ZenJournal: Minimalist Log

ZenJournal: Minimalist Log

Locked Diary, Voice Log

81 ratings
69 reviews
Free
In-App Purchases

Details

  • Released
  • Updated
  • August 8, 2018
  • September 4, 2026

Features

ZenJournal: Minimalist Log video #1 for iPhone
ZenJournal: Minimalist Log screenshot #2 for iPhone
ZenJournal: Minimalist Log screenshot #3 for iPhone
ZenJournal: Minimalist Log screenshot #4 for iPhone
ZenJournal: Minimalist Log screenshot #5 for iPhone
ZenJournal: Minimalist Log screenshot #6 for iPhone
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About

This minimalist journaling app offers a streamlined experience for logging thoughts, ideas, and memories. Organize entries with hashtags, search your history, and protect your privacy with discreet mode and biometric locks. It's designed for quick, stress-free reflection anytime, anywhere.

βœ“Unified timeline interface
βœ“Discreet Mode for public use
βœ“TouchID/FaceID lock
βœ“Hashtag organization
βœ“Quick search and filter
βœ“Backup and restore
βœ“Dark/Light mode
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What users say

See all reviews
+1

What's New in ZenJournal

5.4.0

September 4, 2026

Voice logs, an activity chart, home screen widgets, and a real editor for your timelines. Talk instead of typing - Record a voice log right in the input, without leaving your timeline. Scrub the waveform, pause and resume mid-thought, or discard and start over. - Transcription happens on device, in the language you actually speak, and the words land in your timeline the moment you stop. The audio never leaves your iPhone. - Copy the transcript from any recording. See every day you showed up - Swipe up from the input for a chart of your activity. Not a streak counter, just the shape of your months. - Put the Activity widget on your home screen, small or medium. Tap a day and the app opens right there. - With Lock Mode on, the widget stays put and shows the shape without a single word. Timeline Garden - Your timelines are now a tree you can tend. Drag a bubble onto another to nest it, tap to rename, reorder, or remove. Entries in a removed timeline are kept and stay searchable in All. Also new - A share extension: send text, links, or photos from any app straight into a timeline. - New photo and camera cards for attaching images. - Journal reminders as real notifications, with the frequency set in Settings. - A guided first run that lets you try each feature instead of reading about it. Replay it any time from Settings. - Discreet Mode keeps dates and times readable so you can still find your way around, and Copy and Share ask you to unlock first when Lock Mode is on. - Haptics across capture, save, and selection. Zen Pro has new pricing, and every plan now starts with a 7-day free trial. If you already subscribe, your price stays exactly as it was.

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Subscription plans

Zen Pro Annual

A full year of ZenJournal Pro.

$9.991 Year
7 Days trial
How to cancel ZenJournal subscription ⁉️
1

In-App Purchases

$99.99

Zen Lifetime

Support ZenJournal for life.

User reviews

Great app for simple note taking

Great app, like how simple it is for just jotting down notes. I previously rated 3/5 because of no edit and light mode issues but those are fixed in the latest update.

Very cool!.. but right off the bat I noticed an issue.

Hi! I’m writing this review to say that I think this app is very cool. I found it being talked about on Reddit when looking for a Social media type journaling app. If you’re also looking for the same thing, I 100% recommend this app. In fact, I look forward to when I’m able to afford the premium (which you don’t really need to use the app, a for sure positive.)

However, as the title states, there was a feature I noticed was immediately missing.. editing. When you send a β€œmessage” so to speak, there is no way to edit it after. I’m glad you can copy and delete them, but being able to edit said β€œmessages” after sending is very vital. I hope to developer adds this at some point, or at least adds it to the list after seeing this review!

Thanks for reading,
Em 🩷
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Response from developer

Your wish has been granted. Edit feature finally available. Thank you for your review!

Lost all my writing

I wrote to my son on this app for months now and it’s all gone since update. My son died from cot death and I was told it helps to write and now I’ve lost it all.

Good but needs work

Firstly I tried to contact Support and the only option that is provided is using X and that’s just not okay as a lot of us might not use that app so maybe they will see my feedback here?

Difficult to use, lack of features on the free version. I only used a few times then deleted and went elsewhere

Do not recommend
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Is there a synch feature?

Just started using the app and so far I'm enjoying the simplicity. I also use Workflowy for a more "outline" structure with indented tabs, etc. But I like the single time line with this app, it's great for mind dumps and idea captures. My only concern: can I synch between my iPad and iPhone? So far it looks like I can only use it separately on each device. I'm constantly bouncing between the two and would like to capture and combine notes from both. Is this a current feature or maybe something that might happen in the future?
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Response from developer

Hi thanks for your positive review. Yes I will be working on an Apple exclusive version that will have iCloud sync. But don’t hold your breath as I may introduce a quick merge feature first before that’s available. So you can merge between your separate journals across devices first. Hi! Our sync feature is now available! Thanks for the request!

Developer apps

User experience

🐞

Reported Bugs

13 issues

Lost all writing after update

Bug

App crashes when adding pictures

Bug

Dark mode resets to light mode

Bug

Lock feature not working

Bug

Long entries not fitting on screen

Bug

Text box made for shorter entries

Bug

No auto-save feature

Bug

Difficulty with daylight savings time

Bug

Support only via X (Twitter)

Bug

Limited features in free version

Bug

No edit option for past entries

Bug

UI errors with long entries

Bug

Not showing date of entry

Bug
✨

Requested Features

52 requests

Ability to edit past entries

Feature

Sync between devices (iPad and iPhone)

Feature

Export by hashtag

Feature

Per-entry word count

Feature

Basic formatting (italics, bold)

Feature

Search by date

Feature

Desktop app

Feature

Auto-backup

Feature

Prompt function with push notifications

Feature

Option to remove logo on entry screen

Feature

Ability to write higher up (for Apple Pencil)

Feature

One-time payment option

Feature

Ability to reply to previous thoughts

Feature

Display photos in discreet mode as gray blocks

Feature

Auto-spacing between entries

Feature

European time format

Feature

Option to select another font

Feature

Strike-through option

Feature

Ability to increase UI Elements and Text size

Feature

Focus mode or visual separation of current entry

Feature

Opening app without showing previous entries (swipe down to see timeline)

Feature

Add tags to comments after hitting enter

Feature

Option to set add entry using return key

Feature

Customization options (background color, font style)

Feature

Larger font size setting

Feature

Star entries and filter by starred entries

Feature

Add photos to entries

Feature

Ability to choose date and time for an entry

Feature

Basic formatting (italics, bold)

Feature

Search by date

Feature

Desktop app

Feature

Auto-backup

Feature

Prompt function with push notifications

Feature

Option to remove logo on entry screen

Feature

Ability to write higher up (for Apple Pencil)

Feature

One-time payment option

Feature

Ability to reply to previous thoughts

Feature

Display photos in discreet mode as gray blocks

Feature

Auto-spacing between entries

Feature

European time format

Feature

Option to select another font

Feature

Strike-through option

Feature

Ability to increase UI Elements and Text size

Feature

Focus mode or visual separation of current entry

Feature

Opening app without showing previous entries (swipe down to see timeline)

Feature

Add tags to comments after hitting enter

Feature

Option to set add entry using return key

Feature

Customization options (background color, font style)

Feature

Larger font size setting

Feature

Star entries and filter by starred entries

Feature

Add photos to entries

Feature

Ability to choose date and time for an entry

Feature

FAQ

What is ZenJournal?

ZenJournal is a minimalist journaling app designed for fast and simple logging of thoughts, ideas, and memories. It unifies all your entries, hashtags, and searches into a single timeline interface for quick access and reflection.

What are the key features of ZenJournal?

Key features include a unified timeline, a 'Discreet Mode' for public journaling, TouchID/FaceID for security, hashtag organization, quick search functionality, backup and restore, and customizable dark/light modes.

How much does ZenJournal cost?

ZenJournal is free to use with unlimited logs. For additional features like a font picker, users can subscribe to Zen Pro. This freemium model allows basic usage for free while offering enhanced options through a subscription.

Can I use ZenJournal on multiple devices?

The app description mentions backup and restore functionality, which implies that you can save your journal entries and potentially restore them on other devices. This allows for data portability and continuity across your devices.

What are some common use cases for ZenJournal?

ZenJournal is ideal for journaling anywhere, even in public, thanks to its Discreet Mode. It can help users shield themselves from social media stress, cure fatigue with stress-free micro journaling, find inner peace, build self-awareness, and log random ideas or stream-of-consciousness writing.