# Simple Short Diary vs JotJournal

The clearest difference is update cadence: JotJournal at weekly against Simple Short Diary's every 6 weeks. JotJournal also leads on review sentiment (78% vs 67%) and iOS requirement (13.0 vs 18.0). Simple Short Diary's advantage is rating (4.7 vs 4.4). On price, ratings volume, ads and in-app purchases 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 JotJournal sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Simple Short Diary holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.4. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 14 and 14 respectively. Written reviews complicate that: 67% of Simple Short Diary's written reviews are positive against 78% of JotJournal's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

Simple Short Diary ships an update every 6 weeks, JotJournal weekly. The most recent releases landed on October 24, 2026 and October 30, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Simple Short Diary | JotJournal |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.7 (14 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/simple-short-diary/id1506363607/reviews)** | [4.4 (14 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/jotjournal-private-diary/id1575315251/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 14 | 14 |
| Positive reviews | 66.7% of reviews | **78.2% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 6 weeks | **Weekly** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 31 MB | 96 MB |
| Requires iOS | 18.0 | **13.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [EasterEggs](https://appshunter.io/developer/553389214) | [Naohito Muraoka](https://appshunter.io/developer/1509204317) |

## 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 |


### JotJournal

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/jotjournal-private-diary/id1575315251)

This app offers a simple and intuitive journaling experience with an SNS-style interface. Create a private timeline to record your thoughts and emotions without complicated settings. It's designed for users seeking an easy-to-use, visually appealing daily diary.

**Highlights:** SNS style diary, Simple and beautiful design, Easy to use interface, Private timeline creation, Stress-free diary management

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

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Premium Monthly | $1.99 | per month |
| Premium Annual | $5.99 | per year |
| Premium outright purchase | $9.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Simple Short Diary free?

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

### Is JotJournal free?

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

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

Simple Short Diary is rated higher. Simple Short Diary averages 4.7 out of 5 from 14 ratings, while JotJournal averages 4.4 from 14 ratings.

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

Both Simple Short Diary and JotJournal show ads.

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

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