# Heartspring Journal — user reviews

> 210 indexed App Store user reviews of Heartspring Journal by Overlap Studios, Inc., rated 4.60/5 from 6,517 ratings.

- Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/heartspring-journal/id6596777024/reviews
- App overview in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/heartspring-journal/id6596777024.md
- Rating breakdown: 5★ 4,996 · 4★ 739 · 3★ 462 · 2★ 141 · 1★ 179

## What do users think of Heartspring Journal?

Overall sentiment: neutral

**Pros**

- 🚀 Easy to use
- 👍 Helpful for mental health
- 👍 Useful for journaling
- 👍 Detailed reports on mood and day
- 🔒 Secure with Face ID

**Cons**

- 🐛 Buggy and crashes frequently
- 🐛 Recording issues and lost entries
- 🔒 Requires Face ID, no password option
- 💰 Premium required for multiple entries per day

**Commonly reported bugs**

- Recordings not saving
- Freezing and crashing issues
- Dictation not working properly
- Inconsistent date/time tracking

**Most requested features**

- Ability to edit and trim recordings
- Option to choose own mood/feelings
- Unlimited word count per entry
- Ability to add entries for previous days
- Export text from diary entries
- More customization options

## Newest reviews (14 of 210)

### 4/5 — Disappointed

*2026-06-11, version 2026.6.1*

I’ve been a user since Jan 2025 and it’s just such a great app but now that it’s changed its name and updated the subscription now I’m about to lose all the progress I’ve made over the few months because im not able to download my videos. It’s a really great app overall but just so disappointed I won’t be able to look back on my old
Videos

### 2/5 — Talkbook

*2026-06-10*

I've been with this app since it was called talkbook. Since the new updates, I've come to hate it unfortunately because there is nothing I can do anymore. I can only talk for so many minutes (it's like 4 mins limited without the subscription) whereas before everything- I can talk as long as I want. I can't look back and watch MY OWN VIDEOS from a year ago without subscribing- which is sad because that's the whole point for me is to look back and see how far I've come. 

9.99$ a month is a lot to be honest for what it gives you. I miss when I had the freedom to use the app without any of the restrictions. I legit have been through with it since 2025 and the amount of times this app has crashed or glitched, I always had faith because I truly loved the concept..

### 2/5 — Unable to use

*2026-05-01, version 2026.3.3*

Ever since they changed the app, it has been unusable. None of my old videos are loaded and the screen is too big to properly fit into my iPhone screen so I can’t even press anything. So weird

### 3/5 — I don't know what happened...

*2026-04-01*

I've been using this app for some years back when it was talkbook. but this new update is absolutely terrible. all my previous recordings are gone and there are so many glitches and bugs that i have to keep exiting out the app to even do my daily journal. i also don't like the fact that i can't go back and do the days i've missed because of the apps glitch problems have kicked me out in the middle of me typing. and when you open it again everything you just wrote is gone. i really did love this app with the recommended topics, emotion analysis, and video recording but it seems like i'll possibly have to find another journal app because this is starting to get frustrating.

### 2/5 — I was good until the update

*2026-03-25, version 2026.3.2*

Please tell me why it made of updating it sound like a good idea which it is, but now all my past recordings are gone
😡😟

### 2/5 — Angry

*2026-03-20, version 2026.3.2*

I got this app so I could talk to it and JOURNAL when I didn’t feel like writing. It had a couple glitches at first but I was fine with that. Then they updated it so much that they deleted all my old journal entries, very upset🤦‍♀️

### 2/5 — Lost memories from talkbook

*2026-03-19, version 2026.3.2*

I enjoy doing a video journal entries. It has allowed me to grow and reflect. I had recorded some great memories that appears to be lost with the transition without any notice. Now the entries are shorter in length unless I purchase would consider upgrading but very upset my past recordings are gone.

### 3/5 — lost entries

*2026-03-12, version 2026.2.4*

i’ve had this app for a while but don’t use it a ton. if used it on and off for the past few months but when i tried to look at my previous recordings they were all gone and i couldn’t find them anywhere. The help link won’t work either so i don’t know how to get my entries back.

### 2/5 — Was so good - till it wasn’t

*2026-03-05, version 2026.2.3*

I’ve been using this app for 2 years and I’ve loved it. I loved the video feature because I hated typing out my feelings. However, it’s gone down the path most good apps do and you have to pay for their once free features. This app used to be about video journaling, now you have to pay for their main feature?? If I want to write down my feelings I would text in my notes app. I’m heavily disappointed and am now in search for a new app.

### 2/5 — Heartbreaking changes

*2026-03-04, version 2026.2.3*

I LOVED this app when it was talkbook. I used it for the last year and a half and recorded some of my most vulnerable moments, including loss of family and friends last year due to various reasons. I had taken a short break from it and come back.. only to find that with their rebranding ALL of my memories were lost. I feel as though I’m experiencing some of my grief again knowing that those moments are now gone forever, despite the fact that I intentionally tried to record them so that they could be saved and reflected on… really disappointed and heartbroken about this. I will not be using the app moving forward.

### 2/5 — I’m lowkey disappointed :/

*2026-03-03, version 2026.2.2*

When I first downloaded the app I was excited and started recording videos. I can say I liked the ability to record and keep track all in one location and the app is locked. The first problem is within the first week of me having it they changed the apps name and now I have to pay to record a video. Second I can’t download the videos I’ve already recorded, and some of them won’t even play back. Overall just a little disappointed. Was a great start but will not pay for features that should be free or started off as free so I’m definitely deleting it.

### 2/5 — Goodbye Talkbook

*2026-03-02, version 2026.2.1*

I was a pretty early user of this app and very active in journaling. With the new rebrand I'm sad to see a lot of my old videos got erased. I'm also pretty disappointed in having to pay to record your journals. That was the whole premise of the app and now I have to pay for it. I understand you need to make money but surely the basics of what the app was could have stayed free?

When I tried to leave feedback in the app it always crashed the app so I wasn't able to express my concerns. Unfortunately, I'll be getting rid of the app for one that has a free option to record.

### 2/5 — What happened to talkbook!!

*2026-03-02, version 2026.2.1*

Used to LOVE this app, but the whole point of it for me was to be able to reflect and speak thoughts that I was unable to write down. Now you can only do that if you pay $99.99 a year?!??!

### 3/5 — I bought it now it won’t work!

*2026-03-01, version 2026.2.1*

I loved it before this whole update/rebrand. I bought it because I didn’t want to lose this app. & now it won’t even let me submit an entry!! Please update!!

## Most critical reviews (10 lowest-rated)

### 1/5 — Reminders of hard days is HARD

*2026-06-24, version 2026.6.1*

I used to love and recommend this app to others but now it sends constant reminders to view clearly rough days… I’m not sure why it would do that to but I’m not a fan.

### 1/5 — New update

*2026-06-04, version 2026.6.0*

Can you change it back to how it was before this recent update? I’m missing entries that were there before the update and the new layout is just confusing..

### 1/5 — Not functional

*2026-06-01, version 2026.5.3*

I cant put my phone number

### 1/5 — Won’t stop haunting me

*2026-05-04, version 2026.3.3*

I deleted this app and it continued sending me an alarm every single night at 9pm for DAYS. Through movies. Through quiet time. Through every focus mode I have. I reinstalled it just to find the setting and there was no way to turn it off from inside the app either. Formerly Talkbook, currently a poltergeist.

### 1/5 — Can’t Delete Data

*2026-04-09, version 2026.3.3*

This app is terrible, I can’t delete my account and every time I try to tap contact for help, the app crashes. I can’t get a hold of anyone!

### 1/5 — Can’t edit your posts.

*2026-03-26, version 2026.3.2*

This is really dumb.

### 1/5 — The new update lost all of my journaling

*2026-03-02, version 2026.2.1*

I absolutely loved this app. But the new update caused a loss of all my journaling from the last year, which is so frustrating I had so many entries that now are just lost. I have tried contacting them but their contact information is not easy to come by.

### 1/5 — ALL MY ENTRIES ARE GONE!!

*2026-03-02, version 2026.2.1*

I had so many entries for the past two years I’ve been viewing my life and it’s been so much fun on talk book and all of a sudden all of my videos are gone because of this new update. And now it is Heartspring Journal. I am so sad and it makes me upset because I spend so much time on this and then all of my videos are gone and my favorite part was looking Back on what I had done previous years. But now all of it’s gone. It makes me just so sad.

### 1/5 — Removed all my old videos after name change

*2026-03-02, version 2026.2.1*

I loved using this app, but after they changed the app name. I lost all my videos!

### 1/5 — Makes you pay now

*2026-02-28, version 2026.2.1*

I loved this app before but lately it’s been driving me crazy because all of my old journal entries that I recorded are frozen and they won’t let me play any of them and now they had a new update so it has a new name and it makes you pay to record any videos at all, which is extremely frustrating. I’m disappointed in this app.

## Most praised reviews (10 highest-rated)

### 5/5 — Amazing tool

*2026-05-03, version 2026.3.3*

I downloaded this app a year ago and used it for a bit while I was going through some stuff. Forgot about it, found it recently and I am OBSESSED. One it was so nice to see where I was and where I am now, but the new added features of analyzing your emotions is such a great tool to use when reflecting. Love this app and recommend to everyone. 10/10. Can’t wait to show my therapist

### 5/5 — love the app but i am very disappointed

*2026-03-25, version 2026.3.2*

i loved this app it became a monthly thing for me to do but after the most recent update i have lost all of my data and im very disappointed almost a year of memories gone its a great app i will surely keep using it just very disappointed about losing the memories (i didnt update my phone to the most recent update maybe thats the reason im not to sure but its an amazing app i do recommend for those that love to talk a lot )

### 5/5 — my old memories aren’t there anymore

*2026-03-20, version 2026.3.2*

i rediscover this app at least once a month so i can talk about my life and what’s going on and i’ve been doing that since february 2025 , i come back on this app today and im feeling nostalgic so i wanted to look at my old videos but i can’t seem to find them it’s like my memories of me talking bout my feelings are gone. please help me out

### 5/5 — They listen to feedback

*2026-03-06, version 2026.2.4*

I loved the idea of talkbook (now called Heartspring). I have a hard time speaking with other people, so being able to journal my feelings and practice speech at the same time was super helpful. I loved that the video journaling was saved in app so I could reflect on it later on instead of taking up space in my camera roll. I haven’t found any apps that focus on video journaling the way this one did. Now they updated the app and made a lot of changes. You have to pay like $100 a year to record videos, granted, you get lots of other features, but I think making people pay to record videos after you had it free for so long, sucks. It’s no different than any other journaling app out there now. It’s really disappointing. EDIT: I appreciate that the developers listen to feedback! They brought back free video journaling shortly after the rebrand. Thank you for listening to our concerns and wishes!

### 5/5 — Happy.

*2026-03-04, version 2026.2.3*

I loved this app so much for the voice recognition for video journalling and although I don’t journal all the time, coming to the new update was very sad and disappointing for me.

As many reviews have mentioned, one of the big things of this app was how free it was to video journal and I really liked it since I could say whatever, edit if needed and then be done with it. It’s a lot less effort than writing and I preferred it.

Just saw the update and want to say thank you for bringing back free journalling and listening to your customers. If you are wanting terms of revenue, perhaps add ads in a non-invasive manner where we can support you on your own or have a donation tab? I’m not sure.

Once again, thank you.

### 5/5 — Changed the whole app

*2026-03-02, version 2026.2.1*

I used to use this app to talk to my phone and record how I am feeling because I didn’t want to type. Now you have to have premium to record the video. That is the only reason a got this app. Because it was free to record. It’s so sad they changed it. Now I have to find a new app to record.

### 5/5 — I miss Talkbook

*2026-02-27*

Before anything else I just wanted to thank the devs for their hard work and creative minds because this app is the one journal app I haven’t deleted immediately after trying.

I’ve had this app ever since it came out, when it was still Talkbook. It was really easy to navigate, had a speech to text feature and a 2000 word limit. Not bad for a free video journaling app. Premium consisted of being able to log more journals in a day and more detailed insights. It would crash every now and then but I didn’t mind since it was still pretty new. 

I haven’t used it in a while, so when I came back to find that video journals had turned into a premium feature I got really sad. While I understand that developers and everyone in the team should be able to profit off this, I didn’t appreciate the switch up to a type only journal because the video journaling is what made this app so unique. It’s not currently in my budget to pay for the premium, though I do think people who can should give it a shot. 

I’m just really hoping they reconsider bringing back the video journal option for free members, even if it means keeping a 2000 word limit and one journal a day.

**Developer response:** Thank you so much for sticking with us since the Talkbook days, that genuinely means a lot to the whole team!
We hear you loud and clear on the video journaling, and we have great news: video journals are free again! We hope you enjoy getting back to it!

### 5/5 — MY DAY

*2026-02-11, version 2026.1.1*

it makes me feel so much better because i get to talk about my day with out anyone interrupting me or not listening to me😚🫰🏽

### 5/5 — I didn’t want to write this

*2026-01-14, version 2026.1.0*

I love this app. It’s the only thing that’s made journaling easier. However recently the app has been crashing when I try to submit my journal and I lose the entire recording. I tried to find a way to reach out  or report this without writing it in a review but this seems to be the only way since links for app support only redirect to an ad page for the app. 
I really love this app and I really hope this problem can be fixed.

### 5/5 — Great Journal Alternative

*2026-01-05, version 2025.12.0*

I’ve handwritten in a journal for a couple of months now and noticed that it hasn’t instilled much of a change. I’ve found that I am much more fond of talk therapy and this is exactly what I’ve been looking for. Works great for me and feels much more soothing or helpful than writing!

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*Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-08-31.*