Free and open first

Best Journaling apps in 2026

37 apps
Research read 28 Sept 2026
How the order is worked out

1

Islet

Free plan Open source AndroidiPhone

Islet combines notebook-based journaling with media entries and user-selected storage. Note that syncing is required across devices, and Android installation uses an APK.

8.8 Free plan Visit site
2

Day One
by Day One
Free plan AndroidExtensioniPhone+2

Day One combines multimedia journaling, organizational tools and privacy protections across a wide range of platforms.

7.7 Free plan · paid from $49.99/yr · 30-day trial Visit site
3

Journey

Free plan AndroidiPhoneLinux+3

Journey offers multimedia journaling, privacy controls and ways to share selected entries or collaborate.

7.7 Free plan · paid from $4.17/mo (annual) Visit site
4

Diarium
by Diarium
Free plan AndroidiPhoneMac+1

Diarium offers flexible journal entries, browsing tools, and local storage by default across four platforms. Check the platform-specific Pro requirement if syncing or other Pro features matter to you.

7.7 Free plan · 7-day trial Visit site
5

MoodHaven Journal
by MoodHaven Journal
Free plan AndroidiPhoneLinux+3

MoodHaven Journal centers on encrypted personal journaling across desktop, mobile, and web platforms, without requiring an account.

7.6 Free plan Visit site
6

Stoic
by Stoic
Free plan AndroidiPhoneMac+1

Stoic pairs guided journaling and mood tracking with meditation and breathing exercises, with a free plan and optional AI features.

7.6 Free plan · 7-day trial Visit site
7

Mindsera
by Mindsera
Free plan AndroidiPhoneWeb

Mindsera combines multiple ways to capture entries with AI analysis, reflection prompts, and a broad template collection.

7.4 Free plan · paid from $10.75/mo (annual) Visit site
8

StoryPad
by StoryPad
Free plan AndroidiPhoneMac

Choose StoryPad if you want a flexible journal that works offline and supports mood tracking, multimedia entries, and local exports.

7.4 Free plan · paid from $9.99 Visit site
9

Daybook
by Daybook
Free plan AndroidiPhoneWeb

Daybook combines journaling, organization, mood tools, and PDF export, with core entry and sync features on its free plan.

7.4 Free plan · paid from $3.49/mo Visit site
10

Apple Journal
by Apple Journal
Free plan iPhoneMac

Journal combines varied entry formats, organization tools and on-device suggestions in a free app.

7.3 Free plan Visit site
11

Journiv

Free plan Self-hostedWeb

Journiv offers a substantial self-hosted journaling toolkit, including tracking, prompts, search, and export options.

7.3 Free plan Visit site
12

Skrive
by Skrive
Free plan AndroidiPhoneMac

Skrive offers a no-limit daily journal with offline access, search, and export. Its passphrase limitation matters: losing it can make entries inaccessible, so users need to keep it safe.

7.3 Free plan · 14-day trial Visit site
13

jrnl

Free plan LinuxMacWindows

Choose jrnl if you want a free, open-source command-line journal with offline access, multiple journals, and plain-text files.

7.3 Free plan Visit site
14

Rosebud
by Rosebud
Free plan AndroidiPhoneMac+2

Rosebud combines entry analysis, guided reflection, voice journaling, and mobile journaling tools. Its AI usage limit can pause Dig Deeper, and Rosebud explicitly does not replace professional care.

7.3 Free plan · paid from $12.99/mo · 7-day trial Visit site
15

Diaro

Free plan AndroidiPhoneWeb

Choose Diaro if you want a diary with flexible search, organization, and web exports, or want to keep notes and track moods.

7.2 Free plan Visit site
16

Penzu
by Penzu
Free plan AndroidiPhoneWeb

Choose Penzu for a personal journal with unlimited Basic entries, automatic saving, and writing reminders across web and mobile.

7.2 Free plan Visit site
17

Daylio
by Daylio
Free plan AndroidiPhone

Daylio combines guided journaling with multimedia entries, search, and several export formats.

7.1 Free plan · 7-day trial Visit site
18

tinythoughts

Free plan AndroidiPhoneWeb

Choose tinythoughts if you want a guided daily journal with reminders, tags, and mood tracking.

7.1 Free plan · 14-day trial Visit site
19

Grid Diary
by Grid Diary
Free plan AndroidiPhoneMac

Grid Diary offers structured journaling with prompts, planning periods, media attachments and flexible exports.

7.1 Free plan Visit site
20

Penso Notes

Free plan AndroidiPhone

Choose Penso Notes if you want a free mobile journal for quick entries, organization, drawing, and rediscovery.

7.0 Free plan Visit site
21

Mirror
by Mirror
Free plan AndroidiPhone

Mirror combines multiple journaling formats with prompts and mood check-ins in a free app. Its U.S.-only availability and stated limits as a non-medical, non-crisis service are important to consider.

7.0 Free plan Visit site
22

Gratitude
by Gratitude
Free plan AndroidiPhoneMac

Choose Gratitude if you want journaling, affirmations, vision boards, and Daily Zen content in one app. Its free plan and trial offer a way to start, while Pro features require an in-app purchase.

7.0 Free plan Visit site
23

Local Journal
by Local Journal
Free plan AndroidiPhone

Choose Local Journal if you want an offline diary that keeps entries on your device and does not require an account.

6.9 Free plan Visit site
24

Five Minute Journal
by Five Minute Journal
Free plan AndroidiPhone

Five Minute Journal combines structured prompts, reminders, media entries, exports, and privacy controls in a mobile journal.

6.9 Free plan Visit site
25

Reflectly

Free plan AndroidiPhone

Choose Reflectly if you want a phone-based journal that pairs guided writing with mood tracking and regular summaries.

6.9 Free plan Visit site

#1Places #1, #2, #3, #4, #5 on this list can be bought by the makers of the software on it. See the price

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