On The Lock vs PinNote
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
On The Lock
This app allows you to display a single, important note, to-do list, or photo directly on your device's Lock Screen. It offers customization options for text, layout, and background, with features like reminders and iCloud backup.
- Lock Screen memo display
- To-do list integration
- Photo display on Lock Screen
- Customizable layouts and appearance
- Reminders and D-day tracking
- iCloud backup
- Home and Lock Screen widgets
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On The Lock is a simple memo app that keeps one important thing visible on your Lock Screen. On The Lock helps you keep quick notes, todos, photos, and today’s context where you actually notice them: the Lock Screen. Write a memo the moment it comes to mind, turn it into today’s todos, and keep your next step visible with Live Activity. Use Home Screen and Lock Screen widgets for quick capture and check-off. Add photos for visual context, connect Calendar for today’s remaining events, set a target date/D-day, and customize layouts, colors, text size, alignment, and background skins. Organize with categories, reminders, completed items, archives, iCloud backup, and an option to hide sensitive content while your device is locked. https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/
PinNote
Keep essential information like codes, reminders, or quotes instantly visible on your Lock Screen, Home Screen, and StandBy widgets. Access notes without unlocking your device, with options for adjustable text, attachments, and privacy blur.
- Lock Screen, Home Screen, and StandBy widgets
- Adjustable large text and background options
- Siri quick note integration
- Audio and video attachments
- Full-screen alarm reminders
- Privacy blur mode
- iCloud sync
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PinNote keeps the notes and reminders you need most where you can see them. Add a note to your iPhone Lock Screen, Home Screen, or StandBy. Keep today's priority, a shopping list, or a reminder in view—without opening the app. QUICK-GLANCE WIDGETS • Lock Screen, Home Screen, and StandBy widgets • Large, adjustable text from 16 to 56 pt • Search notes and filter by pinned notes or reminders • Pin and sort important notes • Choose paper, white, yellow, blue, or black backgrounds NOTES FOR MORE THAN TEXT • Add up to four images to a note • Record audio up to 10 minutes or video up to 3 minutes • Create text notes with Siri or Shortcuts; Siri voice-to-text transcription isn't supported REMINDERS THAT FIT YOUR ROUTINE • Repeat reminders daily, on weekdays or weekends, weekly, or on selected days • Choose a full-screen alarm or a quiet banner notification PRIVACY AND SYNC • Blur note content in Lock Screen widgets with Privacy Mode • Sync notes and attachments across iPhone and iPad with iCloud • See when iCloud sync is in progress in Settings Keep the details you need close at hand with PinNote. Feedback & Support Email: sunjun20141@qq.com Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Privacy Policy: https://docs.qq.com/doc/p/7a37547a1830444b27c6c5aa8195a622d62858d5
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is ads: PinNote at none against On The Lock's shown. PinNote also leads on monetization model (free vs free with in-app purchases) and review sentiment (95% vs 75%). On The Lock's advantage is rating (5.0 vs 4.8). 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
Both are free to download. On The Lock sells 5 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month and PinNote sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
On The Lock holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.8. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 2 and 8 respectively. Written reviews complicate that: 75% of On The Lock's written reviews are positive against 95% of PinNote's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.
On The Lock ships an update every 4 days, PinNote every 2 days. The most recent releases landed on November 5, 2026 and November 8, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | On The Lock | PinNote |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 5.0 (2 ratings) — better | 4.8 (8 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 75.0% of reviews | 94.7% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 2 | 8 — better |
| Update frequency | Every 4 days | Every 2 days — better |
| Ads | Yes | No — better |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free — better |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch — better | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 26.0 | 18.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 110 MB | 20 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | JayApp | 军 孙 |
Customer experience
On The Lock
PinNote
In-app purchases
On The Lock
- Monthly Premium$1.991 Month
- Yearly Premium$14.991 Year
- Lifetime Premium (Discount)$12.99
- Lifetime Premium$19.99
- Lifetime Premium$34.99
PinNote
- PinNote Premium$3.99
