Shoo! vs Cisdem AppCrypt: a Touch ID lock vs. a password-only privacy suite
AppCrypt is the most feature-loaded app locker on the Mac — it also blocks websites, keeps a schedule, and photographs failed unlock attempts — for $39.99 with no Touch ID at all. Shoo! does one job, app locking, with Touch ID and a process that's actually terminated, for less than half the price. Here's how they actually compare.
| Shoo! | AppCrypt | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $17.99 once | $39.99 once |
| Touch ID | Yes, plus Apple Watch | No — password only |
| Scope | App locking only, taken further | App locking + website blocking + schedules + intruder photo |
| Locking mechanism | Terminates the app's process | Not publicly disclosed |
| Password recovery | Built-in backup password, PBKDF2-hashed | Email support with proof of purchase |
| Apple Silicon | Native since launch | Full support only from mid-2026 |
What each one actually is
AppCrypt is a privacy suite built around app locking, but it doesn't stop there: it blocks websites by URL, keyword, or category across every browser (including incognito windows), can run on a schedule, supports an allowlist mode, and by default also locks System Settings, Terminal, and Activity Monitor themselves so a technical user can't just work around the block. It's the most feature-complete option on this market — at $39.99, more than double Shoo!'s price.
Shoo! stays narrow on purpose: it locks apps, full stop, using Touch ID (or Apple Watch) rather than a password, and goes deeper on that one job — killing the app's actual process rather than laying a screen over it, and refusing to let deleting Shoo! itself remove the lock.
No Touch ID, even in 2026
AppCrypt still unlocks with a password only. There's no Touch ID or Apple Watch option at all — on a Mac where nearly everything else in macOS uses your fingerprint, typing a password to check WhatsApp is the one thing that breaks the flow. Shoo! unlocks with Touch ID or Apple Watch, with a password only as a documented backup, hashed with PBKDF2 and a salt rather than stored in the clear.
Reliability, according to AppCrypt's own users
AppCrypt's official reviews page shows 4.9 stars with no negative reviews visible — independent MacUpdate puts it closer to 4.1. One recurring complaint worth knowing about before you buy: protection seems to depend on AppCrypt itself having been opened since the Mac last started. A user review put it plainly.
"It's not reliable. If you don't open the app when you open your laptop, everything you have blocked will be available." — AppCrypt user review
Shoo!'s app-locking layer runs as a background service designed to stay running and re-arm itself after a restart, without requiring you to manually open Shoo! first. Password recovery differs too: lose your AppCrypt password and you're emailing support with proof of purchase; Shoo!'s backup password is yours to set and store yourself.
Who AppCrypt is better for
If website blocking, schedules, and an intruder photo matter as much to you as app locking — and you're fine typing a password instead of using Touch ID — AppCrypt covers more ground in one purchase, and it's had years to mature as a product.
Who Shoo! is better for
If app locking is the actual job and Touch ID matters, Shoo! is built entirely around getting that one thing right: the process is dead, not hidden, until Touch ID says otherwise; the app can't be quit or deleted to bypass the lock; and it costs less than half of AppCrypt, with a backup password you control instead of a support ticket.
Try Shoo! yourself — free for 7 days, full functionality, no credit card.
Frequently asked questions
Does Cisdem AppCrypt support Touch ID?
No. As of 2026, AppCrypt unlocks with a password only — no Touch ID, no Apple Watch. Shoo! unlocks with Touch ID (or Apple Watch), with a separate PBKDF2-hashed password only as a backup.
Is AppCrypt more expensive than Shoo!?
Yes. AppCrypt is $39.99 one time. Shoo! is $17.99 one time — under half the price — though AppCrypt bundles website blocking that Shoo! doesn't attempt.
What does AppCrypt do that Shoo! doesn't?
AppCrypt also blocks websites by URL, keyword, or category across every browser including incognito mode, supports schedules and an allowlist mode, and can photograph anyone who fails an unlock attempt. Shoo! only locks apps, and goes deeper on that single job instead.
Does AppCrypt keep working if the app itself isn't open?
According to user reports, AppCrypt's protection can lapse if its own app hasn't been opened since the Mac last started up — a review states that anything you've blocked becomes available again until you launch AppCrypt yourself. Shoo!'s locks are enforced by a background service that's designed to keep running and re-arm itself after a restart, without you needing to open Shoo! first.