Comparison

LockWhisper vs Shell Notes

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

Head to head
About

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.

Highlights
  • 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
Features
Read full description

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.

About

Shell Notes

Features
Read full description

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

LockWhisper4 screens
Shell Notes4 screens

Verdict

The call

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

CostPrice ยท In-app purchases ยท Ads ยท Monetization

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.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

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.

ScorecardNo meaningful differences
LockWhisper versus Shell Notes: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterLockWhisperShell Notes
PriceFreeFree
Positive reviews0.0% of reviewsโ€”
Update frequencyEvery 3 weeks โ€” betterEvery 5 weeks
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFreemiumโ€”
DevicesiPhone, iPad, Mac โ€” betteriPhone, iPod
Requires iOS16.415.1 โ€” better
Further details โ€” not scored
Size23 MB47 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperNevv Atlantis LLCIvan Dotsenko

In-app purchases

4 purchases

LockWhisper

One-time4
  • Tip $1$0.99
  • Tip $3$2.99
  • LockWhisper Pro$4.99
Show 1 more
  • Tip $5$4.99
3 purchases

Shell Notes

Subscriptions2
  • Shell Notes Pro Weekly7 Days trial$0.997 Days
  • Shell Notes Pro Yearly$12.991 Year
One-time1
  • Shell Notes Pro Lifetime$17.99

Questions

Is LockWhisper free?
LockWhisper is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Shell Notes free?
Shell Notes is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do LockWhisper or Shell Notes have ads?
Neither LockWhisper nor Shell Notes shows ads.
Which is updated more often, LockWhisper or Shell Notes?
LockWhisper ships an update every 3 weeks, and Shell Notes every 5 weeks. Most recently, LockWhisper was updated on October 6, 2026 and Shell Notes on September 21, 2026.

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