Lock Learn vs WordStart
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Lock Learn
Learn new vocabulary effortlessly by having words and definitions appear on your phone's lock screen every 10 minutes. Create custom word lists for any subject, from languages to professional terms, and tap to explore them further. Start with 20 free words and unlock unlimited access with a one-time purchase.
- Lock screen vocabulary widget
- Customizable word lists by topic
- Definitions and grammar labels
- Tap to view word details
- One-time purchase for unlimited words
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Lock Learn puts a vocabulary word on your lock screen and swaps it out every 10 minutes, all day. You're checking your phone constantly anyway, so you might as well pick something up in the meantime. There are no study sessions, no streaks to maintain, and no extra time required. How it works: Add the Lock Learn widget to your lock screen. From that point on, every time you glance at your phone you'll see a different word from your list along with its definition and grammar type. The widget refreshes in the background every 10 minutes without you doing anything. Build your own word lists: Lock Learn isn't tied to a preset word bank. You create topics for whatever you're working on: a language you're studying, industry terminology, SAT prep words, culinary terms, anything you want. Every entry includes a definition and a grammar label so you understand how to actually use the word, not just what it means. Tap to go deeper: Spot a word you want to explore? Tap the widget and Lock Learn opens directly to that word's topic so you can review, edit, or add related words. Free to start: You get up to 20 vocabulary words completely free, with no trial period and no expiration date. If you want more, a small one-time purchase unlocks unlimited words and there's no subscription. Features: - Lock screen widget that rotates vocabulary every 10 minutes - Organize words into topics and categories - Grammar labels included with every entry - Tap-to-open deep link goes directly to the word currently on your lock screen - Free up to 20 words, one-time purchase for unlimited
WordStart
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About 85% of everyday conversation is built from the 1000 most frequent words. WordStart teaches exactly those words — in the most efficient order — for English, Spanish, French, German and Italian. WHY WORDSTART? • Science-based spaced repetition (SM-2): reviews arrive right before you'd forget • Teach first, test second: new words start with an intro card and a highlighted example • Real sentences: authentic examples with native-language translations and pronunciation • Quizzes + word matching: different question types to make it stick • Widgets: word of the day on your Home Screen and Lock Screen • Gamification: XP, levels (A1→C1), streaks and achievements keep you going • Fully offline: works on the subway, on planes, anywhere; audio is optional • Privacy-first: no account required; progress stays on your device FREE vs PRO Free plan: 1 target language, the first 100 words, basic reviews and quizzes. WordStart Pro unlocks 1000 words in all 5 languages, 5-word daily widget decks, Difficult Words practice and advanced study tools. Sources: Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR), Wiktionary/kaikki.org (CC BY-SA 4.0), FrequencyWords. Terms of Use (EULA): https://emrmob77.github.io/wordstart-site/terms.html Privacy Policy: https://emrmob77.github.io/wordstart-site/privacy.html
Screenshots
Verdict
Lock Learn and WordStart are too close to call on the numbers: across 6 compared parameters — price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases among them — neither pulls far enough ahead to decide it. What separates them is feature set and interface, not measurable difference.
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. Lock Learn sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and WordStart sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 2 days. The most recent releases landed on October 31, 2026 and November 5, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Lock Learn | WordStart |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 5.0 (3 ratings) — better | — |
| Number of ratings | 3 — better | — |
| Update frequency | Every 2 days | Every 2 days |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | — |
| Devices | iPhone | iPhone |
| Requires iOS | 18.6 | 17.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 3 MB | 18 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | MaxQ Consulting Services LLC | Emrah TONLAK |
In-app purchases
Lock Learn
- LockLearn$1.99
WordStart
- Pro Monthly$3.991 Month
- Pro Yearly$24.991 Year
- Pro Lifetime$99.99









