Comparison

AppLock vs Snatch Guard

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

AppLock

Secure your phone by locking individual apps with a password or fingerprint. Protect sensitive data like photos, messages, and financial information from unauthorized access. Customize your lock screen with various background options.

Highlights
  • PIN code and pattern locks
  • Fingerprint unlock
  • Lock photos and images
  • Lock messages and contacts
  • Customizable lock screen backgrounds
  • Prevent unauthorized app access
Features
Read full description

AppLock uses two kinds of lock: model lock & fingerprint lock - This app can lock any app with a password or fingerprint, lock photos, lock images, lock messages... - AppLock can protect every application on your phone, especially social networks. - Prevent strangers from stealing your personal information such as photos, messages, and contacts. - Stop children from using their phones to access forbidden applications. - Avoid other people making transactions, transfer money to steal credit card transaction information App Lock supports two most common types of lock: PIN code and Pattern. Pincode is very beautiful and very easy to use. The pattern have high level of security You can unlock applications faster and more conveniently using fingerprints - You can alter your background for your lock screen with 3 options: + Use your device wallpaper. + Use basic colors, gradient colors, or custom colors at your disposal. + Use photos, and images from your collection.

About

Snatch Guard

This app provides instant protection for your sensitive applications when your phone is snatched. It uses your device's accelerometer to detect sudden movements and immediately locks down selected apps, requiring Face ID or your passcode to regain access.

Highlights
  • Detects phone snatching via accelerometer
  • Instant system-level app shields
  • Face ID or passcode unlock
  • Background protection
  • Tamper-resistant shields
  • Customizable shield appearance
  • Event log with location
Features
Read full description

Snatch Guard detects the moment someone grabs your phone and instantly locks your sensitive apps — banking, messaging, photos, notes — with a system-level shield that can't be dismissed without your Face ID or passcode. HOW IT WORKS - Detects the grab — the built-in accelerometer senses the sudden jerk when someone snatches your phone. - Locks your apps instantly — system-level shields appear over your selected apps within milliseconds. - Only you can unlock — Face ID or device passcode required to remove shields. - Works in background — protection stays active even while you're using other apps. - Tamper resistant — shields stay active even if the app is force-closed. With Screen Time passcode enabled, the app can't be deleted or bypassed. WHY SNATCH GUARD? In London alone, over 117,000 phones were stolen in 2024. Thieves target unlocked phones — they grab and run, then immediately access your bank accounts, messages, and photos. Apple's Stolen Device Protection only delays password changes — it doesn't protect the content of an unlocked phone. The "Require Face ID" feature only works at app launch — if the app is already open when snatched, there's no protection. Snatch Guard fills this gap. FALSE POSITIVES? If you run for a bus and the shield activates, simply open Snatch Guard, authenticate with Face ID, and remove the shield. Takes 3 seconds. You can also adjust sensitivity in Settings. PRIVACY - No data collection — no analytics, no tracking, no telemetry - No network calls — the app never connects to the internet - Location stays on device — used only to keep background protection active, never transmitted - All processing happens on-device FEATURES - Choose which apps to protect - Adjustable sensitivity (2.0G – 6.0G) - Background protection via location keep-alive - Event log with location of detected incidents - Face ID or passcode unlock - Custom shield appearance - Step-by-step onboarding Free. No ads. No subscriptions. No in-app purchases.

Screenshots

AppLock4 screens
Snatch Guard4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Snatch Guard at 5.0 against AppLock's 3.8. Snatch Guard also leads on ads (none vs shown) and monetization model (free vs ad-supported). AppLock's advantage is ratings volume (35 vs 2) and iOS requirement (14.0 vs 17.6). On price, update cadence, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Snatch Guard holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 3.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: AppLock has 35 ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

AppLock ships an update every 3 days, Snatch Guard every 4 days. The most recent releases landed on October 30, 2026 and October 31, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
AppLock versus Snatch Guard: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterAppLockSnatch Guard
PriceFreeFree
Rating3.8 (35 ratings)5.0 (2 ratings) — better
Positive reviews69.2% of reviews—
Number of ratings35 — better2
Update frequencyEvery 3 days — betterEvery 4 days
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationAd-supportedFree — better
DevicesiPhone, iPod — betteriPhone
Requires iOS14.0 — better17.6
Further details — not scored
Size33 MB4 MB
Age rating17+4+
DeveloperSon Ngo DinhOleg Mamiev

In-app purchases

None

AppLock

No in-app purchases

None

Snatch Guard

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is AppLock free?
AppLock is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Snatch Guard free?
Snatch Guard is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, AppLock or Snatch Guard?
Snatch Guard is rated higher. AppLock averages 3.8 out of 5 from 35 ratings, while Snatch Guard averages 5.0 from 2 ratings.
Do AppLock or Snatch Guard have ads?
AppLock shows ads; Snatch Guard does not.
Which is updated more often, AppLock or Snatch Guard?
AppLock ships an update every 3 days, and Snatch Guard every 4 days. Most recently, AppLock was updated on October 30, 2026 and Snatch Guard on October 31, 2026.

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