# Routine Task Timer vs DrawerJournal

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Routine Task Timer at none against DrawerJournal's 3. DrawerJournal's advantage is update cadence (every 4 days vs fortnightly) and ratings volume (74 vs 18). On price, rating, review sentiment and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. DrawerJournal sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month. Routine Task Timer asks for nothing beyond the download.

DrawerJournal holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 4.4. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 18 and 74 respectively. Written reviews complicate that: 90% of Routine Task Timer's written reviews are positive against 88% of DrawerJournal's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

Routine Task Timer ships an update fortnightly, DrawerJournal every 4 days. The most recent releases landed on September 30, 2026 and September 29, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Routine Task Timer | DrawerJournal |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.4 (18 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/routine-task-timer/id1455443503/reviews) | **[4.6 (74 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/drawerjournal-private-diary/id1553585038/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 18 | **74** |
| Positive reviews | **89.9% of reviews** | 87.5% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | Fortnightly | **Every 4 days** |
| Monetization | **Ad-supported** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 16 MB | 39 MB |
| Requires iOS | **16.0** | 16.4 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Hiroki Sakamoto](https://appshunter.io/developer/1455443502) | [ToastPlanet Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1437803152) |

## What reviewers say

### Routine Task Timer

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/routine-task-timer/id1455443503)

This app guides you through daily routines by announcing each task and its remaining time. It helps prevent time-wasting during activities like studying, training, or housework, ensuring smoother task completion.

**Highlights:** Task announcements with remaining time, Supports morning routines, Aids in studying and training, Helps with housework efficiency, Prevents time-wasting

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


### DrawerJournal

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/drawerjournal-private-diary/id1553585038)

This app allows you to easily record daily events and thoughts in a timeline format. You can add text, photos, and audio recordings, and organize entries with tags. It offers a secure, offline space for your private memories.

**Highlights:** Chronological notes with photos and audio, Organize entries with labels/tags, Voice recording for immersive memories, Secure app lock with biometric authentication, Keyword search functionality, Offline data storage

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Apple Watch app, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| DrawerJournal Premium Monthly | $2.99 | per month |
| DrawerJournal Premium Annual | $20.99 | per year |
| DrawerJournal One-Time | $59.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 💻 Intuitive and easy to use
- 🗓️ Convenient timeline-based journaling
- 🔒 Secure with password protection
- 🖼️ Ability to add photos
- 🏷️ Useful tagging and search functionality

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🔁 No cross-device sync or cloud backup
- 🔍 Limited customization options
- 💰 Concerns about aggressive monetization through ads and subscriptions

**Reported bugs**

- Occasional crashes or data loss when editing entries
- Background music playback issues

**Requested features**

- Ability to add videos or audio recordings
- Cloud sync and backup across devices
- More customization options for fonts, colors, and layouts
- Thread-like functionality to connect related entries
- Improved image handling and editing tools


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Routine Task Timer free?

Routine Task Timer is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is DrawerJournal free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Routine Task Timer or DrawerJournal?

DrawerJournal is rated higher. Routine Task Timer averages 4.4 out of 5 from 18 ratings, while DrawerJournal averages 4.6 from 74 ratings.

### Do Routine Task Timer or DrawerJournal have ads?

Both Routine Task Timer and DrawerJournal show ads.

### Which is updated more often, Routine Task Timer or DrawerJournal?

Routine Task Timer ships an update fortnightly, and DrawerJournal every 4 days. Most recently, Routine Task Timer was updated on September 30, 2026 and DrawerJournal on September 29, 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.*