Best Journal Apps for 2025: A Side-by-Side Comparison

Gone are the days of carrying around a paper notebook for your thoughts, and the trees are thanking us for this! These days, all our precious thoughts and moments live right in our phones.

Enter digital journal apps. These apps are transforming the way we capture our daily thoughts and memories.

Digital journals supercharge your daily reflections

The digital journaling world has exploded throughout 2024. These apps have features that go way beyond simple notetaking or journaling prompts.

Today's journal apps pack serious features such as:

• Cloud syncing that keeps entries safe and easy to access across all devices
• Rich media: photos, voice notes, location tags
• Smart organization that doesn't make your brain hurt
• Security that's actually secure (because nobody needs their private thoughts leaked)
• AI insights that are more cool than creepy
• Journal templates that don't feel like they are robot written

Why digital journaling transforms your daily practice

Digital journaling offers up some pretty neat features and capabilities. The best part? It creates a safe space for a personalized journaling experience. Plus, it offers peace of mind that your thoughts actually remain private. Photos, voice notes, and location tags create vivid memories. Smart features analyze your entries, providing meaningful insights about your thoughts and moods.

Plus, no more flipping through endless pages! You can write anywhere and capture thoughts when the moment strikes. Many of these are free journaling apps (albeit limited features).

How journal apps boost productivity and wellness

The best digital journal apps do more than store your thoughts. They support your personal growth by:

• Mood tracking through visual charts
• Explaining emotional patterns over time
• Providing an intuitive journaling experience
• Incorporating guided prompts
• Sparking deeper reflection as you go
• Easing writers anxiety
• Encouraging regular reflection
• Highlighting your progress over time

Without further ado, here are 13 of the best journal apps for your self-reflection goals in 2025!

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1.   Rosebud – Best overall journaling app

Rosebud is one journal app that stands out in the crowd. We’re an app that’s redefining digital journaling. We combine a sleek design with an intuitive AI experience. It’s like having a best friend or mentor right in your pocket. This app is a comprehensive platform for mental wellness and self-discovery. Best of all, it grows with you as you journal!

For those that are skeptical of AI, hear us out. We wanted to avoid making it feel like a robot was reading over your shoulder. Rosebud is like having a super insightful friend. It takes everything you write and tailors your journaling experience based on it.

Rosebud is the ultimate AI-powered journaling companion for personal growth. Take a look at some of our best features:

Winning features

• A sophisticated, distraction-free writing area
• AI-powered personal insights get to know you over time
• Prompts that grow with you (no repetitive questions!)
• Streamlined syncing across all devices
• Reminders to promote consistency in your writing
• Progress reports each week to track your journaling journey
• Super tight security to make sure your thoughts remain private
• Both iOS and Android compatible

Investment

• A complimentary seven-day trial
• Monthly membership fee: $12.99 • Annual access: $107.99 (that’s 30% off!)

We provide you with a risk-free trial for a whole week. Get started today!

2.   Penzu – Best for a seamless writing experience

Penzu creates a seamless writing environment for its users. With Penzu, you can personalize your journal with different themes, backgrounds, and fonts. You can even add images for more personalization and creative flair. There is a lock feature for your entries and more, such as encryption, search, prompts, and tagging.

Features we love

• Accessible on multiple devices
• Free and reliable cloud synchronization
• Space for multiple journal entries
• Smart reminders that won’t annoy you
• An offline mode that actually works!
• Lifetime pricing option

Where they could do better

• The free version is a bit limited
• Search function could use a little enhancement

What it'll cost you

• Basic version: Free for simple daily journaling
• $4.99 a month (Pro) / $9.99 a month (Pro+)
• $19.99 a year (Pro) / $49.99 a year (Pro+ split it with your friends)

3.   750 Words - Best for building regular writing habits

Most of us start our journal app research with simplicity in mind. 750 Words delivers on this front. Full transparency: it is not an app yet, but they are working on it. 750 Words is like having a gentle writing coach who guides you without pressure. It’s a simple yet dependable companion whose consistency and predictability bring comfort. Its concept is simple yet powerful: try to write 750 Words every single day.

What made us smile

• A writing interface that doesn't make your eyes shake
• Stats that actually tell you something about your writing style
• Monthly challenges that keep you coming back
• Streak tracking that becomes addictive
• Easy export options when you want to save your thoughts elsewhere
• Private journaling at its most pure

Reality checks

• Mobile app is still in the works (we're waiting!)
• Basic formatting only (but isn't that the point?)
• Limited customization options

Breaking down the dollars and cents

• Dip your toes in with a 30-day free trial
• Monthly commitment: $5

4.   GoodNotes - Best for handwritten entries

GoodNotes has changed everything about digital bullet journaling. Bullet journaling is also known as “bujo” in the journal space. It is a creative way to combine mindfulness, self-reflection, and planning in one. We could write an entire post on “bujo” alone!

Here's the thing about GoodNotes: it actually feels like writing in a real notebook, but better. The iPad and Apple Pencil combo with this app? Pure magic. In Goodnotes, you can use your Apple Pencil Pro to trigger their Palette. This makes your journaling experience that much more fun!

Things that made us happy dance

• Your handwriting becomes searchable text
• Everything syncs across your Apple devices (no lost entries!)
• Make as many notebooks as you want
• Paper styles for days
• Export options that don't mess up your formatting

Some things to consider

• iPad users get the best experience (sorry, everyone else)
• Takes time to learn all the cool features

Money talk

• Limited free plan
• Only $9.99 yearly subscription
• $29.99 one time price from the Apple store
• Updates? Included

5.   Daybook - Best for templated journaling

Ever stare at a blank page wondering where to start? Yeah, we've been there too. That's actually what made us fall hard for Daybook.

Listen, we've tested pretty much every templated journal app out there. Most of them feel... robotic? Too rigid? But Daybook gets it right. It's like having a friend who asks the right questions without being pushy about it.

It is elegance meets efficiency. With this app, you will never worry again about what to write about or how to express yourself.

The good stuff

• Templates that feel like natural conversation starters
• Voice-to-text option makes journaling a breeze
• Clean and beautiful writing space that lets you focus
• Tags that actually help you find stuff later
• Mood tracking that doesn't feel like homework
• Photo adding that's actually simple
• Syncing that works

Real talk about the not-so-great

• Free version feels a bit stingy with templates
• Some premium features could do more
• Search needs a bit of work (we're being honest here)

What's it’s going to cost you

• Free version: Yes, but limited templates
• Monthly: $3.49 for pro plan / $4.49 for premium (access to all the features)
• Yearly: $29.99 (best value if you're in it for the long haul)
• $94.49 for a one-time purchase

6.    Momento - Best for social media integration

Look, sometimes we don't realize how much journaling we're already doing. Through our social posts, check-ins, photos... it's all documenting our lives. Momento gets that. Think of Momento as your personal time capsule in a virtual journal app. It gathers all those digital breadcrumbs you're already dropping throughout your day.

The coolest part? It allows you to turn your social media activity into an organized digital diary. Without extra work from you.

Here's what works great

• Pulls from 15+ social networks (and counting)
• Auto organizes everything by date
• Adds location tags without you thinking about it
• Creates gorgeous photo layouts
• Lets you add private thoughts to public posts
• Works offline when you need it
• Super solid privacy controls

Being honest about the downsides

• Takes time to set up all your accounts
• Premium features cost more than some competitors
• Can feel overwhelming with too many connected services
• Currently not available for Android users

Breaking down the cost

• 30 day trial period of premium features
• Free version: Yes, but limited connections
• Premium: $2.99/month
• Yearly: $16.49 (definitely the better deal)

7.    Journey.cloud - Best for cloud storage fanatics

Cloud storage and syncing can make or break a journaling habit. After diving deep into Journey.cloud, we discovered something pretty special. It's like the Google Drive of journaling!

The thing about Journey is how it handles your entries. Everything lives in the cloud, but it never feels like you're writing into the void. Whether you're on your phone, laptop, or tablet, your journal feels like your journal.

The stuff that keeps us coming back

• Works on multiple platforms (even Windows)
• Apple Health integration for holistic wellness tracking
• Enhanced export options for your data
• Expanded template library for various journaling styles
• Rich text editor that doesn't get in your way
• Location tagging that works
• Password protection that feels secure
• Coach mode for guided journaling

The not-so-great

• Premium features stack up in cost
• Some advanced tools need streamlining
• Mobile app could be more intuitive

Let's talk pricing

• Free: limited features
• Only $4.17/month (billed yearly)
• Lifetime buy: $199.99

8.   Daylio - Best for mood tracking

Here's something different—a journaling app that doesn't actually make you write. Weird, right? But stick with us here. Daylio is sneaky good at getting you to document your life without feeling like work. It's journaling for people who think they hate journaling. The magic happens in how simple it makes everything. Two taps, and boom—you've logged your day, your mood, and what you were up to. No essay required.

The good stuff

• Super quick daily entries (we're talking seconds)
• Mood patterns that actually tell you something
• Custom activities that fit your life
• Stats that don't make your head hurt
• Backup system that never loses data
• Goals that feel achievable
• Pin lock for privacy

The downsides

• Limited traditional writing space
• Premium features cost more now
• Some charts need simplifying

What you'll spend

• Free: Pretty generous features
• 7 day free trial of premium features
• Premium Monthly: $4.99
• Premium Yearly: $35.99 (most popular)

9.   The Five Minute Journal App - Best for busy people

Got 5 minutes? You've got time to journal. Quick entries? Check. Photo memories? Yep. Daily inspiration? Built in. Done in minutes? Promise. Think of it as your morning coffee chat with yourself. It’s quick, energizing, and sets you up for the day. This is a great app for busy moms, worker bees, or people who dread long entries.

The good

• Fast in, fast out (morning and evening prompts)
• Photos when you want them
• Daily diary app for busy people
• Clean, clear interface
• Timeline view of past entries
• Dark mode for evening reflection

The reality

• One way to journal (their way)
• No free version is available
• Very simple (too simple?)
• Some features locked behind subscription

Current pricing options

• One-time buy: $299.99
• Monthly: $4.99 or $9.99 for premium features
• Annual: $39.99, $24.99, $19.99 (appears to be different tiers)

10.   Dabble.me - Best for journaling over email

Remember email? (Of course you do; you're checking it right now.) What if your inbox could be your journal? Daily prompts hit your inbox, and you hit reply to write. That's it. It's like having a pen pal who helps you journal. Except the pen pal is you, from yesterday.

What works

• Journal straight from your inbox
• Clean, zero-learning-curve setup
• Daily or weekly email prompts
• Rich text support in entries
• Easy search through past entries
• Export to PDF whenever you want

Private Instagram integration

Keep in mind

• No fancy app features
• Design won't win awards
• Limited formatting options

Simple subscription model

• Free: basic journaling prompts sent every other Sunday
• Pro: $3/month, that’s it! (Unlocks more features)

11.   Day One - Best for photo journaling and Mac and iOS users

Remember all those photo albums collecting dust somewhere? Day One is that, but better. It's a digital memory keeper that actually enhances your photos with context. It also has deep integration with Apple's ecosystem. This makes it a strong choice for Mac and iOS users.

It offers features that work particularly well on Apple devices, such as:

• iCloud sync
• Photo integration with iOS camera roll
• Calendar integration
• Location and weather data integration

What makes it special

• Auto-imports from your camera roll
• iOS widgets for quick entry and viewing
• Enhanced video diary capabilities
• Expanded audio recording features
• Rich media integration
• Location and weather data with each photo
• Rich text formatting around images
• Photo filters and editing tools
• Best calendar journal app for photo memories
• Automatic backup of everything

Not so special

• Premium features cost more now
• Photo management needs organizing
• Storage limits on basic plan
• Learning curve for advanced features

Simple and Affordable Pricing

• Free journaling app (limited photo features)
• Premium: $2.92/month (billed yearly)

12.   Grid Diary - Best for grid layouts

Grid Diary is like a spreadsheet, and a journal had a baby. (This is no joke.) Different topics have different boxes. It has built in daily prompts. Habit tracking is a natural fit. Plus, it has a super clean design. It's like having your life organized in boxes, but the good kind of boxes!

What we liked

• Structure that actually makes sense
• Customizable grid layouts
• Smart templates for different needs
• Habit tracking built right in
• Tags for easy organization
• iCloud sync for backup
• Export to PDF and print
• Weekly and monthly views

But wait

• Free version is pretty limited now
• Learning curve with grids
• Some features buried in menus
• Monthly cost adds up

Current pricing tiers

• Free: Basic grid features
• Monthly: $2.99 (3 day free trial)
• Yearly: $22.99 (14 day free trial)

13.   Diaro - Best cross-platform journal app

Do you miss old-school diaries? This one's for you, but better. It features simple writing, good organization and the perfect amount of modern touches. It's like your old diary grew up and got smart—but didn't get complicated. Best of all, Diaro is a super cross-platform app. This means it is accessible on many devices, including Amazon.

What's great

• Cross-platform capabilities
• Clean, simple interface
• Folders that make sense
• Export options galore
• Place memories on a map
• Super affordable lifetime access option

Truth time

• Design keeps it basic
• Updates come slow
• Features stay simple

Super Affordable pricing

• Free: Start with ads and limited features
• Pro: $9.99 yearly

Online journal apps make daily writing simple and effective

Paper journals? Sure, they are still cool. Digital journals? They are cool and smart! And nobody is saying you can only choose one way to journal. But if you want optimal security over your most private thoughts, pick an app for journaling. If you are looking for convenience, digital wins. If you love clean organization, well, you see where this is going.

That’s why we made Rosebud. We want to help you bring your journal to life. Get started today with a free 7-day trial. 

Disclaimer: It’s important you verify the current features and pricing of these apps. These change a lot in the digital world! Also, pricing may vary across devices.