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jrnl

Command-line journal with plain text files and optional AES encryption

84.5
Score in best journaling apps
Visit jrnl.sh Alternatives

Ranked 5 of 6 in best journaling apps

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.

Best for Plain-text journaling in the terminal

About jrnl

jrnl takes a single command to add an entry, such as jrnl followed by a date phrase and the text, and it searches and displays past entries. Journals are kept as human-readable plain text, and they can be encrypted with AES. The tool has no graphical interface.

The project is licensed under GPL-3.0, and its code is public on GitHub. It suits people who already work in a terminal and want the journal in a text file they control. Compared with Day One or Journey, jrnl has no phone apps, and its README describes no sync service.

Key features

  • Plain text journals
  • AES encryption
  • Terminal entry
  • Search from the command line
  • GPL-3.0 license

Strengths

  • Plain text files you can read and move
  • Optional AES encryption
  • Open source under GPL-3.0

Limits

  • Command line only, with no graphical interface
  • No mobile app or sync described in its README

Where jrnl ranks

Alternatives to jrnl

All 5 alternatives

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Questions about jrnl

Is jrnl free?
jrnl can be used without paying: Free and open source; installs from PyPI and Homebrew. Check the vendor’s pricing page for current limits.
Is jrnl open source?
Yes. jrnl publishes its source code under the GPL-3.0 license.
Which platforms does jrnl support?
jrnl is available on: Command line.
What is jrnl best for?
Plain-text journaling in the terminal. In our ranking of journaling apps it is number 5 of 6 with a score of 84.5.
What are the best alternatives to jrnl?
The highest-ranked alternatives on listme.name are Day One, Diarium, Journey, Penzu.

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If you make or maintain jrnl, this badge links back to this page and shows its current rank. It updates when the ranking does.

Ranked #5 of 6 journaling apps on listme.name
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