# Penjo: Pencil Journal, Planner — Diary, Agenda, Calendar Notes

> Pencil-first journal and daily planner with calendar sync and handwriting search. (iPhone/iPad app by Zafer ARICAN.)

- Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/penjo-pencil-journal-planner/id6446053076 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`)
- Developer: [Zafer ARICAN](https://appshunter.io/developer/1118422608)
- Category: Productivity, Lifestyle
- Price: Free with in-app purchases
- Rating: 4.70/5 from 263 App Store ratings · 94 written reviews indexed
- Age rating: 4+
- Requires: iOS 17.0 · 21 MB
- Languages: American English, Czech, Danish, Dutch, Finnish, French (France), German (Germany), Hungarian, Italian, Japanese and 12 more
- Released: 2023-03-27
- Data updated: 2026-08-26
- Monetization: freemium
- User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/penjo-pencil-journal-planner/id6446053076/reviews.md

## What is Penjo?

Plan forward. Reflect backward. Create freely.

Penjo is an Apple Pencil-first digital planner, journal, and diary for iPad and iPhone. Write freely on a clean page every day—backed by seamless Apple Calendar & Reminders integration, Apple Journaling Suggestions, and on-device handwriting search.

Why Penjo?

PLAN & ORGANIZE
• Calendar & Reminders: Check today at a glance and stay on schedule with full Apple Calendar integration (including Google and Exchange sync).
• Views that fit your routine: Flip through an entire year in one tap to spot patterns. Manage your schedule in Month and Week modes, or focus on today’s daily spread.
• Private & Synced: Lock your thoughts and daily reflections behind Face ID / Touch ID. iCloud keeps your iPad, iPhone, Mac, and Vision Pro perfectly in sync.

REFLECT & CREATE
• Apple Pencil first: Write, sketch, and annotate natively. Build a custom toolset for daily note-taking, capture ideas instantly, and let Penjo auto-straighten your drawn lines.
• Apple Journaling Suggestions: Relive your days with rich context. Privately add suggestions based on your photos, or use guided reflections as gratitude prompts.
• Unrestricted canvas: Edit photos on the page, remove backgrounds, add space dynamically, and choose from dot, grid, or lined paper.

FIND, REUSE & SHARE
• Handwriting Search: On-device text recognition lets you instantly search your handwriting and image text. Never lose a brilliant idea again.
• Native File Sharing: Export class notes or custom planner layouts as .penjo files. Friends, colleagues, or classmates can import them in one tap to reuse your templates or notes in their own journals.
• Reusable Templates: Duplicate or move any sheet to another day, making it effortless to reuse your favorite custom digital notebook layouts.
• Access & Export: Jump to today with Home Screen Widgets, or save pages and full journals as PDFs to archive, print, or share.

Take Penjo Everywhere
Penjo Unlimited keeps all your journals, notes, and templates perfectly in sync across your iPad, iPhone, Mac, and Vision Pro. Share custom .penjo layouts, unlock unlimited journals, access full calendar integration, and export pages to PDF.
Family Sharing is available on monthly plans.

Every day is a blank page. Make it yours.

Questions? Every message gets a personal reply.
support@penjoapp.com • penjoapp.com
Privacy Policy: https://penjoapp.com/penjoappprivacy
Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

## Key features

- Pencil-first writing and sketching
- Handwriting search and text conversion
- Calendar and reminders integration
- Creative image editing tools
- Customizable pen and tool picker
- Flexible page layouts
- iCloud sync across devices

## Pricing and in-app purchases

Base price: Free.

**Subscriptions**

| Subscription | Price | Period |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly Subscription | $2.99 | per month |
| Yearly Subscription | $19.99 | per year |

**One-time purchases**

| Purchase | Price | Type |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Pro Lifetime | $39.99 | one-time |


## What do users think of Penjo?

Overall sentiment: positive

**Pros**

- ✍️ Excellent Apple Pencil integration and handwriting experience
- 📅 Seamless calendar and reminders integration
- 💰 One-time lifetime purchase option (no subscriptions)
- 🎨 Clean, minimalist, and intuitive user interface
- ⚡ Fast and responsive performance
- 📱 Works flawlessly across iOS and iPadOS devices
- 🖼️ Easy image insertion and manipulation on pages
- 🔍 Handwriting search functionality
- 👨‍💼 Responsive and helpful developer support
- 🎯 Focused design that avoids unnecessary clutter
- 📖 Perfect for daily journaling and note-taking
- 🔄 Cloud syncing capability (when working properly)

**Cons**

- 🐛 Unreliable cloud sync across multiple devices
- 💳 Confusing payment model and paywall messaging
- 🔐 Missing security features like screen lock
- 📱 Limited macOS support (Intel Macs incompatible)
- 🎨 Limited customization options for colors and themes
- 📄 Cannot export entire notebooks as PDF
- 🖊️ Text selection and editing tools are clunky
- ❌ Restore purchases button broken for some users
- ⚠️ Automatic app updates without user permission
- 🔗 Broken support page links
- 📊 Limited page layout and template options
- 🎯 Calendar-centric design limits non-daily use cases

**Commonly reported bugs**

- Cloud sync not working across devices despite paid subscription
- App crashes when using photo effects
- Calendar not syncing or displaying properly
- Notebooks disappearing or becoming unopenable
- Text boxes misaligning after app closure
- Bluetooth keyboard text appearing at bottom of screen
- Restore purchases button non-functional
- iCloud sync not automatic despite being enabled
- Family sharing not working on secondary Apple IDs
- Support page returning 404 errors
- Forced app updates without user consent
- Text selection tools unreliable on mobile devices
- Photo shape cutting requires specific upload order

**Most requested features**

- Dark mode or black background option
- Screen lock/page lock to prevent accidental writing
- Apple Pencil advanced features (highlighter, squeeze, double-tap)
- Text formatting options (resize, color change for selected text)
- More page layout templates and line spacing options
- Ability to convert handwriting to text
- Stickers and decorative elements for journaling
- Bullet point and to-do list functionality
- Google Drive and Google Tasks integration
- PDF annotation and file linking capabilities
- Folder and subfolder organization system
- Non-calendar-based notebook organization
- Weekly and monthly view options
- Automatic page creation at 50% capacity
- Customizable default text preferences
- Straight line drawing tool (like Procreate)
- Voice memo support
- Outlook calendar integration
- Book-style page turning interface
- Habit tracker and monthly review templates
- Daily prompt suggestions for journaling
- Emoji and motivational sticker packs
- Page thumbnails and quick navigation
- Hyperlinked navigation tabs

## Recent user reviews (10 of 94)

All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/penjo-pencil-journal-planner/id6446053076/reviews.md

### 4/5 — First try

*2026-08-09*

I came across this app a few years ago but never looked into it until today.  I was looking for something that had the following criteria: 1. Pull sync with my calendars and reminders and auto populate in the planner.  2. Unlimited space for meeting notes.  3. search capabilities for historical entries.  4. drag and drop capabilities of photos or stickers like Goodnotes.  5. An easy transition from Apple Pencil to Typing.  This one seems to have all the things I needed without all the extra add ons that bog down apps.  I really do like this planner and look forward to using it.  The only suggestion I can think of off the top is for an item to list what it is if you hover over it.  I have no idea what each thing does unless I actually click on it and then decide if that is what I really wanted to do or need to back out.  I know I will learn it over time but it would be nice to be there from the start to help you get familiar.

### 5/5 — Gone through Plenty of Planners

*2026-07-09*

I have gone through plenty of planners and given up after finding too many things I didn’t like about it. Hassles of changing from day to month to week to year, the ability to go from the screen to the next to add a grocery list or things to do list the ability to synchronize with Apple calendar. This one has it all. There are a few things I wish it would do, but those are not big enough to dissuade me from marrying this Penjo Journal/planner.

**Developer response:** Thank you so much for your thoughtful review! We’re very happy to hear that Penjo has made planning easier after you tried so many other apps.

We’d also be glad to hear about the features you still wish Penjo had. Please feel free to contact us anytime at support@penjoapp.com and share your suggestions.

### 5/5 — Best journaling experience.

*2026-06-19*

I used to journal all through my childhood and teens but had stopped recently due to privacy concerns. I am so glad someone made this excellent app where I could jump back into journaling like I did back in the day right of the bat. One of the best things I like about this app as you can make a one time purchase instead of a subscription. It definitely needs an option to lock individual journals with dedicated passcodes. Also needs an option to change the spacing between lines.

**Developer response:** Thank you for your thoughtful review! We are especially happy to hear that Penjo helped you return to a habit you enjoyed for many years.

Dedicated passcodes for individual journals are already on our roadmap and will be included in one of our upcoming major releases.

Regarding line spacing, you can already customize it in the Paper Type settings under Customize in the journal settings (tap the three-dot icon on the journal card).

Feel free to reach out anytime at support@penjoapp.com.

### 5/5 — Update. I’ve figured out my issue.

*2026-05-01, version 3.7.2*

Best journaling app on iOS. This one lets you use Apple Pencil to write; not very many have this feature. You can only type.

### 5/5 — Cross platform Day Timer Replacement!

*2026-04-19, version 3.7.1*

Responsive developer!  Super simple with lots of basic features. Was exactly what I was looking for in a daily business journal.

### 5/5 — My daily double

*2026-04-19, version 3.7.1*

So much fun. Use it daily as a food journal as well a journal journal: daily life stuff, I mean. Easy to organize pages. Easy to add graphics. GREAT customer service!

### 5/5 — Excellent iPad planner app

*2026-04-15, version 3.7*

I did a lot of research and experimenting with different planner/journaling apps before I settled on this one. Excellent app, love the calendar integration and ability to write or add text, photos, etc. 
the developer also seems very invested in continuing to improve while welcoming communication from users! Awesome experience thus far.

### 5/5 — Elegant Journal App

*2026-03-27*

I am pretty sure I’ve tried almost every planner or journal application in the App Store and have come away feeling like the annual subscriptions and templates hosted on app specific storefronts weren’t worth the money. On top of that, it always felt slow and clunky to get to the part where I can just write stuff down. Then, I’d have to deal with menus and buttons in the way of my writing and by the time I’d get adjusted to where I was ready to jot my thoughts down, the moment would already be passed. Penjo is different. It’s simple, fast, and stays out of my way. It incorporates the best of native iOS and macOS features and expands in all the areas Apple fell short. I don’t regret buying the lifetime license at all and encourage anyone on the fence to support this tool.

**Developer response:** Thank you for the kind words and detailed review! Getting you to the page as fast as possible, with nothing in the way, is the core design principle behind Penjo, so it means a lot to hear it landing that way. We appreciate your lifetime support and have plenty more in the works.

### 5/5 — My favourite app!

*2026-03-05, version 3.6.16*

The one time payment of 20 dollars for unlimited EVERYTHING… WAS SUCH AN EASY PAYMENT FOR ME. I ADORE THIS APP!

### 1/5 — Sub

*2026-03-03, version 3.6.16*

Trying to charge me but I don’t even have a subscription

## Frequently asked questions about Penjo

### What does Penjo do?

Penjo is a pencil-first journal and daily planner that helps you set goals, plan ahead, and keep organized notes. It integrates with Apple Calendar and Reminders, offers on-device handwriting search, and provides creative image tools for a personalized experience.

### What are the key features of Penjo?

Key features include pencil-first writing and sketching, powerful on-device handwriting search, integration with calendars and reminders, creative image tools like background removal and stickers, customizable tool pickers, flexible page layouts, and iCloud sync.

### How much does Penjo cost?

Penjo offers a freemium model. Users can unlock unlimited journals and pages, full iCloud sync, enhanced calendar integration, and protected journals through a subscription called Penjo Unlimited. Family Sharing is available on monthly plans.

### What devices is Penjo compatible with?

Penjo is designed for Apple devices, including iPad, iPhone, Mac, and visionOS, with iCloud sync ensuring your data is up-to-date across all your devices. It also supports Google Calendar and Exchange.

### What are common use cases for Penjo?

Common use cases include daily journaling, planning daily tasks and appointments, creating habit logs, sketching ideas, annotating documents, and organizing notes by topic or color using bookmarks.

## Version history (last 5 releases)

### 3.7.7 — 2026-08-07

- You can now resize Calendar Event and Reminder boxes and pick their font in the page settings
- Journaling Suggestions now include workouts and daily steps, added to your page as ready-made cards (iOS 18 or later)
- Bug fixes and improvements

### 3.7.6 — 2026-07-24

• Redesigned and simplified widgets: choose which journal each widget shows (touch and hold → Edit Widget), or use Automatic (Most Recent) to follow your most recently opened journal. You can now add multiple widgets, each showing a different journal
 • The old "Most Recent" widgets are retired — please remove them and add the new configurable ones
 • Bug fixes and improvements

### 3.7.5 — 2026-07-09

• Touch and hold any day in Week or Month view to quickly add a Calendar event or Reminder (right-click on Mac)
• New Reed pen tool (iPadOS 26)
• Bug fixes and improvements

### 3.7.4 — 2026-05-22

This update brings two of your most requested features.
On This Day lets you look back at what you journaled on the same date in past years. Open Search and tap the On This Day button to see your sheets grouped by year. You can pick any date from the calendar to revisit a different day.
We also added a quicker way to find a sheet after you copy or move it. Now you can open the new copy right away instead of going to look for it.
Thanks for journaling with Penjo. We read all of your feedback.

### 3.7.3 — 2026-05-11

This update brings various bug fixes and localization improvements.

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## More apps by Zafer ARICAN

- [Nazar](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/nazar/id1187387664)
- [Emojise](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/emojise/id1347811993)
- [Emojise Lite](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/emojise-lite/id1502397305)
- [SpeedDial for iPad](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/speeddial-for-ipad/id1502858613)

All apps by Zafer ARICAN: https://appshunter.io/developer/1118422608

## Related topics

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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 2026-08-26.*