# Sunset Micro Journal vs Reflect

The clearest difference is monetization model: Sunset Micro Journal at free with in-app purchases against Reflect's subscription. Sunset Micro Journal also leads on update cadence (every 3 days vs every 6 weeks) and iOS requirement (11.2 vs 15.0). Reflect's advantage is review sentiment (77% vs 52%) and rating (4.6 vs 4.4). On price, ratings volume, ads and in-app purchases 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 Reflect sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $5.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Reflect holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 4.4. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 160 and 358 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 52% of Sunset Micro Journal's written reviews are positive against 77% of Reflect's.

Sunset Micro Journal ships an update every 3 days, Reflect every 6 weeks. Both last shipped on November 2, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Sunset Micro Journal | Reflect |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.4 (160 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sunset-micro-journal/id1335813618/reviews) | **[4.6 (358 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/reflect-guided-daily-journal/id1443541171/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 160 | **358** |
| Positive reviews | 52.0% of reviews | **77.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 3 days** | Every 6 weeks |
| Monetization | **Free with in-app purchases** | Subscription |
| Size | 19 MB | 56 MB |
| Requires iOS | **11.2** | 15.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [WayDC](https://appshunter.io/developer/467896239) | [Ensparkle OOD](https://appshunter.io/developer/1443541170) |

## 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 |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Simple and minimalistic design
- 👍 Great for journaling thoughts
- 👍 Easy to use and organized
- 👍 Useful for tracking tasks/to-dos
- 👍 Multiple journals for separate things

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 App freezes frequently
- 🐛 Cannot type/enter text
- 🐛 Syncing/backup issues lead to data loss
- 🐛 No landscape mode support
- 🐛 Requires payment for save/restore

**Reported bugs**

- App freezes up
- Cannot type anything
- Syncing does not work
- Shows wrong year for entries
- App freezes and does not allow movement or tapping

**Requested features**

- Add photos to entries
- Landscape orientation support
- Ability to sync/transfer entries
- Ability to log in or save entries
- More customizable text features (underline, strikethrough)


### Reflect

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/reflect-guided-daily-journal/id1443541171)

This app provides a guided journaling experience to help you capture thoughts and feelings, fostering self-awareness and a more positive outlook. It intelligently guides your reflections with structured topics and questions based on proven psychological methods.

**Highlights:** Guided reflection topics and questions, Daily check-ins with yourself, Library of self-reflection topics, Shift to a positive mindset, Improve mental health, Develop new perspectives

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly | $5.99 | per month |
| Annual | $17.99 | per year |
| Lifetime | $79.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 💭 Excellent guided journaling prompts
- 🤖 Impressive AI chat companion feature
- 👍 Simple and intuitive user interface
- 📱 Clean, polished design
- 🆓 Generous free version

**What reviewers complain about**

- 💰 Premium features behind paywall
- 🐛 App crashes and data loss issues
- 📱 No iPad or landscape mode support
- 🔒 Ambiguous privacy policy
- 🖊️ Limited text formatting options

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes mid-entry causing data loss
- Text input invisible on iOS 17
- AI chat feature not loading/working
- Cannot close chat interface properly
- Return key doesn't create line breaks

**Requested features**

- Blank note/free writing mode without prompts
- Ability to change entry dates retroactively
- Image attachment capability for entries
- Cross-device sync with login feature
- iPad and landscape mode support


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Sunset Micro Journal free?

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

### Is Reflect free?

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

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

Reflect is rated higher. Sunset Micro Journal averages 4.4 out of 5 from 160 ratings, while Reflect averages 4.6 from 358 ratings.

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

Neither Sunset Micro Journal nor Reflect shows ads.

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

Sunset Micro Journal ships an update every 3 days, and Reflect every 6 weeks. Most recently, Sunset Micro Journal was updated on November 2, 2026 and Reflect on November 2, 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.*