# Simple Short Diary vs Secret Diary

The clearest difference is monetization model: Simple Short Diary at free with in-app purchases against Secret Diary's subscription. Secret Diary's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and review sentiment (91% vs 67%). On price, rating, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Simple Short Diary sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $0.99 per month and Secret Diary sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 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 Simple Short Diary against 4.8 for Secret Diary. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Secret Diary has 112 ratings behind it against 14, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 67% of Simple Short Diary's written reviews are positive against 91% of Secret Diary's.

Simple Short Diary ships an update every 6 weeks, Secret Diary fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on October 24, 2026 and October 27, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Simple Short Diary | Secret Diary |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.7 (14 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/simple-short-diary/id1506363607/reviews) | **[4.8 (112 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/secret-diary-with-lock/id1507194395/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 14 | **112** |
| Positive reviews | 66.7% of reviews | **90.6% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Every 6 weeks | **Fortnightly** |
| Monetization | **Free with in-app purchases** | Subscription |
| Size | 31 MB | 20 MB |
| Requires iOS | 18.0 | **14.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [EasterEggs](https://appshunter.io/developer/553389214) | [Nawal Amallou](https://appshunter.io/developer/1507194394) |

## What reviewers say

### Simple Short Diary

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/simple-short-diary/id1506363607)

A straightforward journaling app that encourages brief daily entries using single words and icons. It aims to make recording your day easy and sustainable, serving as a companion to enrich your experiences.

**Highlights:** Single-word daily entries, Icon-based recording, Easy and quick to use, Enriches daily life, Sustainable journaling habit

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Premium Plan | $0.99 | per month |


### Secret Diary

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/secret-diary-with-lock/id1507194395)

Securely record your daily thoughts, memories, and secrets. This app allows you to add photos and track your moods, all protected by a passcode. Personalize your journal with themes and easily search past entries.

**Highlights:** Save memories, notes, and ideas, Add photos and mood emojis, Unlimited photo storage, Personalize UI with themes, Passcode protection and data encryption, Powerful search and filter functions

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly Plan | $2.99 | per month |
| Annual Plan | $17.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 User-friendly interface
- 🔒 Good for keeping secrets
- ❤️ Love the app
- ✍️ Great for writing thoughts
- 💯 Free to use

**What reviewers complain about**

- 💰 Some features are pricey
- 💸 Advanced stuff is locked
- 😩 Too many ads
- 🤔 Unclear if entries are private
- 💸 Have to pay for certain things

**Reported bugs**

- Forgot password not working
- Password glitch
- App shuts out sometimes
- App cuts out and needs restarting
- Password input issues (0-9 vs 1-4)

**Requested features**

- Make fingerprint ID free
- Make advanced features free
- More color options
- More features


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Simple Short Diary free?

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

### Is Secret Diary free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Simple Short Diary or Secret Diary?

Secret Diary is rated higher. Simple Short Diary averages 4.7 out of 5 from 14 ratings, while Secret Diary averages 4.8 from 112 ratings.

### Do Simple Short Diary or Secret Diary have ads?

Simple Short Diary shows ads; Secret Diary does not.

### Which is updated more often, Simple Short Diary or Secret Diary?

Simple Short Diary ships an update every 6 weeks, and Secret Diary fortnightly. Most recently, Simple Short Diary was updated on October 24, 2026 and Secret Diary on October 27, 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.*