# AppLock vs Shade

The clearest difference is rating: Shade at 5.0 against AppLock's 4.4. Shade also leads on review sentiment (100% vs 77%). AppLock's advantage is ratings volume (205 vs 4). On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. AppLock sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per 7 days and Shade sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Shade holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.4. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: AppLock has 205 ratings behind it against 4, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 77% of AppLock's written reviews are positive against 100% of Shade's.

AppLock ships an update every 8 days, Shade fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on October 11, 2026 and September 21, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | AppLock | Shade |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.4 (205 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/applock-hide-and-secure-apps/id6463155691/reviews) | **[5.0 (4 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/shade-app-lock-and-blocker/id6747080452/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **205** | 4 |
| Positive reviews | 76.7% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Every 8 days** | Fortnightly |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 71 MB | 88 MB |
| Requires iOS | **16.0** | 17.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad** | iPhone |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [俊涛 刘](https://appshunter.io/developer/1702439770) | [Appsalt](https://appshunter.io/developer/1828173779) |

## What reviewers say

### AppLock

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/applock-hide-and-secure-apps/id6463155691)

Secure your mobile device by locking apps to protect privacy and prevent unauthorized access. Manage screen time with customizable schedules and usage limits to improve focus and well-being. Offers advanced security features and parental controls.

**Highlights:** Direct app locking, Scheduled app locking, Countdown and quota usage limits, Widget lock for home screen, Face ID and password dual lock, Prevent inappropriate app installs, Anti-deletion protection

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

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Weekly Premium | $0.99 | per 7 days |
| Yearly Premium | $9.99 | per year |


### Shade

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/shade-app-lock-and-blocker/id6747080452)

This app helps you manage your phone usage by setting daily limits for applications. Once limits are reached, access is automatically restricted, promoting focus and a healthier digital rhythm. It offers location-based and scheduled restrictions for personalized control.

**Highlights:** Set daily app limits, Automatic app restriction, Location-based restrictions (Smart Zones), Scheduled blocks and restores, iOS Shortcuts and Widgets integration, Face ID/Passcode protection

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

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Weekly Subscription Trial | $1.99 | per 7 days |
| Weekly Subscription | $1.99 | per 7 days |
| Monthly Subscription | $4.99 | per month |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is AppLock free?

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

### Is Shade free?

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

### Which has better reviews, AppLock or Shade?

Shade is rated higher. AppLock averages 4.4 out of 5 from 205 ratings, while Shade averages 5.0 from 4 ratings.

### Do AppLock or Shade have ads?

Both AppLock and Shade show ads.

### Which is updated more often, AppLock or Shade?

AppLock ships an update every 8 days, and Shade fortnightly. Most recently, AppLock was updated on October 11, 2026 and Shade 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.*