# Sunset Micro Journal vs Thera

The clearest difference is rating: Thera at 4.8 against Sunset Micro Journal's 4.4. Thera also leads on review sentiment (76% vs 52%). Sunset Micro Journal's advantage is update cadence (every 3 days vs every 2 weeks) and iOS requirement (11.2 vs 16.0). 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 Thera sells 8 in-app purchases, starting at $6.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Thera holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.4. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 160 and 153 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 52% of Sunset Micro Journal's written reviews are positive against 76% of Thera's.

Sunset Micro Journal ships an update every 3 days, Thera every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 2, 2026 and November 3, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Sunset Micro Journal | Thera |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.4 (160 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sunset-micro-journal/id1335813618/reviews) | **[4.8 (153 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/thera-ai-shadow-work-journal/id1474161008/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **160** | 153 |
| Positive reviews | 52.0% of reviews | **75.9% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 3 days** | Every 2 weeks |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 19 MB | 74 MB |
| Requires iOS | **11.2** | 16.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [WayDC](https://appshunter.io/developer/467896239) | [Thera Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1818874692) |

## 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)


### Thera

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/thera-ai-shadow-work-journal/id1474161008)

This app serves as a personal mental health tracker and diary, offering features for mood tracking, gratitude journaling, and managing fears. It aims to promote self-development, reduce anxiety, and increase self-awareness through guided writing practices.

**Highlights:** AI-powered mental health tracking, Confidential diary with fingerprint lock, Mood and emotion tracker, Gratitude journaling prompts, Wishes and goals journal, Fear analysis and management

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

**In-app purchases (8)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Mental Health & Mood Balance | $6.99 | per 7 days |
| Mental Health & Mood Balance | $8.99 | per 7 days |
| Journaling for mental health | $14.99 | per 3 months |
| My diary. Journal prompts | $14.99 | per month |
| Unlock Thera: Mood Balance | $17.99 | per month |
| Mental Health & Mood Balance | $44.99 | per year |
| Mental Health & Mood Balance | $59.99 | per year |
| Thera Premium (1 year) | $79.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Sunset Micro Journal free?

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

### Is Thera free?

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

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

Thera is rated higher. Sunset Micro Journal averages 4.4 out of 5 from 160 ratings, while Thera averages 4.8 from 153 ratings.

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

Neither Sunset Micro Journal nor Thera shows ads.

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

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