Cloak 2.0 is liveBest Mac App Locker and Privacy App (2026)
macOS trusts whoever is logged in. There is no built-in way to put Touch ID in front of a single app, hide an app from view, or keep a folder encrypted while you use it. A handful of third-party tools try to fill those gaps. Here is how they compare in 2026, and where each one stops.
1. Cloak: best all-in-one (lock + hide + encrypt)
Cloak is the only option here that does all three core privacy jobs in one app: it locks apps behind Touch ID or a password, hides apps completely so they vanish from view, and encrypts folders with AES-256 in place. Everything runs on your Mac, with no account, no cloud sync, and nothing uploaded. It is a one-time purchase with free updates, notarized by Apple, and runs natively on Apple Silicon.
Best for: anyone who wants their apps and files genuinely private, in one tool, paid for once. Skip if: your only goal is blocking websites (Cloak does not do web blocking).
Updated October 2026: Cloak 2.0 adds a fake crash, lock schedules, a shortcut that locks the app in front, Lock with Cloak in Finder and seven skins. Since September, Cloak also locks single files as well as folders, takes an intruder photo when someone gets the unlock wrong, and lets you turn off the Mac password fallback so only your fingerprint or Cloak password gets in.
2. Cisdem AppCrypt
AppCrypt locks apps and blocks websites. It has no Touch ID, it does not encrypt or hide your files, and it is sold as a subscription or a higher one-time license. Full comparison.
3. Espionage
Espionage encrypts folders. It is encryption only, with no app locking or hiding, and the workflow is technical. Full comparison.
4. Concealer
Concealer is an encrypted vault. Your data lives in its interface rather than in the apps you use, and it does not lock or hide apps. One-time purchase. Full comparison.
Other app lockers: Lockish and Lock Pro
Lockish ($9.99) accepts your Mac password, so anyone who knows it gets in. Lock Pro ($5.99) locks apps only. Neither touches folders or files, and neither encrypts anything. See Cloak vs Lockish and every Mac app locker compared for all eleven points on each.
What about built-in macOS tools?
Turn on FileVault regardless, it encrypts your whole disk at rest. But it, Disk Utility encrypted images, and Screen Time each cover only one slice, and none locks or hides a specific app behind Touch ID. See Cloak vs built-in macOS for the full breakdown.
Quick comparison
 Cloak |  AppCrypt |  Espionage |  Concealer | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price | $9.99 once | $19.99/yr | $29.99 once | $19.99 once |
| Locks apps | Yes | Yes | No | No |
| Hides apps | Yes | No | No | Vault |
| Encrypts folders | Yes | No | Yes | Vault |
| Touch ID | Yes | No | Not stated | Not stated |
| Intruder photo | Yes | Yes | No | No |
| Lock schedule | Yes | Yes | No | No |
| Fake crash | Yes | Not stated | No | No |
| Blocks websites | No | Yes | No | No |
Bottom line
If you want one tool that locks, hides, and encrypts, all on your own Mac and paid for once, Cloak is the most complete option in 2026. Each of the others does one of those jobs.
Questions people ask
What is the difference between locking and hiding an app?
A locked app stays in the Dock and Applications folder but will not open without Touch ID or your password. A hidden app is moved into an encrypted image, so it is gone from the Dock, Launchpad, Spotlight and the Applications folder until you unhide it.
Can someone who knows my Mac password open my locked apps?
Only if you let them. Your Mac password works as a fallback by default. Turn it off in Cloak's Settings, set a Cloak password, and from then on only your fingerprint or that password opens anything.
Can Cloak hide apps from the Mac App Store?
Yes. App Store apps belong to macOS, so the first time you hide one, Cloak asks you to allow it once in System Settings. After that it works like any other app.
How much is Cloak and how many Macs does it cover?
Cloak is a one-time purchase: $9.99 for one Mac, $14.99 for two and $24.99 for five, at launch pricing. Updates are free, with no subscription.
Can I get a refund?
Yes. If Cloak is not right for you, you can ask for a full refund within 14 days of buying it.
Lock anything on your Mac
Cloak locks apps behind Touch ID, hides them completely, and encrypts folders with AES-256. Everything stays on your Mac. No account, one-time purchase.
Get Cloak