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Comparison · Journaling apps

Day One vs jrnl: which is better in 2026?

Day One91.0#1 in best journaling appsjrnl84.5#5 in best journaling apps

Day One ranks higher in our list of journaling apps (#1 against #5, score 91.0 against 84.5).

  • 91.0
    Editorial score
    84.5
  • 6
    Platforms
    1
  • Yes
    Free to use
    Yes
  • No
    Open source
    Yes

Which should you choose?

Choose Day One if you want

All-round journal with photos and memories.

A polished journal with photos, video, audio, drawings and an On This Day view, on iPhone, iPad, Android, Mac and Windows. The core app is free, and the Gold plan adds more, so it is the strongest all-round choice here.

Choose jrnl if you want

Plain-text journaling in the terminal.

An open-source command-line journal under GPL-3.0 that keeps plain text files and can encrypt them with AES. It has no mobile app or sync, which suits terminal users but rules it out for daily phone use.

The main differences

  • Only Day One runs on Windows.
  • Only Day One runs on macOS.
  • Only Day One runs on iOS.
  • Only Day One runs on Android.
  • Only Day One runs on Web.
  • jrnl is open source; Day One is not.

Side by side

Day Onejrnl
Score91.084.5
Rank in list#1 of 6#5 of 6
PriceFree plan, paid upgradesFree to use; Gold plan adds more featuresFree and open sourceFree and open source; installs from PyPI and Homebrew
Free to useYesYes
Open sourceNoYes
PlatformsiOS, iPadOSAndroidmacOSWindowsWebiOS, iPadOS, Android, macOS, Windows, WebCommand lineCommand line
Made byAutomatticjrnl contributors
App lock or encryptionNot highlightedAES encryption option
SyncCloud account with browser accessNone built in
ExportExport at any timePlain text files
Best forAll-round journal with photos and memoriesPlain-text journaling in the terminal
Strengths
  • Photos, video, audio and drawings in entries
  • On This Day view of past entries
  • Export and backups
  • Plain text files you can read and move
  • Optional AES encryption
  • Open source under GPL-3.0
Limits
  • Gold plan needed for the extra features
  • Browser access depends on an account
  • Command line only, with no graphical interface
  • No mobile app or sync described in its README
LinksVisit site Visit site

Questions about Day One vs jrnl

Is Day One better than jrnl?
Day One ranks higher in our list of journaling apps (#1 against #5, score 91.0 against 84.5). Day One is best for: all-round journal with photos and memories. jrnl is best for: plain-text journaling in the terminal.
Which is cheaper, Day One or jrnl?
Day One: Free to use; Gold plan adds more features. jrnl: Free and open source; installs from PyPI and Homebrew.
Do Day One and jrnl run on the same platforms?
Day One supports iOS, iPadOS, Android, macOS, Windows, Web. jrnl supports Command line.