LockWhisper vs Shell Notes
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side โ with what reviewers say about each.
LockWhisper
This app provides a secure, offline vault for all your sensitive data, using military-grade encryption. It offers features like password management, encrypted notes, secure browsing, and dual-password protection for enhanced privacy. Your data remains entirely on your device, with no cloud sync or tracking.
- Offline security and encryption
- Dual-password system for plausible deniability
- AES-256 encryption for all data
- Password manager with AutoFill
- Encrypted notes and journal editor
- Secure browser and QR code scanner
- Cross-device sync via peer-to-peer
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LockWhisper is a private, offline-first security vault for iPhone, iPad, and Mac. It keeps sensitive personal data encrypted on your device without cloud accounts, analytics, tracking, or LockWhisper servers handling your vault contents. ONE PRIVATE PLACE Store passwords, 2FA codes, PGP keys, encrypted notes, journals, plans, files, photos, videos, voice recordings, contacts, cards, identity records, travel documents, vehicle records, saved links, emergency information, habits, and private tasks. LockWhisper also includes a secure browser, secure clipboard, QR and scanner tools, photo metadata cleaning, encrypted search, favorites, import and export tools, and device-to-device sync. PRIVATE BY DESIGN Every supported module is built around local encryption and device-controlled storage. Your vault stays on your device unless you choose to export it or sync supported data directly to another trusted device. A DASHBOARD YOU CONTROL Use daily privacy tips, Quick Actions, Security Snapshot, backup health, favorites, and quick modules to reach what matters. Choose layout presets, change visual density, group modules, resize widgets, and decide which cards appear. REAL AND DECOY VAULTS LockWhisper includes an optional fake password system. Your real password opens your private vault. A separate fake password opens a decoy vault with separate data for plausible deniability. SECURITY TOOLS YOU CAN USE Security Center summarizes password health, authenticator coverage, encryption-key rotation, backup readiness, recovery status, and other actionable findings. Optional auto-destruct, recovery tools, key backup, jailbreak and debug checks, and YubiKey-assisted workflows provide additional protection. PRIVATE DEVICE SYNC Sync supported data directly between trusted devices over encrypted peer-to-peer connections. No LockWhisper account and no central cloud database for your vault contents. ONE PRICE, NOT A SUBSCRIPTION Use core privacy tools free. Upgrade to Pro with a one-time purchase for advanced modules and premium security features. LockWhisper brings passwords, private writing, encrypted files, 2FA, PGP, secure media, planning, scanner tools, and vault records together while keeping personal data under your control.
Shell Notes
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Encrypted notes that never leave your device. No cloud, no account, no tracking. Shell Notes is a private, offline notes app with one sharp focus: keep your writing local, encrypted, and yours alone โ in a fast markdown and code editor with a calm, dark, developer-flavored theme. ยท Real AES-256-GCM encryption (audited open-source crypto: @noble/ciphers, @noble/hashes), keyed off your passphrase via PBKDF2-SHA256. ยท A master passphrase only you know. No recovery, by design โ there is no backdoor and no copy of your data. ยท App-lock with optional Face ID. ยท Plain text, Markdown,JavaScript, TypeScript, Python, JSON, Shell, HTTP and CSS syntax highlighting. ยท Folders, starring, pinning, full-text search. ยท Eleven monospace typefaces โ JetBrains Mono, Fira Code, IBM Plex Mono, Source Code Pro, Ubuntu Mono, Inconsolata, Anonymous Pro, Space Mono, Roboto Mono, VT323, and a default UI font. ยท A subtle scanline overlay you can switch off. ยท No analytics. No advertising. No sign-up, no email, no phone number. ยท No cloud sync, no remote model calls, no leakage. Your notes, folders and search index stay on this device. Export your vault to JSON through the iOS share sheet whenever you choose โ nothing leaves otherwise. Shell Notes protects your notes at rest, on this device, with strong encryption. If you forget your passphrase, your locked notes are gone โ there is no recovery. If your unlocked iPhone is in someone else's hands, the app is only as safe as your iOS lock screen and the auto-lock setting you choose inside Shell Notes. For developers, journalists, and anyone who closes an app the moment it asks for an email address. Quiet, local, yours. Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Privacy Policy: https://shellnotes.surge.sh/privacy
Screenshots
Verdict
LockWhisper and Shell Notes are too close to call on the numbers: across 6 compared parameters โ price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases among them โ neither pulls far enough ahead to decide it. What separates them is feature set and interface, not measurable difference.
Scored on Price ยท Rating ยท Positive reviews ยท Number of ratings ยท Update frequency ยท Ads ยท In-app purchases ยท Monetization ยท Best chart rank ยท Devices ยท Requires iOS
Both are free to download. LockWhisper sells 4 one-off in-app purchases and Shell Notes sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
LockWhisper ships an update every 3 weeks, Shell Notes every 5 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 6, 2026 and September 21, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | LockWhisper | Shell Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Positive reviews | 0.0% of reviews | โ |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks โ better | Every 5 weeks |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | Freemium | โ |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, Mac โ better | iPhone, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 16.4 | 15.1 โ better |
| Further details โ not scored | ||
| Size | 23 MB | 47 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Nevv Atlantis LLC | Ivan Dotsenko |
In-app purchases
LockWhisper
- Tip $1$0.99
- Tip $3$2.99
- LockWhisper Pro$4.99
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- Tip $5$4.99
Shell Notes
- Shell Notes Pro Weekly7 Days trial$0.997 Days
- Shell Notes Pro Yearly$12.991 Year
- Shell Notes Pro Lifetime$17.99
Questions
Is LockWhisper free?
Is Shell Notes free?
Do LockWhisper or Shell Notes have ads?
Which is updated more often, LockWhisper or Shell Notes?
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