# Sunset Micro Journal vs Diarly

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Diarly at 85% against Sunset Micro Journal's 52%. Diarly also leads on rating (4.7 vs 4.4) and ratings volume (1.5K vs 160). Sunset Micro Journal's advantage is update cadence (every 3 days vs fortnightly) and iOS requirement (11.2 vs 18.0). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Sunset Micro Journal sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month and Diarly sells 7 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Diarly holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.4. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Diarly has 1.5K ratings behind it against 160, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 52% of Sunset Micro Journal's written reviews are positive against 85% of Diarly's.

Sunset Micro Journal ships an update every 3 days, Diarly fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on October 21, 2026 and October 26, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Sunset Micro Journal | Diarly |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.4 (160 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sunset-micro-journal/id1335813618/reviews) | **[4.7 (1.5K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/diarly-diary-private-journal/id1387167765/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 160 | **1.5K** |
| Positive reviews | 52.0% of reviews | **84.8% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 3 days** | Fortnightly |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Freemium |
| Size | 19 MB | 281 MB |
| Requires iOS | **11.2** | 18.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | **iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [WayDC](https://appshunter.io/developer/467896239) | [Krzysztof Nowak](https://appshunter.io/developer/738037787) |

## What reviewers say

### Sunset Micro Journal

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sunset-micro-journal/id1335813618)

Capture your thoughts quickly with a micro journal. Express emotions using animations, create custom templates, and organize entries with drag-and-drop sections. Personalize your journal and keep entries private with passcode or biometric locks.

**Highlights:** Quick bullet point entries, Mood animations, Customizable templates, Drag-and-drop organization, Personalized journal themes, Passcode and biometric lock

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Pro Monthly Subscription | $1.99 | per month |
| Pro Yearly Subscription | $18.99 | per year |


### Diarly

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/diarly-diary-private-journal/id1387167765)

This app helps you start and maintain a journaling habit with daily prompts, mood tracking, and the ability to add photos and other media. It also allows for creating topic-based notes and seamlessly integrates with other apps and services for a comprehensive personal record.

**Highlights:** Daily prompts with enriched data (weather, location, health), Mood tracking and pattern analysis, Topic-based note creation, Multimedia attachments (photos, videos, audio), Cross-device syncing, Customizable themes and layouts, Password and biometric protection

**Features:** Family Sharing, Apple Watch app, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (7)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly AI+ | $1.99 | per month |
| Monthly Premium | $2.99 | per month |
| Yearly Premium | $24.99 | per year |
| Premium Journal – Yearly Plan | $24.99 | per year |
| Yearly Premium | $25.99 | per year |
| Yearly Premium | $29.99 | per year |
| Migrate Lifetime License | Free | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Simple and intuitive interface
- 🔒 Password protection and encryption
- 👍 Customizable themes and fonts
- 👍 Seamless syncing across devices
- 👍 Helpful journaling prompts

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Occasional crashes and syncing issues
- 🔒 Premium features require subscription
- 👎 Limited options for image handling
- 👎 Lack of ability to edit entry dates

**Reported bugs**

- Entries disappearing after app updates
- Inability to password protect individual journals

**Requested features**

- Ability to add reminders and notifications
- Option to organize entries into folders
- Support for Markdown formatting and backlinking
- Improved export and backup functionality


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Sunset Micro Journal free?

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

### Is Diarly free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Sunset Micro Journal or Diarly?

Diarly is rated higher. Sunset Micro Journal averages 4.4 out of 5 from 160 ratings, while Diarly averages 4.7 from 1.5K ratings.

### Do Sunset Micro Journal or Diarly have ads?

Neither Sunset Micro Journal nor Diarly shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Sunset Micro Journal or Diarly?

Sunset Micro Journal ships an update every 3 days, and Diarly fortnightly. Most recently, Sunset Micro Journal was updated on October 21, 2026 and Diarly on October 26, 2026.

---

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