Comparison

SimpleEdit vs Diary

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

Head to head
About

SimpleEdit

This is a straightforward plain text editor that allows you to open and edit various text files. It offers a view-only mode for data detection and a rewind feature to restore original file states. The app supports customization of fonts and keyboard types for a personalized editing experience.

Highlights
  • Open text files from Files app
  • View-only mode with data detection
  • Rewind button to revert changes
  • Supports dark mode and multiwindow
  • Customizable font family and size
  • System font picker integration
  • Switchable native iOS keyboard types
Features
Read full description

A simple plain text editor built using SwiftUI. Features: • Open any text file or compatible data files as UTF8 encoded text from the Files app. • Enter view-only mode for data detection (links, phone numbers, addresses, …). • Rewind button to revert files to their original state. • Supports dark mode, multiwindow, and state restoration. • Customise font family & size used for editing. • Select fonts using the system font picker, which shows fonts installed in the Settings app. (Settings → General → Fonts) • Switch between native iOS keyboard types (default, number pad, phone pad, URL, web search, Twitter, …).

About

Diary

Features
Read full description

Keep your thoughts, memories, and everyday moments private with a simple diary designed for personal journaling. Write freely, add photos and moods, and protect your memories with a passcode and Face ID or Touch ID. PRIVATE & SECURE • Protect your diary with a 4–6 digit passcode • Unlock with Face ID or Touch ID • Automatic locking keeps your entries private • Privacy mask protects your screen when the app goes to the background • Your diary data is stored locally on your device • No account and no cloud storage required WRITE YOUR WAY • Write, edit, and read diary entries • Add titles, text, dates, and times • Quickly record a thought, photo, or mood • Add multiple photos, tags, locations, weather, and categories • Use writing templates for today, gratitude, weekends, travel, and more • Customize paper colors, font size, and text color • Favorite important entries • Export an entry as an image to your Photos FIND & RELIVE YOUR MEMORIES • Search titles, entries, categories, tags, and locations • Filter entries by date or photos • Use the calendar to see your journaling history • Discover memories from this day in previous years • Review your month at a glance • Travel through your memories with Time Machine by year • Browse your favorite entries • View statistics for entries, photos, writing streaks, moods, categories, and popular tags BUILD A DAILY JOURNALING HABIT • Track consecutive journaling days • Set a daily reminder • Look back on your writing and memories whenever you want PERSONALIZE YOUR DIARY • Light mode, dark mode, or follow the system • Multiple themes • Customize the look and feel of your journal BACKUP & EXPORT • Back up and restore your diary, photos, and tags • Export your memories as JSON, TXT, or PDF • Keep a copy of your personal memories whenever you need it A private space for everyday thoughts, feelings, photos, and memories—without an account or subscription.

Screenshots

SimpleEdit4 screens
Diary4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Diary at none against SimpleEdit's 3. Diary also leads on iOS requirement (15.0 vs 26). SimpleEdit's advantage is ads (none vs shown). On price 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. SimpleEdit sells 3 one-off in-app purchases. Diary asks for nothing beyond the download.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
SimpleEdit versus Diary: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSimpleEditDiary
PriceFreeFree
Rating3.5 (22 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews65.5% of reviews—
Number of ratings22 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 3 weeks—
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases—
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPod
Requires iOS2615.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size26 MB33 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperJamie Froggatt思宇 赵

In-app purchases

3 purchases

SimpleEdit

One-time3
  • Small Tip$0.99
  • Medium Tip$3.99
  • Generous Tip$9.99
None

Diary

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is SimpleEdit free?
SimpleEdit is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Diary free?
Diary is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do SimpleEdit or Diary have ads?
Diary shows ads; SimpleEdit does not.

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