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How to choose a journaling app: privacy, devices and writing
Compare journaling apps by privacy, app lock, sync, platforms and export, and see when a plain-text terminal journal suits you better than a phone diary.
A journaling app decides where your entries are stored, who can open them and which devices you can write on. The journaling apps ranking weighs the writing experience and privacy first, then sync and platform reach, and it includes one open-source command-line option for people who want plain text. Settle the storage and privacy questions first, because they are harder to change once years of entries sit in one app.
Start with privacy and sync
Privacy in journal apps comes down to two checks: whether the app needs an account, and where sync goes. Diarium works without an account to start, and its optional sync uses storage you choose, such as OneDrive, Google Drive, Dropbox, iCloud or WebDAV. jrnl keeps entries as plain text files on your machine and has no sync built in. Day One and Journey use accounts.
Check the lock options too. Diarium can protect entries with a password, PIN or biometrics such as Face ID and Windows Hello. Journey offers a passcode, Touch ID, Face ID or an Android biometric lock. The ranking does not describe lock settings for every app, so confirm them for the apps you are considering.
Match the app to your devices
Day One runs on iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, Android, Mac and Windows, and its journal can be opened from any browser. Journey covers mobile, desktop and the web. Penzu is a browser-first diary with iOS and Android apps. Diarium covers Windows, Android, iPhone, iPad and Mac.
jrnl is a terminal tool with no graphical interface and no phone app. That suits someone who already works in a terminal, and it rules out writing on a phone. If you move between a phone and a laptop, a multiplatform app will fit your habits better.
The ranking also includes Diaro (82.5), a diary app that is free to download, with an online version for browsers and search by keyword, date, tags and location. Its sync depends on Dropbox, and its Google Play version shows ads and in-app purchases.
Compare how you like to write
The writing features are where the apps differ most. Day One adds photos, video, audio and drawings to entries, and its On This Day view resurfaces past entries. Journey has a map view of entries, templates and eBook printing. Diarium supports rich text, photos, videos, audio, locations and tags, and it can dictate entries hands-free.
Penzu's free plan allows unlimited entries, with basic covers and fonts. Pro is listed at $19.99 a year and Pro+ at $49.99 a year, and the paid tiers add writing prompts and PDF export. jrnl suits short plain-text entries typed at the command line. Pick the style you will keep up with, not the longest feature list.
Compare the price models
Pricing models differ. Day One is free to use, with a paid Gold plan for more features. Diarium's Pro is a one-time purchase per platform with no subscription, and the paid Windows app already includes Pro. Diarium's Pro also adds unlimited attachments, Word export, widgets and cloud sync. Cloud sync needs Pro on mobile and Mac, so budget for each device. Journey's premium features are in-app purchases on both mobile stores. jrnl is free and open source under GPL-3.0.
Check export before you commit
Export is the test of portability. Diarium exports entries as HTML or JSON. Day One says you can export at any time and describes its backups. Journey can print entries as eBooks. jrnl's entries are plain text files that you can read and move yourself, which is the most direct form of export in this list. Its code is public under GPL-3.0, and the tool installs from PyPI and Homebrew, so you can check how it works before you rely on it.
Next steps
Decide on privacy and devices first, then compare the writing features and the price model. The journaling apps ranking lists the entries in order, with the criteria behind them. In that order, Day One comes first, Diarium second and Journey third, and each verdict explains where that app fits. Read each app's privacy policy and sync terms before you move years of entries into it. For the wider privacy picture, see privacy-focused apps, and for notes that are not diary entries, see the note-taking app guide.
Compare head to head
Mentioned in this article
Day OneJournal app with photos, On This Day and browser access- DiariumPrivate diary app with optional sync to your own cloud storage
JourneyDiary app with map-based entries, templates and eBook printing
jrnlCommand-line journal with plain text files and optional AES encryption
PenzuOnline diary with a free plan and iOS and Android apps
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