Scrib vs TapLock
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side β with what reviewers say about each.
Scrib
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Scrib keeps your notes on your iPhone. There is no account to create, no server to sync with, and no analytics or advertising code in the app. Every note is stored in an encrypted database inside the app's private container, with the key held in the iOS Keychain. WHAT SCRIB DOES β’ Notes. Write in plain text. Markdown is fine if you use it, and ignored if you don't. β’ Folders. Group notes into folders, filter the home screen by folder, and search folder names. Folders can be switched off in Settings without deleting anything. β’ Checklists. Turn any line into a checklist item. Items and plain text can sit in the same note. Tap an item to check it off. β’ Tap to edit. Tap anywhere in a note and the cursor lands where you tapped. β’ Colors. 44 note colors, plus 14 text colors that can apply to the title and body or the body only. β’ Find in note. Search inside a long note; matches are highlighted. β’ Search. Plain-text search across all notes, on the device. β’ Import. Bring in .txt and Markdown files, or exports from Google Keep, Simplenote and Evernote (.enex). Checklists in those exports arrive as live checklists. Files are read through the iOS file picker and parsed on the device. β’ Trash. Deleted notes go to a trash bin and are removed for good after 30 days. Restore any of them before then. β’ PIN lock. An optional 4 to 6 digit PIN protects the app. Attempts are rate limited. β’ Vault. A separate, PIN-protected space for notes you want kept apart from the main list. β’ Share Scrib. One tap in Settings hands a short line and the App Store link to the share sheet. β’ Languages. English, Arabic, German, Spanish, French, Hindi, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese (Brazil) and Simplified Chinese. HOW YOUR DATA IS PROTECTED β’ Encryption at rest. Every note is written to an AES-256 encrypted database. The key is generated on the device and stored in the iOS Keychain. β’ Safe upgrades. When the storage format changes, the migration completes fully or not at all, so an interrupted upgrade cannot leave notes half converted. β’ Key loss detection. If encrypted notes are found without their key, Scrib shows a recovery screen instead of quietly creating a new key. β’ Save on switch. Pending edits are written to disk the moment you switch apps. WHAT SCRIB DOES NOT DO β’ It does not make network requests. β’ It does not ask you to create an account. β’ It does not sync your notes anywhere. β’ It does not collect analytics or crash reports. β’ It does not show ads. β’ It does not charge for the features listed above. Scrib is built and maintained by one developer, Patrick Colton, also known as Beeswax Pat, a U.S. Army veteran. Questions and requests: beeswaxpat@gmail.com Privacy policy: https://scrib.blog/privacy
TapLock
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TapLock turns a physical NFC card into the only key that unlocks your apps. Tap your card to lock your iPhone's distracting apps behind a Screen Time shield. To get them back, you have to physically tap the card again. The card has to be in your hand. There are no shortcuts. HOW IT WORKS Choose which apps to block, then tap "Lock Now" Apps stay blocked until you tap your registered NFC card to the top of your phone Need a break? Pause the session and it picks up right where you left off Set a timer to auto-unlock after a focus session ends WHAT CARDS WORK Any NFC card you already carry: transit cards, hotel keys, student IDs, office keycards, or cheap NFC stickers. If your iPhone can read it, TapLock can use it. FEATURES NFC card unlock, tap to lock, tap to unlock Timed locks with auto-unlock countdown Pause and resume a session without losing your remaining time Custom blocking profiles, block specific apps or allow only a selected few Multiple cards supported, each with its own name Block app deletion while locked so you can't cheat by uninstalling Session stats, see your total focus time and how long your last session ran Live Activity and Dynamic Island timer visible from your lock screen Your cards and settings sync across your devices via iCloud Remote Key, unlock a family iPad or second iPhone by tapping your card on your own iPhone Native iPad app with a landscape layout REMOTE KEY AND IPAD Lock a family iPad or a second iPhone, then open it by tapping your card on your own iPhone. Both devices just need the same Apple ID. iPads have no NFC reader, so they pair as a kept device and are always opened from your iPhone. EMERGENCY ACCESS A 6-digit PIN is available if you lose your card. It works, but it is deliberately slow, so you will want to keep your card nearby. TapLock does not replace your iPhone's lock screen. It uses Apple's Screen Time framework to shield apps while your phone stays accessible for calls and emergencies. Free 7-day trial. One-time purchase. No subscription, ever. Terms of Use: https://www.aimakecoolstuff.com/legal/taplock/terms Privacy Policy: https://www.aimakecoolstuff.com/legal/taplock/privacy
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Scrib at none against TapLock's 2. Scrib also leads on iOS requirement (15.0 vs 17.0). TapLock's advantage is device support. On price there is nothing between them.
Scored on Price Β· Rating Β· Positive reviews Β· Number of ratings Β· Update frequency Β· Ads Β· In-app purchases Β· Monetization Β· Best chart rank Β· Devices Β· Requires iOS
Both are free to download. TapLock sells 2 one-off in-app purchases. Scrib asks for nothing beyond the download.
| Parameter | Scrib | TapLock |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Update frequency | β | Every 4 days |
| Ads | β | No |
| In-app purchases | No β better | Yes |
| Devices | β | iPhone, iPad β better |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 β better | 17.0 |
| Further details β not scored | ||
| Size | 23 MB | 12 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Patrick Colton | Sze Yuen HO |
In-app purchases
Scrib
No in-app purchases
TapLock
- TapLock Free TrialFree
- TapLock Lifetime$4.99





