# notesDiary vs Secret Diary with Lock & Notes

The clearest difference is monetization model: Secret Diary with Lock & Notes at ad-supported against notesDiary's subscription. Secret Diary with Lock & Notes also leads on ratings volume (92 vs 2) and iOS requirement (13.0 vs 16.0). notesDiary's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and update cadence (fortnightly vs every 2 months). On price, rating, review sentiment and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. notesDiary sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $6.99 per month and Secret Diary with Lock & Notes sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 5.0 for notesDiary against 4.9 for Secret Diary with Lock & Notes. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Secret Diary with Lock & Notes has 92 ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews split almost evenly too, at 100% and 100% positive.

notesDiary ships an update fortnightly, Secret Diary with Lock & Notes every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on September 13, 2026 and September 23, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | notesDiary | Secret Diary with Lock & Notes |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[5.0 (2 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/notesdiary/id6474940011/reviews)** | [4.9 (92 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/secret-diary-with-lock-and-notes/id6754467750/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 2 | **92** |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews | 100.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Fortnightly** | Every 2 months |
| Monetization | Subscription | **Ad-supported** |
| Size | 13 MB | 57 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.0 | **13.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Fox.ai Limited](https://appshunter.io/developer/1703764034) | [Ankit Seth](https://appshunter.io/developer/1660350769) |

## What reviewers say

### notesDiary

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/notesdiary/id6474940011)

A private digital diary app that functions like a Twitter feed for your thoughts. It features an AI writing assistant for polished entries and offers customization options. Track personal growth with smart analytics and access your entries securely anytime, anywhere.

**Highlights:** Twitter-style private diary entries, AI writing assistant for revisions, Lock and encryption for security, Customizable themes, fonts, and colors, Intuitive timeline and search, Smart analytics for personal growth, Cross-device access

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly subscription | $6.99 | per month |
| 6-Month Subscription | $24.99 | per 6 months |


### Secret Diary with Lock & Notes

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/secret-diary-with-lock-and-notes/id6754467750)

This app provides a private space to record thoughts, track moods, and practice mindfulness. Customize your journal's appearance and access a calming breathing exercise. Daily motivational quotes are also included to inspire reflection.

**Highlights:** Private journaling with password/Face ID lock, Mood tracking and emotional well-being insights, Customizable themes, fonts, and colors, Relax Mode for guided breathing exercises, Daily motivational quotes, Mindfulness and self-awareness tools

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Diary Premium | $4.99 | per month |
| Diary Premium | $9.99 | per year |
| Diary Premium Lifetime | $19.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is notesDiary free?

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

### Is Secret Diary with Lock & Notes free?

Secret Diary with Lock & Notes is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, notesDiary or Secret Diary with Lock & Notes?

notesDiary is rated higher. notesDiary averages 5.0 out of 5 from 2 ratings, while Secret Diary with Lock & Notes averages 4.9 from 92 ratings.

### Do notesDiary or Secret Diary with Lock & Notes have ads?

Secret Diary with Lock & Notes shows ads; notesDiary does not.

### Which is updated more often, notesDiary or Secret Diary with Lock & Notes?

notesDiary ships an update fortnightly, and Secret Diary with Lock & Notes every 2 months. Most recently, notesDiary was updated on September 13, 2026 and Secret Diary with Lock & Notes on September 23, 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.*