# 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 2 weeks vs every 5 months) and ratings volume (6.6K vs 4). On price, rating, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. App Lock sells 14 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 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 6.6K ratings behind it against 4, so its average is the more settled of the two.

App Lock ships an update every 2 weeks, Screen Time Control every 5 months. The most recent releases landed on September 26, 2026 and July 9, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | App Lock | Screen Time Control |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.6 (6.6K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/app-lock-lock-apps/id6469686557/reviews) | **[4.8 (4 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/screen-time-control-anchor/id6587558179/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **6.6K** | 4 |
| Positive reviews | 73.4% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | **Every 2 weeks** | Every 5 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Freemium |
| Size | 108 MB | 27 MB |
| Requires iOS | **16.1** | 17.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [友财 徐](https://appshunter.io/developer/1637405734) | [Stephen Fung](https://appshunter.io/developer/1505257864) |

## 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


### 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 6.6K 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 2 weeks, and Screen Time Control every 5 months. Most recently, App Lock was updated on September 26, 2026 and Screen Time Control on July 9, 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.*