Comparison

BurnPony Self vs App Lock

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

BurnPony Self

Features
Read full description

Write a secret. Share one link. It reads once and burns. BurnPony encrypts your note on your phone before anything is sent. The server stores only ciphertext it cannot read, the decryption key travels in a part of the link that browsers never transmit, and the recipient needs nothing but a browser. No app on their side, no account on yours. WHAT IT DOES One link, any recipient, any device with a browser. View limits from 1 to 100, expiry from 5 minutes to 30 days, an optional auto-hide timer after reveal. Optional passphrase as a second factor, shared through a different channel than the link. Read receipts, honestly: the recipient is told before they open. No silent tracking, ever. Labels that never leave your phone: name a note "wifi password for mom" and the read notification says so, while the server knows nothing. Sent Notes: live status, view counts, change the expiration after sending, burn early with a swipe. The recipient page speaks nine languages, following the reader's browser. WHY YOU CAN CHECK INSTEAD OF TRUST The entire system is open source: this app, the server, and the recipient page, with a written protocol specification and cross-implementation test vectors. The note page is byte-reproducible from its published source, so View Source is a real audit, not a gesture. You can even run your own server and point the app at it from Settings. HONEST LIMITS Self-destruction limits exposure; it cannot un-share. A recipient can always copy or photograph a revealed note, and BurnPony says so on the note page itself, because a privacy tool that overpromises is worse than none. From NorseHorse, maker of PGPony, CarrierPony, AgePony, RelayPony, and QuorumPony.

About

App Lock

This app acts as a privacy guard and app locker for your iPhone or iPad, allowing you to select specific apps to protect with a PIN. It offers flexible rules like category blocking and guest mode, ensuring your device remains secure when shared.

Highlights
  • On-device app locking
  • PIN protection
  • Category and allow-only rules
  • Guest Mode
  • Scheduled protection windows
  • Face ID/Touch ID unlock
  • Privacy-focused design
Features
Read full description

Lockstead helps limit access to selected apps before you lend your iPhone or iPad. Lockstead is an on-device app lock and privacy guard for the iPhone or iPad you hand to a child, friend, or family member. Choose the apps you want to protect, set a six-digit PIN, and see the current protection status at a glance. Lockstead works without an account, backend server, analytics SDK, or usage-data upload. LOCK AND BLOCK • Lock selected apps to prevent them from launching until you turn protection off. • Use category, allow-only, and Guest Mode rules. • Temporarily allow access and automatically restore protection when time is up. PROTECTION THAT FITS THE MOMENT • Schedule a daily protection window. • Use allow-only mode and category rules. • Start Guest Mode before handing over your device: only chosen apps stay available, all other apps are blocked, and everything restores automatically. • Use Lockstead Shortcuts to strengthen protection. Unlocking always requires authentication inside Lockstead. PRIVATE ACCESS • Protect settings with a six-digit PIN. • Optionally unlock Lockstead with Face ID or Touch ID. PRIVACY BY DESIGN • No account. • No server. • No advertising or analytics SDK. • No usage-data upload. Your PIN and protection configuration stay in the app’s local container on your device. FREE CORE, OPTIONAL VIP Core protection for one selected app is free. VIP adds multi-app management, advanced rules, Guest Mode, app-removal controls, premium themes, and alternate Lockstead icons. Lockstead uses Apple’s Screen Time technologies and requires Screen Time authorization. Family Controls, Managed Settings, and Device Activity are used solely to let users configure and enforce app restrictions on their own devices. Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Privacy Policy: https://materialofair.github.io/lockstead-site/privacy.html

Screenshots

BurnPony Self4 screens
App Lock4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: BurnPony Self at none against App Lock's 3. On price, update cadence, ads 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. App Lock sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per month. BurnPony Self asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 19, 2026 and October 13, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard1 real difference · 9 level
BurnPony Self versus App Lock: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterBurnPony SelfApp Lock
PriceFreeFree
Rating—5.0 (1 ratings) — better
Positive reviews—100.0% of reviews
Number of ratings—1 — better
Update frequencyEvery 2 weeksEvery 2 weeks
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
Monetization—Freemium
DevicesiPhoneiPhone, iPad — better
Requires iOS18.617.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size1 MB10 MB
Age rating4+17+
DeveloperKevin Stewart桥 王

In-app purchases

None

BurnPony Self

No in-app purchases

3 purchases

App Lock

Subscriptions2
  • Lockstead VIP Monthly$0.991 Month
  • Lockstead VIP Yearly$4.991 Year
One-time1
  • Lockstead Lifetime VIP$7.99

Questions

Is BurnPony Self free?
BurnPony Self is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is App Lock free?
App Lock is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do BurnPony Self or App Lock have ads?
Neither BurnPony Self nor App Lock shows ads.
Which is updated more often, BurnPony Self or App Lock?
BurnPony Self ships an update every 2 weeks, and App Lock every 2 weeks. Most recently, BurnPony Self was updated on October 19, 2026 and App Lock on October 13, 2026.

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