# Zen - Daily Diary Journal — Private Minimal Journaling App > Minimalist daily journal app for effortless habit building and secure private recording. (iPhone/iPad app by Ryunosuke Nagase.) - Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/zen-daily-diary-journal/id1665333520 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`) - Developer: [Ryunosuke Nagase](https://appshunter.io/developer/1506451599) - Category: Lifestyle, Health & Fitness - Price: Free with in-app purchases - Rating: 4.30/5 from 3 App Store ratings - Age rating: 4+ - Requires: iOS 15.0 · 66 MB - Languages: American English, Japanese - Released: 2023-01-19 - Data updated: 2026-08-28 - Monetization: free with in-app purchases - User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/zen-daily-diary-journal/id1665333520/reviews.md ## What is Zen? Zen is the minimal diary app. Zen was developed based on the developer's own struggles of not being able to continue any diary. - Effortlessly Record If you try to write perfectly, you will not know where to start. Zen allows you to keep a diary in a simple and easy manner by recording what happened in fragments, line by line, just like a note. Even on days when you are tired, you can keep a diary as if it were a note, making it easy to continue to keep a diary every day. Of course, you can also record detailed information. - Calendar Sync Zen automatically displays your schedule for the day by connecting to your calendar. This makes it easy to look back on the day and smoothly start writing in the diary. Even if you forget to keep a diary for a few days, you can easily keep a diary by checking the day's schedule. - Make Journaling a Habit Receiving notifications at a set time every day will support in making journaling a habit. - Minimal We paid special attention to the design because it is an app that you use every day. The minimal design allows you to keep track of your daily activities intuitively without getting lost in the operations. - Wabi-sabi Wabi-sabi is a world view centered on the acceptance of transience and imperfection. We are not perfect. So we don't need to write perfect sentences. Just write what you think. The essence is short. That's why Zen has a limit of 280 characters. - Security You can set a password when you start the app to further enhance your privacy. You can also unlock the app with fingerprint or face-ID. - Organize with Tags You can add keywords or categories related to your diary as tags. This allows you to efficiently manage and search diary entries using tags. Don’t worry, just write. --- Our Story There are many diary apps in the world, but I couldn't master any of them because they are all too complex. So, I decided to create my own minimal diary app that only includes the bare minimum necessary features. The only thing this app can do is to record and look back on daily events. I am constantly updating the app so that people who are looking for a simple diary app like me can be satisfied with it. I would be happy if this app can be of any help in your life. I wish for your life to be enriched. Terms of Use: https://tinylab-apps.web.app/TermsOfService/ja.html Privacy Policy: https://tinylab-apps.web.app/PrivacyPolicy/ja.html ## Key features - Effortless line-by-line recording - Calendar synchronization for context - Daily notification reminders - Minimalist and intuitive design - Password and biometric security - Tag-based organization and search ## Pricing and in-app purchases Base price: Free. **Subscriptions** | Subscription | Price | Period | | --- | --- | --- | | PREMIUM - ANNUAL | $19.99 | per year | | PREMIUM - MONTHLY | $2.99 | per month | ## Frequently asked questions about Zen ### What is the character limit for entries in Zen? Zen has a character limit of 280 characters per entry, encouraging concise and focused writing. This design choice is inspired by the app's philosophy of embracing imperfection and brevity. ### Does Zen offer a free trial for its premium features? Yes, Zen offers a 14-day free trial for both its monthly and annual premium subscription plans. This allows users to explore the full range of features before committing to a purchase. ### How does Zen protect user privacy? Zen prioritizes user privacy by allowing you to set a password to start the app. You can also unlock the app using fingerprint or face ID for enhanced security and quick access. ### Can Zen sync with my existing calendar? Yes, Zen automatically displays your schedule for the day by connecting to your device's calendar. This feature helps you easily recall your day's events and makes it smoother to start writing your diary entry. ### How often is Zen updated? Zen was last updated on September 25, 2024, with version 3.5.4. The developer is committed to continuously updating the app to satisfy users looking for a simple diary solution. ### What devices is Zen available on? Zen is available on iPhone and iPod devices. The app is designed for iOS users looking for a straightforward journaling experience. ### Does Zen have ads? Yes, Zen contains advertisements. As a free app with in-app purchases, advertisements are displayed to support its continued development and availability. ### What is the 'Wabi-sabi' philosophy in Zen? The Wabi-sabi philosophy in Zen embraces transience and imperfection. It encourages users to write what they think without needing to create perfect sentences, aligning with the app's minimal and authentic approach to journaling. ## Version history (last 5 releases) ### 3.5.6 — 2026-08-04 - Bug fixes and performance improvements. ### 3.5.5 — 2026-07-28 - Bug fixes and performance improvements. ### 3.5.4 — 2024-09-25 - Bug fixes and performance improvements. ### 3.5.2 — 2024-04-01 - Bug fixes and performance improvements. ### 3.5.1 — 2024-01-12 - Performance improvements. - Updated design. ## Apps similar to Zen | App | Rating | Price | Category | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | [My Diary with password & lock](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/my-diary-with-password-and-lock/id6467194692) | 4.7 (601) | Free | Lifestyle | | [Private Diary & Journal App](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/private-diary-and-journal-app/id6608983404) | 4.6 (46) | Free | Lifestyle | | [Daily Journal: Diary with Lock](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/daily-journal-diary-with-lock/id1605113008) | 4.8 (5,484) | Free | Lifestyle | | [Daylio Journal - Mood Tracker](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/daylio-journal-mood-tracker/id1194023242) | 4.8 (61,304) | Free | Lifestyle | | [Diary Journal - With Lock](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/diary-journal-with-lock/id1572225395) | 4.7 (360) | Free | Lifestyle | | [My Daily Diary ‎](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/my-daily-diary/id1447344390) | 4.7 (1,126) | Free | Lifestyle | ## More apps by Ryunosuke Nagase - [Subscription & Bill Manager](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/subscription-and-bill-manager/id1506451600) - [Rapid - Superfast To-Do List](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/rapid-superfast-to-do-list/id1511398926) - [Book Tracker Reading Log - Hon](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/book-tracker-reading-log-hon/id1516860157) - [推しPay - 推し活・推し事をまとめて管理。推して何日も。](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pay/id1523768983) - [TubeNote - Note watching video](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/tubenote-note-watching-video/id1535634801) - [シンプル頭痛記録アプリ。片頭痛（偏頭痛）低気圧も - ミグル](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/id1564686045) All apps by Ryunosuke Nagase: https://appshunter.io/developer/1506451599 --- *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 2026-08-28.*