With the right journal app, you can make a journal or diary entry truly yours by adding images, tagging locations, setting reminders to write, password protecting folders, and so much more.
Here are the best journal and diary apps you can use both online and offline, either from a web browser or on a mobile device.
Most Intuitive Interface and Best Looking Layout: Journey
Whether you’re keeping a dream journal, a gratitude journal, a work journal, or any other type of journal, Journey is simply one of the best apps out there. Its crisp, clean layout is a pleasure to use for crafting your journal entries so they suit your personal journaling style.
The ability to attach multiple images and videos to journal entries.
You can protect your journal with Touch ID, Face ID, or PIN-protected journals.
Automatic backups in Google Drive.
You’ll have to upgrade to a recurring $3.99 monthly or $29.99 annual fee if you want access to more features.
You’ll have to pay a separate fee for each different platform version if you plan to use the app on different platforms.
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The Most Secure Journal App to Protect Your Information: Penzu
Many journal apps offer security and privacy features, but Penzu is one that excels at it. This great journal app keeps your entries 100% safe with double password protection and military-grade 256-bit AES encryption.
An incredibly secure journal for ultimate protection and privacy.
Fully customizable journal features for personalized journal covers, backgrounds, and font faces.
You can easily insert images between text in entries.
You’ll have to upgrade to a $4.99 a month plan or a $19.99 a year plan if you want access to its full offering of customization features.
Some users report issues with saving entries and the app crashing.
Last updated in 2017.
Simple and Beautiful Design With All the Right Features: Day One
Similar to Journey, Day One features an interface that’s clean, minimal and very pleasing to the eye. Despite its simple look, it packs all the features you’d want in a powerful journal app–including search, tags, maps, photos, and so much more.
You can create multiple journals if you upgrade to a premium account for $2.99 a month or $24.99 a year.
There’s a nifty dark mode for writing in lower light.
You can take advantage of IFTTT integration for creating automatic journal entries.
It’s available for Android. Previously, it was only available for iOS devices.
It’s inaccessible from a web browser.
There’s a Mac app, but no options for PC users.
Great Diary App for Quick, Short Journal or Diary Entries: Diary
If you’re looking for an app that makes it as quick, easy, and effortless as possible to start and keep a diary or journal, Diary has you covered. It’s a simple, yet powerful journal app that combines an easy-to-use interface with more advanced features like password protection, cloud storage, reminders, and more.
Fully customizable background colors, text, and fonts.
The ability to share diary/journal entries with friends via email, Facebook, Twitter, and other platforms.
You can insert popular emojis directly into your entries.
Only available on Android and via the web. No iOS app.
Occasional pop-up ads with no premium version to upgrade to if you want to get rid of them.
Capture Your Exeriences Without Having to Write Anything: Daylio
Not so much into writing, but want to find a super quick and easy way to record the things you experience in a day? Daylio is a micro-diary app that lets you simply pick your mood state and activities so you can spend more time doing things and less time writing.
Ideal for people who want to journal without having to write anything.
A smart interface and beautiful icons.
If you do want to write more, you can always add notes to your entries.
No traditional diary/journal writing options for wordier entries.
Use Grid-Style Templates to Encourage Yourself to Write: Grid Diary
Grid Diary puts a unique spin on journaling by displaying a series of different questions in a grid-style layout, essentially making it easier for you to keep a diary or journal. It has a built-in library of suggested prompts so you never get stuck with writer’s block.
Inspirational questions and prompts to help give you ideas for what to journal about.
The freedom to pick what you want to write about and personalize journal entries with images, etc.
Only available on iOS. No access via the web or from an Android device.
Features like password protection and cloud storage syncing are only available to Pro users for either a $1.99 monthly subscription or a $4.99 one-time purchase.
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