# Daylio Journal vs Guided Journal

The clearest difference is update cadence: Daylio Journal at weekly against Guided Journal's every 3 months. Daylio Journal also leads on ratings volume (62K vs 67) and rating (4.8 vs 4.5). Guided Journal's advantage is review sentiment (100% vs 91%) and iOS requirement (13.0 vs 15.0). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Daylio Journal sells 7 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month and Guided Journal sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Daylio Journal holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Daylio Journal has 62K ratings behind it against 67, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 91% of Daylio Journal's written reviews are positive against 100% of Guided Journal's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

Daylio Journal ships an update weekly, Guided Journal every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on November 1, 2026 and October 29, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Daylio Journal | Guided Journal |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.8 (62K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/daylio-journal-mood-tracker/id1194023242/reviews)** | [4.5 (67 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/guided-journal/id1527459078/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **62K** | 67 |
| Positive reviews | 91.3% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Weekly** | Every 3 months |
| Monetization | Freemium | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | **#179** | — |
| Size | 250 MB | 7 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | **13.0** |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple Watch** | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Relaxio s.r.o.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1194023241) | [Applorium Ltd](https://appshunter.io/developer/1688522804) |

## What reviewers say

### Daylio Journal

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/daylio-journal-mood-tracker/id1194023242)

**Currently charting:** #179 Top Grossing · Lifestyle (US App Store)

This app helps you track your moods and activities to improve self-care and mental well-being. It offers a simple way to journal, set goals, and understand your habits through insightful statistics, all while prioritizing your privacy.

**Highlights:** Mood tracking with customizable icons, Activity logging, Goal setting and habit building, Detailed statistics and charts, Private journaling without typing, Data backup and export options, PIN lock for privacy

**Features:** Family Sharing, Apple Watch app, iMessage stickers, Vision Pro support, iPhone Duo support

**In-app purchases (7)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Daylio Premium | $4.99 | per month |
| Daylio Premium | $4.99 | per month |
| Daylio Premium | $17.99 | per year |
| Daylio Premium | $17.99 | per year |
| Daylio Premium | $23.99 | per year |
| Daylio Premium | $35.99 | per year |
| PREMIUM | $59.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Easy to use
- 👍 Customizable moods and activities
- 📊 Helpful statistics and analytics
- 🗓️ Consistent daily logging
- 💡 Motivating goal-setting features

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🔒 Backup feature locked behind premium
- 🔍 Limited mood/activity options in free version
- 📱 No Apple Watch app
- 🧠 Difficulty tracking mood changes throughout the day

**Reported bugs**

- Occasional app freezing and notification issues
- Difficulty restoring data after device change

**Requested features**

- Add ability to log voice recordings
- Implement color-coding for activity groups
- Allow syncing across multiple devices
- Provide more detailed mood/emotion tracking options
- Add option to schedule future activities


### Guided Journal

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/guided-journal/id1527459078)

This app provides daily prompts to encourage self-reflection and personal growth through a digital journal. Capture your thoughts, feelings, and daily accomplishments with guided questions. Upgrade for advanced features and an ad-free experience.

**Highlights:** Daily self-reflection prompts, Guided journaling, Photo diary entries, Track feelings and accomplishments, Subscription for premium features, Auto-renewable subscription options

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

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly premium | $2.99 | per month |
| Yearly premium | $7.99 | per year |
| Lifetime premium | $14.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Daylio Journal free?

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

### Is Guided Journal free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Daylio Journal or Guided Journal?

Daylio Journal is rated higher. Daylio Journal averages 4.8 out of 5 from 62K ratings, while Guided Journal averages 4.5 from 67 ratings.

### Do Daylio Journal or Guided Journal have ads?

Neither Daylio Journal nor Guided Journal shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Daylio Journal or Guided Journal?

Daylio Journal ships an update weekly, and Guided Journal every 3 months. Most recently, Daylio Journal was updated on November 1, 2026 and Guided Journal on October 29, 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.*