-time-control-inscreen/id6737131495/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 4 | **33** |
| Positive reviews | — | 73.9% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | **Fortnightly** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Freemium |
| Size | 32 MB | 13 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.6 | 17.6 |
| Devices | iPhone | iPhone |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Chetna Nakrani](https://appshunter.io/developer/1680941411) | [Vaibhav Negi](https://appshunter.io/developer/1747178744) |

## What reviewers say

### App Lock

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/app-lock-secure-folder/id6456267824)

This app offers a secure, offline solution for protecting your private photos, contacts, passwords, and notes. It prioritizes user privacy by keeping all data stored locally on your device without any internet connection or cloud synchronization.

**Highlights:** Offline photo and video vault, Contact backup and restore, Secure password manager, Encrypted notes storage, Local data storage only, Intuitive user interface

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

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Upgrade Premium Version | $3.99 | per month |
| Upgrade Premium Version | $24.99 | per year |
| Upgrade Premium Version | $29.99 | one-time |


### Screen Time Control

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/screen-time-control-inscreen/id6737131495)

This app promotes mindful screen time usage by prompting regular reflection and offering optional focus sessions. It guides users toward healthier digital habits through awareness and subtle nudges, rather than strict blocking. Data is kept private on the device.

**Highlights:** Mindful screen time prompts, Optional focus sessions, Daily activity notifications, App blocking for routines, Privacy-focused data storage

**Features:** Family Sharing

**In-app purchases (6)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Inscreen (Monthly) | $1.99 | per month |
| Inscreen (Monthly for Family) | $3.99 | per month |
| Inscreen (Yearly) | $14.99 | per year |
| Inscreen (Yearly for Family) | $29.99 | per year |
| Inscreen (Lifetime) | $29.99 | one-time |
| Inscreen (Lifetime for Family) | $59.99 | 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 3.8 out of 5 from 4 ratings, while Screen Time Control averages 4.5 from 33 ratings.

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

Neither App Lock nor Screen Time Control shows ads.

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

App Lock ships an update every 2 months, and Screen Time Control fortnightly. Most recently, App Lock was updated on September 19, 2026 and Screen Time Control on September 21, 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.*