Comparison

GitJournal vs Custom Journal

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

GitJournal

This app offers a private and portable note-taking experience, storing your entries in a Git repository of your choice. It supports offline access, folder categorization, and integration with static site generators. The app prioritizes user data control and is open-source.

Highlights
  • Offline note access
  • Stores notes in Git repositories
  • Supports GitHub, GitLab, and custom providers
  • Markdown and plaintext note formats
  • Categorize notes with folders
  • Open source and free software
  • Integrates with static site generators
Features
Read full description

GitJournal is an open source note taking / journaling app built with privacy and data portability in mind. It stores all its notes in a standardised Markdown + YAML header format or plaintext. The notes are stored in a hosted Git Repo of your choice - GitHub / GitLab / Gitea / Gogs / Any Custom-provider. Features - - Offline First - All yours notes are available offline - No Account Required - Categorize your Notes with Folders - Open source / Free Software / FOSS - Can easily be extended and integrated with other Git tools - Can also be used to manage Hugo / Jekyll / Gatsby websites - No Ads Never need to import / export your notes, as you always have control of the data. Apps may come and go, but your notes will always be with you. Git has been chosen as a backend as self-hosting a Git server is much simpler than almost any other software, additionally there are already many commercial providers of Git. So you can choose who you want to trust with your notes. We currently don't support encrypting the notes, but it's something we're actively working on.

About

Custom Journal

Design and organize personalized journaling prompts and routines. This minimalist app offers full control over your journaling experience, allowing you to create prompts tailored to your life. Store entries locally for privacy and easily search or export them.

Highlights
  • Create custom prompts
  • Organize prompts into routines
  • Flexible journaling routines
  • Local and secure data storage
  • Search past entries
  • Export journal entries
Features
Read full description

Unlock the full potential of your journaling routine with Custom Journal, a minimalist app designed for those who want complete control over their journaling experience. Create, organise, and search custom prompts that fit your life. Start building your personalised journaling routine today! Custom Journal is a powerful yet simple app that gives you full control over your journaling experience. Unlike other journaling apps, Custom Journal allows you to create and organise your own series of prompts, tailored exactly to your needs. Whether you're crafting a morning routine, reflecting on your day, or brainstorming new ideas, Custom Journal adapts to how you want to journal. Key Features: Create Custom Prompts: Easily design your own journal prompts and organise them into routines that suit your lifestyle. Flexible Routines: Set up different journaling routines for various aspects of your life, from daily reflections to goal tracking. Local & Secure: Your journal entries are stored locally on your device, ensuring your data stays private and secure. Search & Export: Quickly find past entries with the search function and export them for safekeeping or review. Custom Journal is perfect for users who want more than just a blank page or prompts written by someone else—it's for those who want to make their journaling practice truly their own. Start creating your custom journaling routines today with Custom Journal. Privacy Policy: https://222apps.notion.site/Privacy-Policy-Custom-Journal-29ec310e81df4ad2b41d3aef5d00e8c3?pvs=4 Terms of Service: https://222apps.notion.site/Terms-of-Service-Custom-Journal-4781e6cec89f4a73a4f7b6fb261c6055?pvs=4

Screenshots

GitJournal4 screens
Custom Journal4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: Custom Journal at Free against GitJournal's $3.99. GitJournal's advantage is rating (3.1 vs 2.0) and update cadence (weekly vs every 2 months). On ads, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Custom Journal is free to download; GitJournal costs $3.99 up front. GitJournal sells 11 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month and Custom Journal sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

GitJournal holds the better App Store score, 3.1 against 2.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: GitJournal has 18 ratings behind it against 3, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 57% of GitJournal's written reviews are positive against 40% of Custom Journal's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

GitJournal ships an update weekly, Custom Journal every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 18, 2026 and October 1, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard7 real differences · 3 level
GitJournal versus Custom Journal: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterGitJournalCustom Journal
Price$3.99Free — better
Rating3.1 (18 ratings) — better2.0 (3 ratings)
Positive reviews56.7% of reviews — better40.0% of reviews
Number of ratings18 — better3
Update frequencyWeekly — betterEvery 2 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationPaidFree with in-app purchases — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS11.0 — better17.2
Further details — not scored
Size48 MB11 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperVishesh HandaMia Benn

Customer experience

GitJournal

All ratings18 ratings
Positive50.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative50.0%
Written reviews30 reviews
Positive56.7%
Neutral6.7%
Negative36.7%

Custom Journal

Written reviews5 reviews
Positive40.0%
Neutral20.0%
Negative40.0%

In-app purchases

11 purchases

GitJournal

Subscriptions7
  • Monthly Pay What You Want$1.991 Month
  • Monthly, Pay What You Want$2.491 Month
  • Monthly, Pay What You Want$3.491 Month
Show 4 more
  • Monthly, Pay What You Want$4.491 Month
  • Monthly, Pay What You Want$5.491 Month
  • Monthly, Pay What You Want$6.491 Month
  • Monthly, Pay What You Want$9.991 Month
One-time4
  • One Time Purchase$31.99
  • One Time Purchase$35.99
  • One Time Purchase$40.99
Show 1 more
  • One Time Purchase$54.99
2 purchases

Custom Journal

Subscriptions2
  • Pro Plan$1.997 Days
  • Pro Plan3 Days trial$22.991 Year

Questions

Is GitJournal free?
GitJournal costs $3.99, and also offers in-app purchases.
Is Custom Journal free?
Custom Journal is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, GitJournal or Custom Journal?
GitJournal is rated higher. GitJournal averages 3.1 out of 5 from 18 ratings, while Custom Journal averages 2.0 from 3 ratings.
Do GitJournal or Custom Journal have ads?
Neither GitJournal nor Custom Journal shows ads.
Which is updated more often, GitJournal or Custom Journal?
GitJournal ships an update weekly, and Custom Journal every 2 months. Most recently, GitJournal was updated on October 18, 2026 and Custom Journal on October 1, 2026.

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