# Diary With Password vs Minimalist Journal

The clearest difference is rating: Diary With Password at 4.7 against Minimalist Journal's 4.0. Diary With Password also leads on review sentiment (92% vs 58%) and update cadence (every 2 weeks vs every 3 months). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Diary With Password sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and Minimalist Journal sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Diary With Password holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Diary With Password has 27K ratings behind it against 378, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 92% of Diary With Password's written reviews are positive against 58% of Minimalist Journal's.

Diary With Password ships an update every 2 weeks, Minimalist Journal every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on October 30, 2026 and October 27, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Diary With Password | Minimalist Journal |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.7 (27K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/diary-with-password/id1252208166/reviews)** | [4.0 (378 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/minimalist-journal/id6443493135/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **27K** | 378 |
| Positive reviews | **92.0% of reviews** | 58.4% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 2 weeks** | Every 3 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 11 MB | 2 MB |
| Requires iOS | **12.0** | 16.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [帆 杨](https://appshunter.io/developer/959829749) | [Christian Merk](https://appshunter.io/developer/1487924099) |

## What reviewers say

### Diary With Password

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/diary-with-password/id1252208166)

This app provides a private digital space to record daily thoughts, emotions, and life events. It offers robust security features like password and biometric locks, alongside tools for organizing, searching, and exporting your entries. Enjoy a customizable and ad-free journaling experience.

**Highlights:** Password and biometric security, Daily entry logging, Full text search, Data backup and export (PDF/Text), Customizable fonts and sizes, Night mode, Daily reminders

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Pro version- One-time purchase | $12.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 💻 Simple and easy to use
- 🔒 Password protection
- 📝 Customizable fonts and layout
- ⏱️ Time stamp feature
- 🔓 No ads or paywalls

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🔍 Difficulty finding/accessing past entries
- 🖼️ No image/media support
- 🔄 Lack of syncing across devices
- 🔒 Password recovery issues
- 🔧 Limited customization options

**Reported bugs**

- Date entries sometimes display incorrectly
- Occasional app crashes or freezes

**Requested features**

- Add ability to import/attach photos
- Implement calendar view for entries
- Allow multiple entries per day
- Provide cloud backup and sync options
- Add more customization options (colors, themes, etc.)


### Minimalist Journal

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/minimalist-journal/id6443493135)

Capture your thoughts and ideas digitally with a handwriting experience that mimics pen on paper. Utilize Apple Pencil for precision and ease, transforming your device into a personal diary. Unlock unlimited entries with a one-time purchase.

**Highlights:** Handwritten journaling, Apple Pencil support, Digital diary, Capture thoughts and ideas, Unlimited entries unlock

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Unlimited entries | $8.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Minimalist design
- 💡 Handwriting support
- 🔒 Password protection
- 🚀 Simple and intuitive
- 📝 Effective for journaling

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Buggy performance
- 🖌️ Limited drawing/editing tools
- 💰 Paywall after limited entries
- 📁 No backup/export options
- 👨‍💻 Lack of customization

**Reported bugs**

- Apple Pencil double-tap not working
- Keyboard not appearing on screen
- Jumping between entries while writing
- Faint/invisible writing lines in dark mode

**Requested features**

- Ability to erase entire pages
- Option to change pen color
- Landscape mode support
- Sync with iCloud or other cloud storage
- Undo/redo functionality


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Diary With Password free?

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

### Is Minimalist Journal free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Diary With Password or Minimalist Journal?

Diary With Password is rated higher. Diary With Password averages 4.7 out of 5 from 27K ratings, while Minimalist Journal averages 4.0 from 378 ratings.

### Do Diary With Password or Minimalist Journal have ads?

Neither Diary With Password nor Minimalist Journal shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Diary With Password or Minimalist Journal?

Diary With Password ships an update every 2 weeks, and Minimalist Journal every 3 months. Most recently, Diary With Password was updated on October 30, 2026 and Minimalist Journal on October 27, 2026.

---

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