# Journal Lock vs Dtecto

The clearest difference is update cadence: Dtecto at fortnightly against Journal Lock's every 3 months. Dtecto also leads on iOS requirement (15.0 vs 18.0). On price, ads, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Journal Lock sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month and Dtecto sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Journal Lock ships an update every 3 months, Dtecto fortnightly. Both last shipped on October 24, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Journal Lock | Dtecto |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | — | **[5.0 (10 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/dtecto-metal-detecting/id6771476782/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | — | **10** |
| Positive reviews | — | 100.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months | **Fortnightly** |
| Monetization | — | Freemium |
| Size | 16 MB | 173 MB |
| Requires iOS | 18.0 | **15.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [asim samuel](https://appshunter.io/developer/1871947223) | [RICARDO ANDRES MEDINA SERRA](https://appshunter.io/developer/1896782278) |

## What reviewers say

### Journal Lock

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/journal-lock/id6758279529)

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

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Weekly Subscription | $4.99 | per month |
| Yearly Subscription | $29.99 | per year |


### Dtecto

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/dtecto-metal-detecting/id6771476782)

This app helps metal detectorists track their hunts, log finds with photos and GPS data, and identify dug items. It also features a community for sharing discoveries and advanced LiDAR maps for terrain analysis.

**Highlights:** Track hunt distance, duration, and GPS routes, Log finds with photos, GPS, notes, and categories, Color-coded find map with private spot saving, Community feed for sharing and interacting with detectorists, LiDAR terrain maps for relic hunting, On-the-spot identification of dug items, Build a searchable library of hobby finds

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

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Dtecto Pro Monthly | $9.99 | per month |
| Dtecto Pro Yearly | $79.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Journal Lock free?

Journal Lock is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Dtecto free?

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

### Do Journal Lock or Dtecto have ads?

Neither Journal Lock nor Dtecto shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Journal Lock or Dtecto?

Journal Lock ships an update every 3 months, and Dtecto fortnightly. Most recently, Journal Lock was updated on October 24, 2026 and Dtecto on October 24, 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.*