# Private Notes and Secret Diary vs Lock Notes

The clearest difference is monetization model: Private Notes and Secret Diary at free with in-app purchases against Lock Notes's subscription. Private Notes and Secret Diary also leads on iOS requirement (8.0 vs 15.0). Lock Notes's advantage is rating (4.4 vs 3.9) and update cadence (every 10 days vs every 10 months). On price, ads, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Private Notes and Secret Diary sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and Lock Notes sells 7 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Lock Notes holds the better App Store score, 4.4 against 3.9. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Lock Notes has 138 ratings behind it against 8, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 38% of Private Notes and Secret Diary's written reviews are positive against 54% of Lock Notes's.

Private Notes and Secret Diary ships an update every 10 months, Lock Notes every 10 days. The most recent releases landed on October 16, 2026 and October 14, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Private Notes and Secret Diary | Lock Notes |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.9 (8 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/private-notes-and-secret-diary/id982348636/reviews) | **[4.4 (138 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/lock-notes-private-journal/id1211884686/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 8 | **138** |
| Positive reviews | 38.5% of reviews | **54.2% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 10 months | **Every 10 days** |
| Monetization | **Free with in-app purchases** | Subscription |
| Size | 6 MB | 23 MB |
| Requires iOS | **8.0** | 15.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Tigran Mkhitaryan](https://appshunter.io/developer/602761285) | [LYKOV STUDIO LTD](https://appshunter.io/developer/1783754094) |

## What reviewers say

### Private Notes and Secret Diary

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/private-notes-and-secret-diary/id982348636)

Securely store and manage your private notes with password protection. Keep personal details safe from prying eyes on your device, even when sharing with others.

**Highlights:** Password protection for notes, Secure storage of personal details, Create simple notes, Share device while keeping notes secure, Prevent unauthorized access

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

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Remove Ads | $1.99 | one-time |


### Lock Notes

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/lock-notes-private-journal/id1211884686)

Securely store private thoughts, passwords, and reminders with biometric authentication. Enjoy a simple, elegant interface with iCloud sync, customizable themes, and backup options. Your data remains private and encrypted.

**Highlights:** Biometric authentication (Face ID, Touch ID), Encrypted note storage, iCloud sync across devices, Customizable themes and dark mode, Backup and restore functionality, Ad-free minimalist interface

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

**In-app purchases (7)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Weekly | $4.99 | per 7 days |
| Weekly | $4.99 | per 7 days |
| Monthly | $7.99 | per month |
| Annual | $29.99 | per year |
| Annual | $29.99 | per year |
| Disable ads | $0.99 | one-time |
| Lifetime | $39.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Private Notes and Secret Diary free?

Private Notes and Secret Diary is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Lock Notes free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Private Notes and Secret Diary or Lock Notes?

Lock Notes is rated higher. Private Notes and Secret Diary averages 3.9 out of 5 from 8 ratings, while Lock Notes averages 4.4 from 138 ratings.

### Do Private Notes and Secret Diary or Lock Notes have ads?

Neither Private Notes and Secret Diary nor Lock Notes shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Private Notes and Secret Diary or Lock Notes?

Private Notes and Secret Diary ships an update every 10 months, and Lock Notes every 10 days. Most recently, Private Notes and Secret Diary was updated on October 16, 2026 and Lock Notes on October 14, 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.*