# Basic Journal vs Daily Journal Log, Private

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Daily Journal Log, Private at 92% against Basic Journal's 40%. Daily Journal Log, Private also leads on rating (4.9 vs 3.3) and ads (none vs shown). Basic Journal's advantage is iOS requirement (11.0 vs 16.1). On price, in-app purchases, monetization model and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Basic Journal sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and Daily Journal Log, Private sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Daily Journal Log, Private holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 3.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Daily Journal Log, Private has 461 ratings behind it against 4, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 40% of Basic Journal's written reviews are positive against 92% of Daily Journal Log, Private's.

Basic Journal ships an update every 2 weeks, Daily Journal Log, Private weekly. The most recent releases landed on October 7, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Basic Journal | Daily Journal Log, Private |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.3 (4 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/basic-journal/id1139438456/reviews) | **[4.9 (461 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/daily-journal-log-private/id1557699226/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 4 | **461** |
| Positive reviews | 40.0% of reviews | **91.8% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Every 2 weeks | **Weekly** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 14 MB | 42 MB |
| Requires iOS | **11.0** | 16.1 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [James Hudson](https://appshunter.io/developer/599997663) | [Custom Arts](https://appshunter.io/developer/968118447) |

## What reviewers say

### Basic Journal

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/basic-journal/id1139438456)

A fast and simple journal app designed for busy individuals to quickly jot down notes on daily activities. It offers an elegant, chronological display of entries with easy editing and export options.

**Highlights:** Quick note-taking, Chronological note display, Summary and detail views, Edit and delete notes easily, Recently edited notes highlighted, iCloud syncing, Text export option

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Remove Ads | $0.99 | one-time |


### Daily Journal Log, Private

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/daily-journal-log-private/id1557699226)

This app offers AI-powered journaling with features like chat feedback, voice summaries, and pattern analysis. It allows for unlimited notes, photo attachments, and secure, private storage with optional iCloud sync. Build consistent habits with reminders and explore your writing patterns with insightful analytics.

**Highlights:** AI chat and voice feedback, Unlimited notes and journal entries, Photo attachments, AI scanning for instant entries, Search and organization, Gratitude, goals, and reflection templates, Privacy-focused with no account required

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

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Weekly Premium | $0.99 | per 7 days |
| Monthly Premium | $2.99 | per month |
| Yearly | $23.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Simple and intuitive user interface
- 📝 Perfect for quick note-taking and journaling
- 🔍 Useful search functionality
- 📊 Insightful analytics and trends feature
- ⚡ Fast and responsive performance

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🔔 Persistent notifications about last entry (difficult to disable)
- 🐛 App crashes and freezing issues
- ⚠️ Recent introduction of ads after update
- 🐢 Sluggish performance and input lag on some devices
- 💳 Subscription requirement to remove ads

**Reported bugs**

- Last entry notification cannot be disabled despite user attempts
- App stopped working on October 12, 2025 (resolved by October 13)
- Text entry problems (reported and fixed)
- Scrolling freezes and sticks on some devices
- Key presses not registering immediately

**Requested features**

- Ability to attach files and photos to entries
- Home screen widget for quick access
- End time tracking with timeline visualization
- AI-powered prompts for entry suggestions
- Customizable text formatting (colors, sizes, fonts)


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Basic Journal free?

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

### Is Daily Journal Log, Private free?

Daily Journal Log, Private is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Basic Journal or Daily Journal Log, Private?

Daily Journal Log, Private is rated higher. Basic Journal averages 3.3 out of 5 from 4 ratings, while Daily Journal Log, Private averages 4.9 from 461 ratings.

### Do Basic Journal or Daily Journal Log, Private have ads?

Basic Journal shows ads; Daily Journal Log, Private does not.

### Which is updated more often, Basic Journal or Daily Journal Log, Private?

Basic Journal ships an update every 2 weeks, and Daily Journal Log, Private weekly. Most recently, Basic Journal was updated on October 7, 2026 and Daily Journal Log, Private on October 24, 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.*