# App Lock vs App Guardian

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: App Lock at none against App Guardian's 3. App Lock also leads on ratings volume (194 vs 1). App Guardian's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and rating (5.0 vs 4.7). On price, update cadence, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. App Guardian sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per 7 days. App Lock asks for nothing beyond the download.

App Guardian holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: App Lock has 194 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two.

App Lock ships an update every 5 days, App Guardian weekly. The most recent releases landed on November 4, 2026 and October 30, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | App Lock | App Guardian |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.7 (194 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/app-lock-lock-apps/id6475538115/reviews) | **[5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/app-guardian-privacy-and-security/id6740409871/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **194** | 1 |
| Positive reviews | 85.6% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | **Every 5 days** | Weekly |
| Monetization | **Ad-supported** | Subscription |
| Size | 7 MB | 23 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.0 | 16 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [秀珍 黄](https://appshunter.io/developer/1756029312) | [青伟 刘](https://appshunter.io/developer/1254343646) |

## What reviewers say

### App Lock

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/app-lock-lock-apps/id6475538115)

Manage your phone usage and protect your privacy with this app. It offers robust parental controls, allows you to lock specific applications, and helps you set time limits to combat phone addiction. Secure your data and control your digital well-being.

**Highlights:** Lock specific apps, Parental control features, Prevent app deletion, Secure unlock methods (Face ID, fingerprint, password), Automatic app relocking, Customizable app modes, Set app usage time limits

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


### App Guardian

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/app-guardian-privacy-and-security/id6740409871)

Secure your device by locking apps, encrypting private media, and preventing accidental purchases. Manage children's screen time and app installations for a safer digital environment. Offers comprehensive protection for your privacy and information.

**Highlights:** App locking for social media and games, Secure vault for photos and videos, App usage statistics tracking, Uninstall prevention for important apps, Parental controls for screen time and installations, Payment locking for app stores, Accidental deletion and purchase prevention

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Family Sharing

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| App Guardian & Lock (Weekly) | $0.99 | per 7 days |
| Annual Membership | $6.99 | per year |
| VIP Member | $9.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is App Lock free?

App Lock is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is App Guardian free?

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

### Which has better reviews, App Lock or App Guardian?

App Guardian is rated higher. App Lock averages 4.7 out of 5 from 194 ratings, while App Guardian averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.

### Do App Lock or App Guardian have ads?

App Lock shows ads; App Guardian does not.

### Which is updated more often, App Lock or App Guardian?

App Lock ships an update every 5 days, and App Guardian weekly. Most recently, App Lock was updated on November 4, 2026 and App Guardian on October 30, 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.*