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 Penzu if you want
Browser diary with unlimited free entries.
A browser-first diary with unlimited entries on the free plan and iOS and Android apps. Pro costs $19.99 a year and Pro+ $49.99 a year, adding PDF export, writing prompts and version history.
The main differences
- Only Day One runs on Windows.
- Only Day One runs on macOS.
Side by side
 Day One |  Penzu | |
|---|---|---|
| Score | 91.0 | 85.0 |
| Rank in list | #1 of 6 | #4 of 6 |
| Price | Free plan, paid upgradesFree to use; Gold plan adds more features | Free plan, paid upgradesFree plan; Pro $19.99 a year and Pro+ $49.99 a year |
| Free to use | Yes | Yes |
| Open source | No | No |
| Platforms | iOS, iPadOSAndroidmacOSWindowsWebiOS, iPadOS, Android, macOS, Windows, Web | WebiOSAndroidWeb, iOS, Android |
| Made by | Automattic | Penzu Inc. |
| App lock or encryption | Not highlighted | Entry locking and encryption |
| Sync | Cloud account with browser access | Account across web and apps |
| Export | Export at any time | PDF export on Pro |
| Best for | All-round journal with photos and memories | Browser diary with unlimited free entries |
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| Links | Visit site | Visit site |
Questions about Day One vs Penzu
- Is Day One better than Penzu?
- Day One ranks higher in our list of journaling apps (#1 against #4, score 91.0 against 85.0). Day One is best for: all-round journal with photos and memories. Penzu is best for: browser diary with unlimited free entries.
- Which is cheaper, Day One or Penzu?
- Day One: Free to use; Gold plan adds more features. Penzu: Free plan; Pro $19.99 a year and Pro+ $49.99 a year.
- Do Day One and Penzu run on the same platforms?
- Day One supports iOS, iPadOS, Android, macOS, Windows, Web. Penzu supports Web, iOS, Android.