Every Shoo! comparison and guide, in one place
How Shoo! stacks up against the other Mac app lockers, and how to lock specific apps macOS still doesn't let you lock on its own.
Comparisons
Shoo! vs AppLocker
AppLocker rates 2.6★ on MacUpdate despite 4.1★ on the App Store — see the documented bypasses.
Shoo! vs MakLock
Free and open source, but unmaintained since April 2026, with a documented broken “lock on switch” feature.
Shoo! vs Cloak
An all-in-one privacy suite vs. a focused app lock that ends the app's process instead of hiding it.
Shoo! vs Lockish
Window overlay vs. process kill — and whether your Mac's own password should ever unlock your apps.
Shoo! vs AppLockr
Cheaper and feature-richer, at the cost of camera and network permissions Shoo! never asks for.
Shoo! vs FaceGate
Free and open source vs. paid and commercial — a real trade-off, not a marketing line.
Shoo! vs Cisdem AppCrypt
The most feature-loaded app locker vs. Touch ID and a process that's actually terminated.
How to lock Safari on a Mac
Why Private Browsing lock isn't a browser lock, and what actually is.
How to lock Chrome on a Mac
Why profiles and Guest mode don't lock Chrome, and what does.
How to lock Discord on a Mac
Why Streamer Mode isn't a lock, and what keeps Discord closed.
How to lock Signal on a Mac
Why encryption doesn't help once the desktop app is open, and what does.
Best app lockers for Mac (2026)
Seven Mac app lockers compared: price, how each locks, Touch ID support, and MakLock alternatives.
How to lock Firefox on a Mac
Why Firefox’s Primary Password only guards saved logins, and what keeps the whole browser closed.
How to lock Obsidian on a Mac
Why Obsidian opens straight into your vault, and what keeps the app closed until Touch ID.
How to lock Outlook on a Mac
Why Outlook opens straight into your inbox on a Mac, and what keeps it closed until Touch ID.
How to lock Viber on a Mac
Why Viber’s desktop app opens straight into your chats, and what keeps it closed until Touch ID.
How to lock the Passwords App on a Mac
Why the Passwords app can still be opened with your Mac password, and what keeps it closed until Touch ID.
How to lock Notion on a Mac
Why Notion stays signed in on your Mac, and what keeps the app closed until Touch ID.
Guides
How to lock an app on a Mac
Why second accounts, FileVault, and Screen Time don't solve it, and what actually works.
How to lock iMessage on a Mac
Why Screen Time and a second account don't work, and the one real caveat with notification previews.
How to lock the Mail app on a Mac
Mail has no built-in lock, and it's often the app that resets every other account's password.
How to lock the Notes app on a Mac
What actually keeps Notes private on a shared or borrowed Mac.
How to lock WhatsApp on a Mac
Beyond WhatsApp's own chat lock — what protects it when someone else has your Mac.
How to lock Telegram on a Mac
Beyond Telegram's own Passcode Lock — what protects it when someone else has your Mac.
How to lock the Photos app on a Mac
Why the Hidden album isn't actually hidden, and what fully locks the Photos app.
How to lock Quicken on a Mac
Why Quicken's own data-file password only checks once, and what actually protects it.
How to lock 1Password on a Mac
Why the auto-lock timer leaves a window open, and what closes it instantly.
How to lock Bitwarden on a Mac
Why the vault timeout isn't the same as a lock, and what closes the gap.
How to lock Slack on a Mac
Why quitting before a screen share isn't reliable, and what actually locks it.
Try Shoo! free for 7 days — full functionality, no credit card, $17.99 once if you keep it.