# Calcute vs Diary

The clearest difference is update cadence: Diary at every 2 months against Calcute's every 13 months. Diary also leads on ratings volume (1.6K vs 232) and iOS requirement (13.0 vs 15.6). On price, rating, review sentiment and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Calcute sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and Diary sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $2.49 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.7 for Calcute against 4.6 for Diary. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Diary has 1.6K ratings behind it against 232, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews split almost evenly too, at 78% and 77% positive.

Calcute ships an update every 13 months, Diary every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 24, 2026 and October 21, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Calcute | Diary |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.7 (232 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/calcute/id1415237829/reviews)** | [4.6 (1.6K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/diary-journal-with-lock/id1590102229/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 232 | **1.6K** |
| Positive reviews | **78.1% of reviews** | 77.5% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 13 months | **Every 2 months** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 11 MB | 65 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.6 | **13.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [sky-nexus Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/512522554) | [智文 许](https://appshunter.io/developer/1570825478) |

## What reviewers say

### Calcute

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/calcute/id1415237829)

This calculator app allows users to personalize their experience with a selection of Japanese cute wallpapers. It prioritizes ease of use, enabling users to save calculation results and review their input process to quickly identify errors.

**Highlights:** Japanese cute wallpaper selection, Save calculation results, View input process, Error identification, Easy to use interface

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Hides the ads in the app. | $1.99 | one-time |


### Diary

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/diary-journal-with-lock/id1590102229)

This app allows you to record your daily thoughts, moods, and experiences in a private digital journal. It offers a visually appealing way to document memories and review your emotional journey over time.

**Highlights:** Write journal entries, Record daily moods, Rich visual materials, Mood review feature, Private notebook

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Plus Version | $2.49 | per month |
| Quarterly Plus | $4.49 | per 3 months |
| Pro Version | $4.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Helpful for staying on track
- 👍 Fun and enjoyable experience
- 👍 Great for OC diaries
- 👍 Aesthetically pleasing
- 👍 Calming and relaxing

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Occasional crashes or glitches
- 💰 Paywall for certain features like password protection
- 🤔 Some language barriers for non-Chinese users
- 🤔 Ads can be intrusive
- 🤔 Limited customization options without premium version

**Reported bugs**

- Deleted user entries
- Sticker issues causing data loss
- Compatibility problems on older devices

**Requested features**

- Password protection or locking feature for free users
- More plain text editing options
- Ability to enlarge text
- Improved syncing and backup functionality
- Expanded language support


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Calcute free?

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

### Is Diary free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Calcute or Diary?

Calcute is rated higher. Calcute averages 4.7 out of 5 from 232 ratings, while Diary averages 4.6 from 1.6K ratings.

### Do Calcute or Diary have ads?

Both Calcute and Diary show ads.

### Which is updated more often, Calcute or Diary?

Calcute ships an update every 13 months, and Diary every 2 months. Most recently, Calcute was updated on October 24, 2026 and Diary on October 21, 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.*