Best Journal Apps in 2026
Updated
In short: Day One is ranked #1 of 34 as of 2 October 2026, ahead of Journey and Diarium. The best-ranked option with a free plan is Journey. The lowest first paid tier on this page is Journey at $0.35/mo.
A journaling app needs to fit both the way you write and where you want your entries to live. Compare Day One, Journey and Diarium on end-to-end encryption, privacy lock, and offline access, then check search and filters for finding older entries. Export formats and media attachments can matter when you want to keep more than text or move your work elsewhere. The ranking starts with Day One, Journey and Diarium, followed by Penzu and Apple Journal. Platform coverage, free-plan availability and paid starting prices round out the comparison, so you can weigh everyday convenience against privacy and portability.
34 journal apps ranked on what their makers publish — plans and prices, free tiers, platforms and the facts on their own pages.
| # | Platform | Score | Why | From | Free plan | Paid from | Media attachments | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Day One | 7.5 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | $4.17/mo | — | — | — | View |
| 2 | Journey | 7.5 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | $0.35/mo | Yes | 4.17 /mo | Yes | View |
| 3 | Diarium | 7.3 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | Free | Yes | — | Yes | View |
| 4 |  Penzu | 7.2 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | — | Yes | — | Yes | View |
| 5 | Apple Journal | 7.1 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | Free | Yes | — | Yes | View |
| 6 | Diarly | 6.9 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | — | Yes | — | Yes | View |
| 7 | Lugelo | 6.9 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | — | Yes | — | Yes | View |
| 8 | Daylio | 6.9 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | — | Yes | — | — | View |
| 9 | Stoic | 6.9 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | Free | Yes | — | Yes | View |
| 10 | Daybook | 6.9 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | $3.33/mo | Yes | 3.49 /mo | Yes | View |
| 11 |  Grid Diary | 6.7 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | — | Yes | — | Yes | View |
| 12 | Diaro | 6.6 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | Free | Yes | — | Yes | View |
| 13 |  Penso Notes | 6.5 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | Free | Yes | — | Yes | View |
| 14 |  Everlog | 6.4 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | — | Yes | — | Yes | View |
| 15 |  Momento | 6.4 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | Free | Yes | — | Yes | View |
| 16 |  RedNotebook | 6.3 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | — | Yes | — | Yes | View |
| 17 |  jrnl | 6.3 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | — | Yes | — | — | View |
| 18 |  Local Journal | 6.3 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | Free | Yes | — | Yes | View |
| 19 | Dabble Me | 6.1 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | — | Yes | 4 /mo | Yes | View |
| 20 | Clearful | 6.1 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | — | Yes | 9.99 /mo | Yes | View |
| 21 |  Rosebud | 6.1 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | $9/mo | Yes | 12.99 /mo | Yes | View |
| 22 | Cozy | 6.0 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | — | No | — | Yes | View |
| 23 |  Avidemux | 6.0 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | Free | Yes | — | — | View |
| 24 | Family Journal | 5.8 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | — | Yes | — | Yes | View |
| 25 |  Goodnight Journal | 5.7 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | — | Yes | 5.99 /mo | — | View |
Is your platform on this list?
Numbered spots on this list can be sponsored. They are labelled, and the editorial order and scores never change for payment.
Questions about this list
Which journal app is ranked first on Inferse?
Day One is ranked #1 of 34 with a score of 7.5. Journey is second and Diarium third.
How many of these have a free plan?
13 of the 25 on this page publish a free plan on their own pricing pages.
Which is the cheapest paid option?
On this page, Journey has the lowest first paid tier we found: $0.35/mo.
How is this list ranked?
Ranked on what each maker publishes, open and connectable first: a public API, open-source code, the depth of its documentation and a free tier to try it on. Model lists are sorted by the figure in their title, exactly as each provider publishes it. Paid placements never change a rank.