# On The Lock vs PinNote

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.

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.

## The numbers

| Metric | On The Lock | PinNote |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[5.0 (2 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/on-the-lock-lock-screen-memo/id6760257027/reviews)** | [4.8 (8 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pinnote-lock-screen-notes/id6809535973/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 2 | **8** |
| Positive reviews | 75.0% of reviews | **94.7% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Every 4 days | **Every 2 days** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Size | 110 MB | 20 MB |
| Requires iOS | 26.0 | **18.0** |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [JayApp](https://appshunter.io/developer/1871818325) | [军 孙](https://appshunter.io/developer/949784002) |

## What reviewers say

### On The Lock

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/on-the-lock-lock-screen-memo/id6760257027)

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.

**Highlights:** 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

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Apple Watch app, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (5)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly Premium | $1.99 | per month |
| Yearly Premium | $14.99 | per year |
| Lifetime Premium (Discount) | $12.99 | one-time |
| Lifetime Premium | $19.99 | one-time |
| Lifetime Premium | $34.99 | one-time |


### PinNote

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pinnote-lock-screen-notes/id6809535973)

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.

**Highlights:** 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

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

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| PinNote Premium | $3.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is On The Lock free?

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

### Is PinNote free?

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

### Which has better reviews, On The Lock or PinNote?

On The Lock is rated higher. On The Lock averages 5.0 out of 5 from 2 ratings, while PinNote averages 4.8 from 8 ratings.

### Do On The Lock or PinNote have ads?

On The Lock shows ads; PinNote does not.

### Which is updated more often, On The Lock or PinNote?

On The Lock ships an update every 4 days, and PinNote every 2 days. Most recently, On The Lock was updated on November 5, 2026 and PinNote on November 8, 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.*