# HighNotes vs My Diary

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: HighNotes at none against My Diary's 9. HighNotes also leads on ads (none vs shown) and iOS requirement (9.0 vs 13.0). My Diary's advantage is ratings volume (28K vs 47) and update cadence (every 2 weeks vs every 2 months). On price, review sentiment and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. My Diary sells 9 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month. HighNotes asks for nothing beyond the download.

My Diary holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.4. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: My Diary has 28K ratings behind it against 47, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 73% of HighNotes's written reviews are positive against 71% of My Diary's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

HighNotes ships an update every 2 months, My Diary every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 13, 2026 and October 18, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | HighNotes | My Diary |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.4 (47 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/highnotes/id1249114868/reviews) | **[4.7 (28K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/my-diary-journal-with-lock/id1579321589/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 47 | **28K** |
| Positive reviews | **72.7% of reviews** | 71.1% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | **Every 2 weeks** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 23 MB | 119 MB |
| Requires iOS | **9.0** | 13.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Aleksandr Fiodorov](https://appshunter.io/developer/571378481) | [BetterApp Tech Co., Limited](https://appshunter.io/developer/1579321591) |

## What reviewers say

### HighNotes

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/highnotes/id1249114868)

This app encourages frequent, brief journaling to build a consistent habit. Easily add photos to your entries to make them more engaging and enjoyable to revisit.

**Highlights:** Frequent, brief note-taking, Builds journaling habit, Attach photos to notes, Enhances memory, Improves emotional health

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

**In-app purchases:** none


### My Diary

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/my-diary-journal-with-lock/id1579321589)

This app offers a secure and personalized digital journal for recording daily thoughts, memories, and emotions. Enhance entries with photos, themes, and mood tracking. It's designed to support mental well-being by providing a private space for self-reflection and emotional processing.

**Highlights:** Password-protected diary, Add photos and drawings, Customizable themes and backgrounds, Mood tracking and analysis, Rich text editing, Journaling guides

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

**In-app purchases (9)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Diary VIP ( Month ) | $2.99 | per month |
| Diary VIP ( Month ) | $2.99 | per month |
| Diary Subscription Yearly | $16.99 | per year |
| My Diary Premium Yearly | $19.99 | per year |
| My Diary Premium Yearly | $19.99 | per year |
| My Diary Yearly VIP | $23.99 | per year |
| Diary Permanent VIP | $29.99 | one-time |
| Permanent VIP | $39.99 | one-time |
| My Diary Permanent VIP | $49.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🔒 Secure with password, fingerprint, and security question options
- 📝 Easy to write and express thoughts
- 🎨 Customizable with themes, stickers, and photos
- 🗓️ Helpful for tracking moods and daily activities

**What reviewers complain about**

- 💰 Many features locked behind premium paywall
- 🔍 Limited free theme and sticker options
- 🐛 Issues with formatting, text editing, and photo placement
- 🔄 Requires restoring purchases frequently

**Reported bugs**

- App crashing or freezing
- Entries not saving properly
- Inconsistent behavior with password/lock features

**Requested features**

- Ability to sync across devices
- More free customization options
- Landscape mode support for tablets
- Better organization tools like folders or tags


## Frequently asked questions

### Is HighNotes free?

HighNotes is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is My Diary free?

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

### Which has better reviews, HighNotes or My Diary?

My Diary is rated higher. HighNotes averages 4.4 out of 5 from 47 ratings, while My Diary averages 4.7 from 28K ratings.

### Do HighNotes or My Diary have ads?

My Diary shows ads; HighNotes does not.

### Which is updated more often, HighNotes or My Diary?

HighNotes ships an update every 2 months, and My Diary every 2 weeks. Most recently, HighNotes was updated on October 13, 2026 and My Diary on October 18, 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.*