# Diary! SmartDiary vs Simpler

The clearest difference is ads: Simpler at none against Diary! SmartDiary's shown. Simpler also leads on monetization model (free vs free with in-app purchases) and update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 3 months). On price, review sentiment, ratings volume and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Diary! SmartDiary sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and Simpler sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Simpler holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.6. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 44 and 15 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 93% of Diary! SmartDiary's written reviews are positive against 100% of Simpler's.

Diary! SmartDiary ships an update every 3 months, Simpler every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 9, 2026 and September 25, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Diary! SmartDiary | Simpler |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.6 (44 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/diary-smartdiary/id1381186388/reviews) | **[4.8 (15 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/simpler-diary-journal/id1443625358/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **44** | 15 |
| Positive reviews | 93.3% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months | **Every 3 weeks** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Size | 12 MB | 70 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | **11.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Hideki Okuno](https://appshunter.io/developer/1234067922) | [Wayne Williams](https://appshunter.io/developer/1116831128) |

## What reviewers say

### Diary! SmartDiary

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/diary-smartdiary/id1381186388)

Record daily life with photos and track your mood and schedule on a calendar. Secure your entries with a passcode and easily access past memories. Customize your diary with various settings for a personalized experience.

**Highlights:** Record memories with photos, Track daily mood and schedule, Passcode lock with biometric support, iCloud backup and data migration, Customizable calendar and diary settings, Input forgetting notifications

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Remove Ads | $2.99 | one-time |


### Simpler

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/simpler-diary-journal/id1443625358)

This prompt-based journal app makes reflection easy and fun. Capture moods, thoughts, and interests with guided questions, photos, videos, and voice-to-text entries. Personalize your diary and sync across devices.

**Highlights:** Prompt-based journaling, Add photos and videos, Voice-to-text entry, Customizable diary cover, Daily reminders, Touch/Face ID lock, Calendar view

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Upgrade to Pro | $3.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Diary! SmartDiary free?

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

### Is Simpler free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Diary! SmartDiary or Simpler?

Simpler is rated higher. Diary! SmartDiary averages 4.6 out of 5 from 44 ratings, while Simpler averages 4.8 from 15 ratings.

### Do Diary! SmartDiary or Simpler have ads?

Diary! SmartDiary shows ads; Simpler does not.

### Which is updated more often, Diary! SmartDiary or Simpler?

Diary! SmartDiary ships an update every 3 months, and Simpler every 3 weeks. Most recently, Diary! SmartDiary was updated on October 9, 2026 and Simpler on September 25, 2026.

---

*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*