Best apps like PencilDiary: Notes, PDF Markup

10+ similar apps compared and reviewed

4.8 avg rating
10 free apps
Updated October 2026

Looking for something like PencilDiary? We've analyzed 10+ similar apps to help you find the best alternative. Each app is compared by ratings, features, and real user reviews, so you can make the right choice.

Top Alternatives to PencilDiary

Bubbles’ Journal with Prompts#1
4.9😊(1.5K ratings)
FreeIn-App Purchases
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This interactive diary helps you cultivate mindfulness and reflect on your thoughts with a friendly companion. It offers prompts, stickers, and a book-like reading mode to make journaling a cozy experience. Your private space is secured with encryption and offline access.

What We Love

  • 🥰 Cute and fun to use
  • 🎨 Customizable journal entries
  • 🎶 Calming music and sound effects
  • 🤖 Interactive companion (Bubbles)
  • 💻 Seamless Apple Pencil integration
  • 🧠 Helpful writing prompts
  • 🔒 Secure journaling experience

Room to Improve

  • 💰 Paywall for full journaling functionality
  • 🙄 Frequent prompts to upgrade to premium
  • 😢 Limited free features
  • 🤔 Confusion around premium requirements
Digital Journal Diary#2

Digital Journal Diary by Protection & Security App LLC

Private Journal - Photo,Video
Strong Contender
💪 Health & Fitness
4.6😊(6.5K ratings)
FreeIn-App Purchases
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Document your life, track goals, and monitor your mood with this versatile journaling app. Enhance well-being, creativity, and productivity through daily reflection. Secure your entries with password protection and sync across devices.

What We Love

  • 🚀 Easy to use
  • 👍 Customizable features
  • 🔒 Password protection
  • 📝 Helps with journaling and self-expression
  • 🎨 Aesthetically pleasing
  • 💰 Free to use

Room to Improve

  • 🐛 Backup and sync issues
  • 🔍 Lack of spell check and autocorrect
  • 🔒 Concerns about privacy and security
  • 🤖 Poor voice transcription
  • 💬 Repetitive review prompts
Poz Journal#3

Poz Journal by Kish Parikh

Your personal mindful journal
Worth Considering
💪 Health & Fitness
5.0(5 ratings)
Free
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A digital journaling app designed for iPhone and iPad, offering a beautiful and tactile writing experience. It features on-device AI for auto-generated titles and emojis, customizable notebooks, and tools to build a daily reflection practice. Privacy is prioritized with all AI processing done locally and optional password protection.

More apps like PencilDiary

4
sunbeam: daily journal, diary
sunbeam: daily journal, diary
sunbeam: daily journal, diary
simple prompts with password
Free

A simple daily journal and diary app focused on self-care, reflection, and mental well-being. It offers gentle prompts, password protection for privacy, and a calming design to encourage relaxation and gratitude.

Daily journaling and diary entriesSelf-care and mental health focusPassword protection for privacy
💪 Health & Fitness
(10)
free with in-app purchases
5
Private Journal - Mindspace
Private Journal - Mindspace
Private Journal - Mindspace
Diary, Habit Tracker & Planner
Free

This app helps you cultivate a more mindful life through daily journaling, mood and habit tracking, and creative sketching. It offers a private space to organize thoughts, set intentions, and review your life's journey with powerful search and media browsing tools.

Rich text journaling with photos/videosMood and habit tracking with custom templatesFreeform drawing with Apple Pencil support
💪 Health & Fitness
(20)
freemium
6
Diarly: Diary, Private Journal
Diarly: Diary, Private Journal
Diarly: Diary, Private Journal
Journaling with a Password
Free

This app helps you start and maintain a journaling habit with daily prompts, mood tracking, and the ability to add photos and other media. It also allows for creating topic-based notes and seamlessly integrates with other apps and services for a comprehensive personal record.

Daily prompts with enriched data (weather, location, health)Mood tracking and pattern analysisTopic-based note creation
💪 Health & Fitness
(1.5K)
freemium
7
Sunrise Journal
Sunrise Journal
Sunrise Journal
Reflect, Organize, Grow
Free

A simple and private digital journal for capturing thoughts and life events. Personalize your experience with themes and icons. Your entries are securely stored on your device and synced via iCloud.

Simple journaling interfaceSecure on-device storageiCloud syncing
💪 Health & Fitness
(4)
free
8
Art Therapy: Scribble Journey
Art Therapy: Scribble Journey
Art Therapy: Scribble Journey
Draw, Journal and Reflect
Free

Explore your emotions and gain mental health insights through guided drawing and journaling activities. Designed for all skill levels, this app offers self-guided exercises to help you reflect and connect with your feelings.

Self-guided art therapy activitiesDrawing and journaling promptsFocus on anxiety, confidence, focus, gratitude, happiness
💪 Health & Fitness
(36)
free with in-app purchases
9
Morning Pages – Daily Journal
Morning Pages – Daily Journal
Morning Pages – Daily Journal
Diary, mood tracker & prompts
Free

This app is a private daily journal that uses AI to help you unlock creativity and improve mental wellbeing. It offers a simple interface, gentle reminders, and progress tracking to help you develop a consistent writing practice and gain insights into your thoughts and emotions.

AI-powered emotional insightsHandwriting Scan FeatureSimple, ad-free interface
💪 Health & Fitness
(474)
freemium
10
Daybook: AI Journal & Diary
Daybook: AI Journal & Diary
Daybook: AI Journal & Diary
capture a lifetime of memories
Free

This app provides a secure and private space to record daily activities, thoughts, and memories. It offers guided journaling for mood tracking, mental health, and gratitude, with AI-powered insights and a simple interface for everyday writing.

Passcode-protected diaryGuided journaling (mood, mental health, gratitude)AI-powered journal insights
💪 Health & Fitness
(891)
freemium