# Journal X vs Diary with Lock

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Journal X at 80% against Diary with Lock's 0%. Journal X also leads on ratings volume (1.8K vs 20) and rating (4.5 vs 4.3). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Journal X sells 6 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month and Diary with Lock sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $9.99 per year. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Journal X holds the better App Store score, 4.5 against 4.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Journal X has 1.8K ratings behind it against 20, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 80% of Journal X's written reviews are positive against 0% of Diary with Lock's.

Journal X ships an update monthly, Diary with Lock every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on August 14, 2026 and September 8, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Journal X | Diary with Lock |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.5 (1.8K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/journal-x-my-diary-with-lock/id1360257373/reviews)** | [4.3 (20 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/diary-with-lock-idiary/id1625609721/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **1.8K** | 20 |
| Positive reviews | **79.9% of reviews** | 0.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Monthly** | Every 3 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Freemium |
| Size | 88 MB | 58 MB |
| Requires iOS | **12.1** | 13.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Amogh Joshi](https://appshunter.io/developer/1360257372) | [Heyou Co., Ltd.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1480358223) |

## What reviewers say

### Journal X

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/journal-x-my-diary-with-lock/id1360257373)

This app allows you to create a private digital journal with passcode protection. Add photos, stickers, and organize entries into multiple journals. Sync across devices and receive reminders to encourage daily writing.

**Highlights:** Daily photo entries, Passcode lock, Multiple photo uploads per entry, Text search for entries, Add up to 9 stickers per entry, Organize into multiple journals, Cross-device sync, Customizable reminders

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (6)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| JournalX Monthly Subscribe | $1.99 | per month |
| Journal X pro monthly | $4.99 | per month |
| JournalX Discount Subscribe | $9.99 | per year |
| 1 Year Journal X Pro | $19.99 | per year |
| JournalX Mini Discount | $4.99 | one-time |
| Journal X Mini | $9.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Easy to use
- 🔒 Password protection
- 📷 Ability to add photos
- 🗓️ Calendar view of entries
- 🌈 Customizable journal appearance

**What reviewers complain about**

- 💰 Paywall for key features
- 🐛 Cursor/scrolling issues
- 🔒 Password lock should be free
- 💰 Subscription model too expensive

**Reported bugs**

- Disappearing punctuation in entries
- App crashes when deleting entries
- Syncing issues across devices

**Requested features**

- Add text formatting options (bold, italic, etc.)
- Ability to export/backup journal entries
- More customization options for journal appearance
- Option to send journal entries to future self


### Diary with Lock

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/diary-with-lock-idiary/id1625609721)

Capture and cherish life's moments in a secure, beautifully designed digital journal. Add text, photos, and videos, track your mood and weather, and protect your entries with a passcode. Back up your memories to iCloud and export them as PDFs.

**Highlights:** Photo and text diary entries, Lock screen passcode protection, iCloud backup, Mood and weather tracking, Font customization, Intruder snapshots, PDF export

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

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| iDiary Pro | $9.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Journal X free?

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

### Is Diary with Lock free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Journal X or Diary with Lock?

Journal X is rated higher. Journal X averages 4.5 out of 5 from 1.8K ratings, while Diary with Lock averages 4.3 from 20 ratings.

### Do Journal X or Diary with Lock have ads?

Neither Journal X nor Diary with Lock shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Journal X or Diary with Lock?

Journal X ships an update monthly, and Diary with Lock every 3 months. Most recently, Journal X was updated on August 14, 2026 and Diary with Lock on September 8, 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.*