Comparison

Shengye vs Dear Diary

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Shengye

This app offers high-quality, long-duration audio recording with intelligent silence skipping. It also provides accurate voice-to-text transcription, file management, and easy sharing options. Save space with MP3 compression and sync across devices via iCloud.

Highlights
  • High-quality MP3 recording
  • Silence skipping
  • Voice-to-text transcription
  • iCloud storage and sharing
  • Audio editing
  • Calendar management for recordings
  • Wi-Fi sharing
Features
Read full description

Shengye is a calm voice workspace for meetings, interviews, lectures, study sessions, and ideas. It connects recordings, transcripts, highlights, tags, search, and clips into one clear flow: capture, find, replay, organize, and share. RECORD IN THE MOMENT • High-quality long recordings with Standard and High Quality modes • Pause and resume, with duration and input source kept visible • Add highlights while recording • Delayed start and automatic stop • Start quickly from a Home Screen widget or Shortcuts • Follow recording status from Live Activities and Dynamic Island, with resume and save controls TRANSCRIBE AND CORRECT • Turn saved recordings into searchable text • Follow playback sentence by sentence with word-level highlighting • Correct recognized text in a focused full-screen editor • Transcription uses supported on-device system speech services; a language resource may download the first time • New installs receive 3 trial transcriptions. After that, each rewarded video adds one use, and earned credits remain available REPLAY EFFICIENTLY • Continuous playback, speed control, and 15-second skip • Preview a position while dragging, then seek when you release • Keep text, highlights, and the timeline in sync • Pause or resume the current recording from the library’s mini player • Use headphones and system media controls ORGANIZE WHAT MATTERS • Add a title and note to a moment or transcript passage • Merge overlapping highlights so the same passage appears once • Create and manage tags, filter by one tag, pin items, and perform batch actions • Search titles, transcript text, and highlights • Browse a clear timeline designed for large libraries CLIP, IMPORT, AND SHARE • Create a clipped copy from a passage or time range while keeping the original • Preview and export audio, text, and subtitles • Import existing audio files • Create and reopen Shengye backups; imports never overwrite existing recordings PRIVACY, SAFETY, AND SYNC • Optional iCloud sync with Shengye Pro • Protect your library with App Lock • Turn Trash on for recoverable deletion, or delete immediately when it is off • Restore individual recordings or empty Trash • Recordings stay on the device unless you choose sync, export, or share SHENGYE PRO • One-time purchase with permanent access • Unlimited transcription, iCloud sync, and no ads Availability depends on device support, system language, permissions, and purchase status. System transcription availability varies by language and region. • Optional Clear Voice recording on supported inputs • Export an MP3 copy when needed; keep the original recording • Available on iPhone and iPad Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

About

Dear Diary

A private and simple digital journal for recording daily thoughts, emotions, and memories. Express yourself freely with an easy-to-use interface designed for personal reflection and saving meaningful moments.

Highlights
  • Daily diary entries
  • Record thoughts and feelings
  • Save important memories
  • Private writing space
  • Simple and clean design
  • Easy journaling experience
Features
Read full description

Dear Diary is a simple and private space to record your life, thoughts, and memories. Whether you want to write about your day, keep personal notes, record emotions, or save meaningful moments, Dear Diary helps you express yourself freely. Features: • Write daily diary entries easily • Clean and simple design • Record thoughts, feelings, and experiences • Save important memories anytime • Private and personal writing space • Easy-to-use journal experience • Don’t need to write it, just record it Life moves fast, but memories matter. Start writing your story today with Dear Diary.

Screenshots

Shengye4 screens
Dear Diary4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Dear Diary at 5.0 against Shengye's 3.6. Dear Diary also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 4) and ads (none vs shown). Shengye's advantage is update cadence (every 6 days vs every 6 weeks). On price, ratings volume and device support there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Shengye sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per month. Dear Diary asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Dear Diary holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 3.6. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 10 and 7 respectively.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Shengye ships an update every 6 days, Dear Diary every 6 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 2, 2026 and October 31, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
Shengye versus Dear Diary: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterShengyeDear Diary
PriceFreeFree
Rating3.6 (10 ratings)5.0 (7 ratings) — better
Positive reviews18.2% of reviews—
Number of ratings10 — better7
Update frequencyEvery 6 days — betterEvery 6 weeks
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree — better
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPod
Requires iOS26.013.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size32 MB28 MB
Age rating4+9+
Developer荣 周Michael Ramsey

In-app purchases

4 purchases

Shengye

Subscriptions3
  • Monthly$0.991 Month
  • Half year membership3 Days trial$4.996 Months
  • Yearly$9.491 Year
One-time1
  • Buyout$12.99
None

Dear Diary

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Shengye free?
Shengye is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Dear Diary free?
Dear Diary is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Shengye or Dear Diary?
Dear Diary is rated higher. Shengye averages 3.6 out of 5 from 10 ratings, while Dear Diary averages 5.0 from 7 ratings.
Do Shengye or Dear Diary have ads?
Shengye shows ads; Dear Diary does not.
Which is updated more often, Shengye or Dear Diary?
Shengye ships an update every 6 days, and Dear Diary every 6 weeks. Most recently, Shengye was updated on November 2, 2026 and Dear Diary on October 31, 2026.

Other comparisons