# Sunset Micro Journal vs Clearful

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Clearful at 85% against Sunset Micro Journal's 52%. Clearful also leads on rating (4.7 vs 4.4) and ratings volume (3.1K vs 160). Sunset Micro Journal's advantage is update cadence (every 3 days vs monthly) and iOS requirement (11.2 vs 16.0). 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 Clearful sells 5 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Clearful holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.4. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Clearful has 3.1K 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 Clearful's.

Sunset Micro Journal ships an update every 3 days, Clearful monthly. The most recent releases landed on October 21, 2026 and October 27, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Sunset Micro Journal | Clearful |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.4 (160 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sunset-micro-journal/id1335813618/reviews) | **[4.7 (3.1K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/clearful-journal-and-diary/id1513257639/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 160 | **3.1K** |
| Positive reviews | 52.0% of reviews | **84.6% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 3 days** | Monthly |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 19 MB | 139 MB |
| Requires iOS | **11.2** | 16.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, Mac |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [WayDC](https://appshunter.io/developer/467896239) | [Clearful Journal, Mindfulness Diary and Mental Health Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1513257638) |

## 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 |


### Clearful

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/clearful-journal-and-diary/id1513257639)

This app provides a secure and private space to explore your thoughts, emotions, and experiences through journaling. It offers tools to express yourself with text, photos, and audio, organize entries with rich formatting, and rediscover past moments. Guided journals and habit-building features support personal growth and mental well-being.

**Highlights:** Text, photo, and audio journaling, Rich text formatting options, Rediscover past journal entries, Encrypted and private storage, Cross-device syncing, Library of guided journals and prompts, Habit building tools and reminders

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (5)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Journal & Diary - Pro Monthly | $9.99 | per month |
| Journal & Diary - Pro Monthly | $14.99 | per month |
| Clearful Pro: Journal & Diary | $59.99 | per year |
| Journal & Diary - Pro Yearly | $59.99 | per year |
| Journal & Diary - Pro Yearly | $89.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Simple and easy to use
- 📝 Helpful writing prompts
- 🔒 Secure and private
- 🗓️ Useful for daily journaling
- 💭 Promotes self-reflection

**What reviewers complain about**

- 💰 Expensive subscription model
- 🔓 Lack of offline access
- 🖼️ Limited free features (e.g. no image uploads)
- 🤖 Aggressive upselling of paid version

**Reported bugs**

- Frequent app crashes or freezes
- Syncing issues across devices
- Password/login problems

**Requested features**

- Ability to customize text color and font
- Integration with music or ambient sounds
- Offline journaling capabilities
- More free templates and prompts
- Improved accessibility features


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Sunset Micro Journal free?

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

### Is Clearful free?

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

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

Clearful is rated higher. Sunset Micro Journal averages 4.4 out of 5 from 160 ratings, while Clearful averages 4.7 from 3.1K ratings.

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

Neither Sunset Micro Journal nor Clearful shows ads.

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

Sunset Micro Journal ships an update every 3 days, and Clearful monthly. Most recently, Sunset Micro Journal was updated on October 21, 2026 and Clearful on October 27, 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.*