# Diarly vs DayNote

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Diarly at 85% against DayNote's 50%. Diarly also leads on update cadence (fortnightly vs every 49 months) and ratings volume (1.5K vs 10). DayNote's advantage is iOS requirement (15.0 vs 18.0). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Diarly sells 5 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month and DayNote sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $1.49 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Diarly holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.4. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Diarly has 1.5K ratings behind it against 10, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 85% of Diarly's written reviews are positive against 50% of DayNote's.

Diarly ships an update fortnightly, DayNote every 49 months. Both last shipped on November 11, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Diarly | DayNote |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.7 (1.5K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/diarly-diary-private-journal/id1387167765/reviews)** | [4.4 (10 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/daynote-guided-journaling/id1633589903/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **1.5K** | 10 |
| Positive reviews | **84.7% of reviews** | 50.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Fortnightly** | Every 49 months |
| Monetization | Freemium | Freemium |
| Size | 281 MB | 82 MB |
| Requires iOS | 18.0 | **15.0** |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch** | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Krzysztof Nowak](https://appshunter.io/developer/738037787) | [Zaminiti Pty Ltd](https://appshunter.io/developer/1088093463) |

## What reviewers say

### Diarly

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/diarly-diary-private-journal/id1387167765)

A private journaling app that allows users to record daily thoughts, moods, and memories. It offers features like mood tracking, journal prompts, and secure password protection. The app helps users build a personal timeline of their life, one entry at a time.

**Highlights:** Private journaling and diary, Mood tracking and insights, Journal prompts and templates, Password protection and encryption, iCloud sync across Apple devices, Photo, video, and audio attachments

**Features:** Family Sharing, Apple Watch app, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (5)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly AI+ | $1.99 | per month |
| Monthly Premium | $2.99 | per month |
| Yearly Premium | $24.99 | per year |
| Premium Journal – Yearly Plan | $24.99 | per year |
| Yearly Premium | $29.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Simple and intuitive interface
- 🔒 Password protection and encryption
- 👍 Customizable themes and fonts
- 👍 Seamless syncing across devices
- 👍 Helpful journaling prompts

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Occasional crashes and syncing issues
- 🔒 Premium features require subscription
- 👎 Limited options for image handling
- 👎 Lack of ability to edit entry dates

**Reported bugs**

- Entries disappearing after app updates
- Inability to password protect individual journals

**Requested features**

- Ability to add reminders and notifications
- Option to organize entries into folders
- Support for Markdown formatting and backlinking
- Improved export and backup functionality


### DayNote

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/daynote-guided-journaling/id1633589903)

This app provides a guided journaling experience to help users reflect on their day. It prompts users with questions about learning, achievements, good experiences, and areas for improvement, allowing them to record thoughts via typing or voice. Users can revisit past entries to track their perspective and notice positive moments.

**Highlights:** Guided daily reflection questions, Voice and text entry options, Review past entries, Focus on positive experiences, Track personal growth

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

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| DayNote Premium (1 Month) | $1.49 | per month |
| DayNote Premium (1 Year) | $8.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Diarly free?

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

### Is DayNote free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Diarly or DayNote?

Diarly is rated higher. Diarly averages 4.7 out of 5 from 1.5K ratings, while DayNote averages 4.4 from 10 ratings.

### Do Diarly or DayNote have ads?

Neither Diarly nor DayNote shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Diarly or DayNote?

Diarly ships an update fortnightly, and DayNote every 49 months. Most recently, Diarly was updated on November 11, 2026 and DayNote on November 11, 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.*