Best Journal Apps in 2026
Updated
In short: Journey is ranked #1 of 34 as of 5 October 2026, ahead of Rosebud and Stoic. The best-ranked option with a free plan is Rosebud. The lowest first paid tier on this page is Daybook at $3.33/mo.
A journaling app can shape how easily you capture thoughts and return to them later. Compare offline access, search and filters, and media attachments for your writing habits, then weigh end-to-end encryption and a privacy lock for protecting entries. Export formats and platform coverage matter if you want flexibility in where you write or how you keep your work. Free-plan availability and paid-from pricing add practical considerations. Journey, Rosebud and Stoic are among the apps to explore, alongside Day One and Daybook. The listed features can help you decide which balance of access, privacy and portability fits your routine.
34 journal apps ranked on what their makers publish — plans and prices, free tiers, platforms and the facts on their own pages.
17 of the 25 here have a free tier you can use, 0 have open-source code on record, and 0 have full bars: free, open, on most of your devices and documented.
| # | App | Signal | Free tier | Open code | Devices | From | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | JourneyWeb · Windows · Mac · Linux · Android · iPhone | Three bars | — | 6 of 6 | $4.17/mo | 6.8 | |
| 2 | RosebudWeb · Windows · Mac · Android · iPhone | Three bars | — | 5 of 6 | $9/mo | 6.7 | |
| 3 | StoicWeb · Mac · Android · iPhone | Three bars | — | 4 of 6 | Free | 6.7 | |
| 4 | ClearfulWeb · Mac · Android · iPhone | Three bars | — | 4 of 6 | $5/mo | 6.6 | |
| 5 | Day OneWindows · Mac · Android · iPhone · Extension | Three bars | — | 4 of 6 | $4.17/mo | 6.6 | |
| 6 | DaybookWeb · Android · iPhone | Three bars | — | 3 of 6 | $3.33/mo | 6.6 | |
| 7 | DiariumWindows · Mac · Android · iPhone | Three bars | — | 4 of 6 | Free | 6.6 | |
| 8 | PenzuWeb · Android · iPhone | Three bars | — | 3 of 6 | Free | 6.6 | |
| 9 | Apple JournalMac · iPhone | Two bars | — | 2 of 6 | Free | 6.5 | |
| 10 | DiarlyMac · Android · iPhone | Three bars | — | 3 of 6 | Free | 6.5 | |
| 11 | jrnlWindows · Mac · Linux | Three bars | — | 3 of 6 | Free | 6.5 | |
| 12 | Local JournalAndroid · iPhone | Two bars | — | 2 of 6 | Free | 6.5 | |
| 13 | Penso NotesAndroid · iPhone | Two bars | — | 2 of 6 | Free | 6.5 | |
| 14 | DiaroWeb · Android · iPhone | Three bars | — | 3 of 6 | Free | 6.4 | |
| 15 | MomentoiPhone | Two bars | — | 1 of 6 | Free | 6.3 | |
| 16 | ReflectlyAndroid · iPhone | Two bars | — | 2 of 6 | Free | 6.3 | |
| 17 | Grid DiaryMac · Android · iPhone | Two bars | — | — | 3 of 6 | — | 5.5 |
| 18 | DaylioAndroid · iPhone | One bar | — | — | 2 of 6 | — | 5.4 |
| 19 | Family JournalWeb · Mac · Android · iPhone | One bar | — | — | 4 of 6 | — | 5.4 |
| 20 | LugeloWeb · Linux · Android · iPhone · Extension | Three bars | — | 4 of 6 | Free | 5.4 | |
| 21 | DairooWeb · Android · iPhone | One bar | — | — | 3 of 6 | — | 5.3 |
| 22 | EverlogMac · iPhone | No signal | — | — | 2 of 6 | — | 5.3 |
| 23 | Goodnight JournalWeb · Android · iPhone | One bar | — | — | 3 of 6 | — | 5.3 |
| 24 | Journal - From MeiPhone | One bar | — | — | 1 of 6 | — | 5.3 |
| 25 | RedNotebookWindows · Linux | No signal | — | — | 2 of 6 | — | 5.3 |
Compare all 25 in a table
| # | App | Score | Free plan | From | Free plan | Paid from | Media attachments | Offline access |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Journey | 6.8 | Free plan | $4.17/mo | Yes | 4.17 /mo | Yes | Yes |
| 2 | Rosebud | 6.7 | Free plan | $9/mo | Yes | 12.99 /mo | Yes | — |
| 3 | Stoic | 6.7 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | Yes | — |
| 4 | Clearful | 6.6 | Free plan | $5/mo | Yes | 9.99 /mo | Yes | — |
| 5 | Day One | 6.6 | Free plan | $4.17/mo | Yes | — | Yes | Yes |
| 6 | Daybook | 6.6 | Free plan | $3.33/mo | Yes | 3.49 /mo | Yes | — |
| 7 | Diarium | 6.6 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | Yes | Yes |
| 8 | Penzu | 6.6 | Free plan | — | Yes | — | Yes | Yes |
| 9 | Apple Journal | 6.5 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | Yes | — |
| 10 | Diarly | 6.5 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | Yes | Yes |
| 11 | jrnl | 6.5 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | — | Yes |
| 12 | Local Journal | 6.5 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | Yes | Yes |
| 13 | Penso Notes | 6.5 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | Yes | Yes |
| 14 | Diaro | 6.4 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | Yes | — |
| 15 | Momento | 6.3 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | Yes | — |
| 16 | Reflectly | 6.3 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | — | — |
| 17 | Grid Diary | 5.5 | No | — | Yes | — | Yes | — |
| 18 | Daylio | 5.4 | No | — | Yes | — | — | — |
| 19 | Family Journal | 5.4 | No | — | Yes | — | Yes | — |
| 20 | Lugelo | 5.4 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | Yes | Yes |
| 21 | Dairoo | 5.3 | No | — | Yes | — | Yes | — |
| 22 | Everlog | 5.3 | No | — | Yes | — | Yes | — |
| 23 | Goodnight Journal | 5.3 | No | — | Yes | 5.99 /mo | — | — |
| 24 | Journal - From Me | 5.3 | No | — | Yes | — | — | — |
| 25 | RedNotebook | 5.3 | No | — | Yes | — | Yes | Yes |
Is your app on this list?
Numbered spots on this list can be sponsored, and a sponsored row is labelled as paid.
Questions about this list
Which journal app is ranked first on Freedom251?
Journey is ranked #1 of 34 with a score of 6.8. Rosebud is second and Stoic third.
How many of these have a free plan?
17 of the 25 on this page publish a free plan on their own pricing pages.
Which is the cheapest paid option?
On this page, Daybook has the lowest first paid tier we found: $3.33/mo.
How is this list ranked?
Ranked free-and-open first: a usable free tier and open-source code, then the platforms it runs on and its documentation.