# Diary vs Diary

The clearest difference is update cadence: Diary at every 2 months against Diary's every 4 months. Diary also leads on review sentiment (78% vs 66%). Diary's advantage is iOS requirement (11.0 vs 13.0). On price, rating, ratings volume and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Diary sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $2.49 per month 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 — 4.5 for Diary against 4.6 for Diary. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 906 and 1.6K respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 66% of Diary's written reviews are positive against 78% of Diary's.

Diary ships an update every 4 months, Diary every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 25, 2026 and October 30, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Diary | Diary |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.5 (906 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/diary-private-note-with-lock/id1454490013/reviews) | **[4.6 (1.6K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/diary-journal-with-lock/id1590102229/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 906 | **1.6K** |
| Positive reviews | 66.0% of reviews | **77.6% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 4 months | **Every 2 months** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 88 MB | 65 MB |
| Requires iOS | **11.0** | 13.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [俊川 林](https://appshunter.io/developer/1458693881) | [智文 许](https://appshunter.io/developer/1570825478) |

## What reviewers say

### Diary

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/diary-private-note-with-lock/id1454490013)

This app offers a private digital notebook for journaling, with customizable interfaces and dynamic effects. Secure your entries with a password and receive daily reminders to write. Add photos, text, and choose from various fonts and background stationery colors to make your entries vibrant.

**Highlights:** Dynamic interface themes, Timeline view, Customizable stationery colors, Add photos and text, Multiple font options, Password protection, Daily writing reminders

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Diary PLUS | $2.49 | per month |
| Diary Quarterly Plus | $6.49 | per 3 months |
| Pro Version | $7.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Customizable and aesthetic
- 📝 Helps with routines and organization
- 🔒 Password protection (with premium)
- 📷 Ability to add photos

**What reviewers complain about**

- 💰 Many features locked behind paywall
- 🔒 Password not free
- 📃 Limited writing space
- 🐛 Bugs and crashes
- 🔍 Privacy concerns

**Reported bugs**

- Entries disappearing
- Inability to read/scroll through long entries
- Typos in app
- Freezing issues

**Requested features**

- Ability to scroll and read long entries
- More free font and customization options
- European time format
- Option to not include photos


### 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 Diary free?

Diary 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, Diary or Diary?

Diary is rated higher. Diary averages 4.5 out of 5 from 906 ratings, while Diary averages 4.6 from 1.6K ratings.

### Do Diary or Diary have ads?

Both Diary and Diary show ads.

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

Diary ships an update every 4 months, and Diary every 2 months. Most recently, Diary was updated on October 25, 2026 and Diary on October 30, 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.*