# PadPal vs Private Notes Lock

The clearest difference is review sentiment: PadPal at 100% against Private Notes Lock's 33%. PadPal also leads on rating (5.0 vs 3.0) and ads (none vs shown). On price, update cadence, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

PadPal holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 3.0. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 13 and 4 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 100% of PadPal's written reviews are positive against 33% of Private Notes Lock's.

PadPal ships an update every 3 months, Private Notes Lock every 4 months. The most recent releases landed on August 25, 2026 and June 7, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | PadPal | Private Notes Lock |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[5.0 (13 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/padpal/id812048770/reviews)** | [3.0 (4 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/private-notes-lock-notepad/id1341597096/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **13** | 4 |
| Positive reviews | **100.0% of reviews** | 33.3% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Every 3 months** | Every 4 months |
| Monetization | **Free** | Ad-supported |
| Size | 40 MB | 7 MB |
| Requires iOS | **12.0** | 14.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Farren Domenici](https://appshunter.io/developer/583666476) | [Bhargav Narola](https://appshunter.io/developer/1045586550) |

## What reviewers say

### PadPal

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/padpal/id812048770)

Access common programming manuals for various keypads instantly. Provides offline access to full manufacturer manuals for unlisted products. Users can request new product additions for future updates.

**Highlights:** Instant access to common keypad programming manuals, Offline access to full manufacturer manuals, Extensive list of supported keypad models, User requests for new product additions, Compatibility with iOS devices

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

**In-app purchases:** none


### Private Notes Lock

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/private-notes-lock-notepad/id1341597096)

Securely store your written and voice notes with a passcode or Touch ID. This app allows you to create, save, and play notes, with options to add multiple photos. Manual data backup is recommended.

**Highlights:** Passcode protection, Touch ID access, Create written notes, Save audio notes, Add multiple photos to notes, Play audio notes

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is PadPal free?

PadPal is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Private Notes Lock free?

Private Notes Lock is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, PadPal or Private Notes Lock?

PadPal is rated higher. PadPal averages 5.0 out of 5 from 13 ratings, while Private Notes Lock averages 3.0 from 4 ratings.

### Do PadPal or Private Notes Lock have ads?

Private Notes Lock shows ads; PadPal does not.

### Which is updated more often, PadPal or Private Notes Lock?

PadPal ships an update every 3 months, and Private Notes Lock every 4 months. Most recently, PadPal was updated on August 25, 2026 and Private Notes Lock on June 7, 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.*