# Private Diary vs Secret Diary with Lock & Notes

The clearest difference is rating: Secret Diary with Lock & Notes at 4.9 against Private Diary's 3.3. Secret Diary with Lock & Notes also leads on ratings volume (92 vs 3) and monetization model (ad-supported vs free with in-app purchases). Private Diary's advantage is update cadence (every 2 weeks vs every 2 months). On price, ads, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Private Diary sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per 7 days 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.

Secret Diary with Lock & Notes holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 3.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Secret Diary with Lock & Notes has 92 ratings behind it against 3, so its average is the more settled of the two.

Private Diary ships an update every 2 weeks, Secret Diary with Lock & Notes every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on August 29, 2026 and September 23, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Private Diary | Secret Diary with Lock & Notes |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.3 (3 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/private-diary-daily-journal/id6748128912/reviews) | **[4.9 (92 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/secret-diary-with-lock-and-notes/id6754467750/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 3 | **92** |
| Positive reviews | — | 100.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Every 2 weeks** | Every 2 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Ad-supported** |
| Size | 75 MB | 57 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15 | **13.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Yash Baraiya](https://appshunter.io/developer/1701081026) | [Ankit Seth](https://appshunter.io/developer/1660350769) |

## What reviewers say

### Private Diary

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/private-diary-daily-journal/id6748128912)

Capture your thoughts, track your mood, and build a journaling habit in a secure, customizable space. This app offers guided prompts, mood insights, and expressive tools to help you reflect and grow.

**Highlights:** Daily journal and notes, Private diary lock (PIN, pattern, fingerprint), Customizable themes, colors, and fonts, Mood tracker with insightful charts, Smart templates for guided writing, Diary streaks and habit tracking, Auto backup and sync

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Weekly Subscription | $0.99 | per 7 days |
| Monthly Subscription | $1.99 | per month |
| Yearly Subscription | $14.99 | per year |


### 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 Private Diary free?

Private Diary 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, Private Diary or Secret Diary with Lock & Notes?

Secret Diary with Lock & Notes is rated higher. Private Diary averages 3.3 out of 5 from 3 ratings, while Secret Diary with Lock & Notes averages 4.9 from 92 ratings.

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

Both Private Diary and Secret Diary with Lock & Notes show ads.

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

Private Diary ships an update every 2 weeks, and Secret Diary with Lock & Notes every 2 months. Most recently, Private Diary was updated on August 29, 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.*