# Monologue vs Lightmark

The clearest difference is update cadence: Lightmark at every 3 weeks against Monologue's every 2 months. Monologue's advantage is iOS requirement (16.0 vs 18.0). On price, review sentiment, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Monologue sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and Lightmark sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Monologue ships an update every 2 months, Lightmark every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 12, 2026 and September 15, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Monologue | Lightmark |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | — | **[4.9 (9 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/lightmarkprivate-diary-and-time/id6740918794/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | — | **9** |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews | 100.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | **Every 3 weeks** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 31 MB | 14 MB |
| Requires iOS | **16.0** | 18.0 |
| Devices | iPhone | **iPhone, iPad** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [书旗 莫](https://appshunter.io/developer/1497484538) | [璐 秦](https://appshunter.io/developer/1526979591) |

## What reviewers say

### Monologue

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/monologue-notes-and-journal/id1497484539)

A minimalist journaling app for private reflection. It offers secure cloud synchronization, powerful search, and versatile data export options to preserve your thoughts and memories across devices.

**Highlights:** Minimalist writing interface, iCloud data synchronization, Text search functionality, Multiple data export formats (txt, md, pdf, json), Touch ID/Face ID privacy protection, Image export of text, Customizable font settings

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| VIP | $1.99 | one-time |


### Lightmark

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/lightmarkprivate-diary-and-time/id6740918794)

This app encourages honest self-reflection by allowing users to record thoughts, emotions, and memories without the ability to edit entries after submission. It supports text, voice, photos, and videos, offering a multi-sensory journaling experience. A unique visual timeline helps users see their journey over time.

**Highlights:** Uneditable entries, Text, voice, photo, and video recording, Tag system for organization, Annual 'Lightmap' visualization, Daily timeline archive, Minimalist interface

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly | $1.99 | per month |
| Annual | $12.99 | per year |
| Lifetime | $14.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Monologue free?

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

### Is Lightmark free?

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

### Do Monologue or Lightmark have ads?

Neither Monologue nor Lightmark shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Monologue or Lightmark?

Monologue ships an update every 2 months, and Lightmark every 3 weeks. Most recently, Monologue was updated on September 12, 2026 and Lightmark on September 15, 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.*