Apple Journal

Name: Apple Journal
Author: Apple Journal

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What Apple Journal is

Apple Journal is a free app for writing about everyday moments and special events. Entries can bring together text, photos, videos, audio, places, drawings and a logged state of mind. On-device intelligence groups moments such as outings, workouts, photos and media to offer ideas for entries. Reflection prompts and scheduled notifications can help users make time to write. The app supports multiple journals, search and sorting, calendar browsing, and viewing entries by location. Writing features include text formatting, inline attachments, drawings and audio recording with transcription; Apple says transcription in English is unavailable for Singapore and India locales. Users can save a logged state of mind to Health and writing time as Mindful Minutes, and add content from apps such as News, Music and Safari. Journal is listed for iOS and macOS. Suggestions are processed on device, and users choose which suggested moments to share with journaling apps. With a device passcode, entries are encrypted; iCloud-stored entries are end-to-end encrypted when default two-factor authentication and a passcode are enabled. iCloud sync is available when enabled, but entries are not included in iCloud backups.

Who it suits

Journal suits people who want to keep varied personal entries and organize them by date, search or location. It may also suit users who want writing prompts, suggested moments and Health-related journaling options.

What it does well

Free app with a free plan.
Entries support text, photos, video, audio, places and drawings.
Search, sorting, calendars and location views are available.
Suggestions are processed on device.
Entries can be end-to-end encrypted in iCloud with the stated settings.

What to know first

Entries are not included in iCloud backups.
Audio transcription in English excludes Singapore and India locales.
iCloud sync requires enabling iCloud.

Limits

The free app has no paid plan listed. Audio transcription in English is unavailable in Singapore and India locales, some features are limited to select languages and regions, and entries are not included in iCloud backups.

Plans

Plan	Billed and limits	Price
Free	Free app · iPhone, iPad · certain features available only in select languages and regions	Free

As apple.com lists them, read 3 Oct 2026. The maker's own page has the final word.

Getting started

Open Apple’s Journal page.
Use Journal on an iPhone, iPad, or Mac.
Create an entry with text or add available media, places, drawings, or a state of mind.
Optionally set journaling notifications and use prompts or suggested moments.
Enable iCloud to sync entries across iPhone, iPad, and Mac.

Verdict

Journal combines varied entry formats, organization tools and on-device suggestions in a free app. Check the iCloud backup limitation and the transcription locale restriction if either matters to your journaling routine.

Questions

How much does Apple Journal cost?

It is free, with a listed plan price of $0.

Which platforms does Journal support?

The listed platforms are iOS and macOS. The product facts also describe syncing across iPhone, iPad, and Mac when iCloud is enabled.

Does Journal offer a free trial?

No. The listed free-trial status is no.

Are Journal entries encrypted?

A device passcode encrypts entries. Entries stored in iCloud are end-to-end encrypted when default two-factor authentication and a passcode are enabled.

Can Journal entries be backed up to iCloud?

Entries can sync through iCloud when enabled, but they are not included in iCloud backups.

Who makes Apple Journal?

The listed maker is Apple Journal, with headquarters in Cupertino, California, United States.

Facts from Apple Journal's own pages

App integrations: Users can add content from apps such as News, Music, and Safari to a journal entry. · apps.apple.com, 3 Oct 2026
Developer API: Apple provides a Journaling Suggestions API for third-party journaling apps to offer personalized suggestions. · apple.com, 3 Oct 2026
End-to-end encryption: Yes · apple.com, 20 Sept 2026
Entry security: With a device passcode, Journal entries are encrypted, and with default two-factor authentication and a passcode, entries stored in iCloud are end-to-end encrypted. · apple.com, 3 Oct 2026
Export formats: multiple · apple.com, 20 Sept 2026
Founded: 1977 · apple.com, 28 Sept 2026
Free plan: Yes · apple.com, 20 Sept 2026
Headquarters: Cupertino, California, United States · apple.com, 28 Sept 2026
Maker: The Journal app’s developer is Apple. · apps.apple.com, 3 Oct 2026
Organization and search: Users can create multiple journals, search and sort entries, browse a calendar, and view entries by location in Places. · apps.apple.com, 3 Oct 2026
Personalized suggestions: On-device intelligence groups moments such as outings, photos, workouts, and media to suggest entry ideas. · apps.apple.com, 3 Oct 2026
Platforms: Apple’s App Store listing names iPhone and iPad, and Apple Support documents Journal for Mac; entries can sync among these devices with iCloud. · apps.apple.com, 3 Oct 2026
Privacy controls: Suggestions are processed on device, and users choose which suggested moments to share with journaling apps. · apple.com, 3 Oct 2026
Prompts and reminders: The app offers reflection prompts and lets users schedule journaling notifications. · apps.apple.com, 3 Oct 2026
Purpose: Journal helps people reflect on everyday moments and special events through journaling. · apple.com, 3 Oct 2026
Rich entries: Entries can include text, photos, videos, audio recordings, places, drawings, and a logged state of mind. · apps.apple.com, 3 Oct 2026
Sync and backup limit: Entries sync across iPhone, iPad, and Mac through iCloud when enabled, but Apple says Journal entries are not included in iCloud backups. · support.apple.com, 3 Oct 2026
Wellbeing integration: Users can log their state of mind in Journal and save it to Health, and writing time can be saved as Mindful Minutes. · apps.apple.com, 3 Oct 2026
Writing tools: The app supports text formatting, inline attachments, drawings, and audio recording with transcription; Apple says audio transcription is available in English except Singapore and India locales. · support.apple.com, 3 Oct 2026