# App Lock vs Black Box

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Black Box at none against App Lock's 14. Black Box also leads on ads (none vs shown) and update cadence (every 3 days vs every 2 weeks). App Lock's advantage is ratings volume (6.6K vs 37). On price, review sentiment, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. App Lock sells 14 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per month. Black Box asks for nothing beyond the download.

Black Box holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: App Lock has 6.6K ratings behind it against 37, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 73% of App Lock's written reviews are positive against 67% of Black Box's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

App Lock ships an update every 2 weeks, Black Box every 3 days. The most recent releases landed on September 26, 2026 and August 28, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | App Lock | Black Box |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.6 (6.6K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/app-lock-lock-apps/id6469686557/reviews) | **[4.8 (37 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/black-box-lock-restrict-apps/id6547836962/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **6.6K** | 37 |
| Positive reviews | **73.4% of reviews** | 66.7% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Every 2 weeks | **Every 3 days** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Size | 108 MB | 68 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.1 | **16.0** |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad** | iPhone |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [友财 徐](https://appshunter.io/developer/1637405734) | [俊涛 刘](https://appshunter.io/developer/1702439770) |

## What reviewers say

### App Lock

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/app-lock-lock-apps/id6469686557)

Manage screen time and enhance privacy with customizable modes for work, personal use, and parental control. Set app restrictions, use geofencing, and secure apps with passwords or biometrics. Features include intruder alerts and app disguise for added security.

**Highlights:** Parental Control (Teen Mode), Multiple Modes (Work, Personal, Beast), App Restrictions & Time Limits, Geofencing for Location-Based Locks, Password & Biometric Protection, App Disguise & Intruder Alerts, Widget & Dynamic Island Quick Re-lock

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

**In-app purchases (14)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly Membership | $3.99 | per month |
| Monthly Membership | $3.99 | per month |
| Monthly Membership | $5.99 | per month |
| Monthly Membership | $7.99 | per month |
| Yearly Membership | $9.99 | per year |
| Yearly Membership | $14.99 | per year |
| Yearly Membership | $14.99 | per year |
| Yearly Membership | $16.99 | per year |
| Yearly Membership | $18.99 | per year |
| Yearly Membership | $18.99 | per year |
| Lifetime Membership | $19.99 | one-time |
| Lifetime Membership | $21.99 | one-time |
| Lifetime Membership | $27.99 | one-time |
| Lifetime Membership | $36.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Fast and efficient
- 🔒 Excellent security features
- 👍 User-friendly interface
- 💡 Customizable settings
- 🔒 Protects privacy effectively

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Occasional crashes or glitches
- 🔋 High battery consumption
- 💰 Too many ads
- 🔒 Difficulty unlocking locked apps

**Reported bugs**

- Locked apps sometimes become unlocked randomly
- App deletion issues, unable to uninstall

**Requested features**

- Dark mode option
- Shortcut support for quick access
- Ability to lock/unlock apps without opening the app
- Improved notification handling for locked apps


### Black Box

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/black-box-lock-restrict-apps/id6547836962)

Secure your phone by locking and restricting access to sensitive applications. Protect your private data with advanced password protection and prevent unauthorized app usage or in-app purchases. Enjoy comprehensive digital privacy with an easy-to-use interface.

**Highlights:** App locking with password protection, App disappearance for hidden access, App usage restrictions, Secure privacy with advanced passwords, Payment locking for in-app purchases, Intuitive interface

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is App Lock free?

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

### Is Black Box free?

Black Box is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, App Lock or Black Box?

Black Box is rated higher. App Lock averages 4.6 out of 5 from 6.6K ratings, while Black Box averages 4.8 from 37 ratings.

### Do App Lock or Black Box have ads?

App Lock shows ads; Black Box does not.

### Which is updated more often, App Lock or Black Box?

App Lock ships an update every 2 weeks, and Black Box every 3 days. Most recently, App Lock was updated on September 26, 2026 and Black Box on August 28, 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.*