# daybook. vs Grid Diary

The clearest difference is monetization model: daybook. at free with in-app purchases against Grid Diary's subscription. daybook. also leads on iOS requirement (16.0 vs 26.0). Grid Diary's advantage is review sentiment (48% vs 22%) and device support (3 vs 1). On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. daybook. sells 2 one-off in-app purchases and Grid Diary sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

daybook. ships an update monthly, Grid Diary every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 5, 2026 and September 25, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | daybook. | Grid Diary |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | — | **[4.6 (963 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/grid-diary-journal-planner/id1392523148/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | — | **963** |
| Positive reviews | 22.2% of reviews | **48.3% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Monthly | **Every 2 weeks** |
| Monetization | **Free with in-app purchases** | Subscription |
| Size | 95 MB | 80 MB |
| Requires iOS | **16.0** | 26.0 |
| Devices | iPhone | **iPhone, iPad, Mac** |
| Age rating | 12+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [MASAYUKI WADA](https://appshunter.io/developer/424572623) | [Sumi Interactive](https://appshunter.io/developer/597077264) |

## What reviewers say

### daybook.

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/daybook/id1066912352)

This app combines a calendar with journaling features to help you record your life. It automatically tracks your steps and visited locations, allowing you to create a visual diary with photos and notes.

**Highlights:** Calendar synchronization, Customizable design themes, Automatic step counting, Automatic location tracking, Photo and journal entries, Map view of visited locations

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Remove Ad. | $2.99 | one-time |
| daybook Premium | $2.99 | one-time |


### Grid Diary

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/grid-diary-journal-planner/id1392523148)

This app offers a guided journaling experience to foster personal development and mindfulness. It helps users build positive habits, manage stress, and enhance various aspects of their lives through customizable prompts and unique layouts.

**Highlights:** Prompted journaling with custom questions, Unique grid and mandala layouts, Daily, weekly, monthly, and yearly planning, Supports various journaling methods, Mindfulness and self-care focus, Stress and anxiety alleviation techniques

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly | $4.99 | per month |
| Monthly | $4.99 | per month |
| Annual | $29.99 | per year |
| Annual | $29.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 🌟 Excellent journaling app
- 📚 Customizable templates and prompts
- 🧠 Helps with self-reflection and mental health
- 🗓️ Organized grid layout
- 🔍 Useful search and timeline features

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Sync issues and data loss
- 💰 Expensive subscription model
- 🔒 Lack of account deletion or data export options
- 🤔 Confusing onboarding and upgrade process
- 🕰️ Slow loading times and app freezes

**Reported bugs**

- Entries disappearing or not syncing properly
- Password reset functionality not working
- Subscription issues and inability to access premium features
- Compatibility problems with newer iOS versions

**Requested features**

- Add Apple Pencil support
- Improve sync reliability across devices
- Provide more customization options for layouts and fonts
- Integrate with other productivity apps and calendars
- Implement a one-time purchase option


## Frequently asked questions

### Is daybook. free?

daybook. is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Grid Diary free?

Grid Diary is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Do daybook. or Grid Diary have ads?

Neither daybook. nor Grid Diary shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, daybook. or Grid Diary?

daybook. ships an update monthly, and Grid Diary every 2 weeks. Most recently, daybook. was updated on September 5, 2026 and Grid Diary on September 25, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*