# Sunset Micro Journal vs Private Journal

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Private Journal at 85% against Sunset Micro Journal's 52%. Private Journal also leads on rating (4.7 vs 4.4) and ratings volume (544 vs 160). Sunset Micro Journal's advantage is iOS requirement (11.2 vs 17.0). On price, update cadence, 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 Private Journal sells 6 in-app purchases, starting at $1.49 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Private Journal holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.4. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 160 and 544 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 52% of Sunset Micro Journal's written reviews are positive against 85% of Private Journal's.

Sunset Micro Journal ships an update every 3 days, Private Journal weekly. The most recent releases landed on October 21, 2026 and October 25, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Sunset Micro Journal | Private Journal |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.4 (160 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sunset-micro-journal/id1335813618/reviews) | **[4.7 (544 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/private-journal-punkt/id1507575828/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 160 | **544** |
| Positive reviews | 52.0% of reviews | **85.4% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 3 days** | Weekly |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 19 MB | 18 MB |
| Requires iOS | **11.2** | 17.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [WayDC](https://appshunter.io/developer/467896239) | [Gregor Pichler](https://appshunter.io/developer/949814417) |

## 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 |


### Private Journal

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/private-journal-punkt/id1507575828)

This app offers a secure and private journaling experience with a simple, user-friendly design. It focuses on helping users track their moods and daily experiences to foster happiness and positivity. All data is stored locally or in private iCloud, with no ads or logins required.

**Highlights:** Simple and intuitive design, Secure local and iCloud storage, Face ID/Touch ID protection, No login or ads, Supports accessibility features, Fair and transparent pricing

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

**In-app purchases (6)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Punkt Premium Monthly | $1.49 | per month |
| Punkt Premium Monthly | $1.99 | per month |
| Punkt Premium Monthly | $3.49 | per month |
| Punkt Premium Yearly | $19.99 | per year |
| Punkt Premium Lifetime Special | $19.99 | one-time |
| Punkt Premium Lifetime | $49.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Simple and easy to use
- 🚀 Intuitive interface
- 🔒 Secure and private
- 💡 Helpful for journaling habit
- 👍 Minimalist design

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Occasional crashes or data loss
- 🔒 Lack of password/biometric options
- 💡 Limited customization options
- 💡 Desire for more features (video, multiple photos, etc.)

**Reported bugs**

- Crashes when exporting journal
- Inconsistent behavior when writing late at night
- Restore purchases not working on iPad

**Requested features**

- Add iPad and macOS app support
- Allow editing of past entries
- Expand mood/reason options
- Provide more detailed analytics and data visualization
- Add ability to change entry dates


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Sunset Micro Journal free?

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

### Is Private Journal free?

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

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

Private Journal is rated higher. Sunset Micro Journal averages 4.4 out of 5 from 160 ratings, while Private Journal averages 4.7 from 544 ratings.

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

Neither Sunset Micro Journal nor Private Journal shows ads.

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

Sunset Micro Journal ships an update every 3 days, and Private Journal weekly. Most recently, Sunset Micro Journal was updated on October 21, 2026 and Private Journal on October 25, 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.*