# Private Journal vs Instead

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Instead at none against Private Journal's 6. Private Journal's advantage is update cadence (weekly vs every 6 months). On price, ads, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Private Journal sells 6 in-app purchases, starting at $1.49 per month. Instead asks for nothing beyond the download.

Private Journal ships an update weekly, Instead every 6 months. The most recent releases landed on October 10, 2026 and October 5, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Private Journal | Instead |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.7 (542 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/private-journal-punkt/id1507575828/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **542** | — |
| Positive reviews | 85.4% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Weekly** | Every 6 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | — |
| Size | 18 MB | 38 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | **16.4** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Gregor Pichler](https://appshunter.io/developer/949814417) | [Takayuki Nakamura](https://appshunter.io/developer/1806887497) |

## What reviewers say

### Private Journal

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/private-journal-punkt/id1507575828)

This app offers a secure and private journaling experience with a simple, user-friendly design. It focuses on helping users track their moods and daily experiences to foster happiness and positivity. All data is stored locally or in private iCloud, with no ads or logins required.

**Highlights:** Simple and intuitive design, Secure local and iCloud storage, Face ID/Touch ID protection, No login or ads, Supports accessibility features, Fair and transparent pricing

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

**In-app purchases (6)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Punkt Premium Monthly | $1.49 | per month |
| Punkt Premium Monthly | $1.99 | per month |
| Punkt Premium Monthly | $3.49 | per month |
| Punkt Premium Yearly | $19.99 | per year |
| Punkt Premium Lifetime Special | $19.99 | one-time |
| Punkt Premium Lifetime | $49.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Simple and easy to use
- 🚀 Intuitive interface
- 🔒 Secure and private
- 💡 Helpful for journaling habit
- 👍 Minimalist design

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Occasional crashes or data loss
- 🔒 Lack of password/biometric options
- 💡 Limited customization options
- 💡 Desire for more features (video, multiple photos, etc.)

**Reported bugs**

- Crashes when exporting journal
- Inconsistent behavior when writing late at night
- Restore purchases not working on iPad

**Requested features**

- Add iPad and macOS app support
- Allow editing of past entries
- Expand mood/reason options
- Provide more detailed analytics and data visualization
- Add ability to change entry dates


### Instead

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/instead/id6758485094)

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Private Journal free?

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

### Is Instead free?

Instead is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Do Private Journal or Instead have ads?

Neither Private Journal nor Instead shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Private Journal or Instead?

Private Journal ships an update weekly, and Instead every 6 months. Most recently, Private Journal was updated on October 10, 2026 and Instead on October 5, 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.*