# Leaf Journal vs Journal X

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Journal X at 83% against Leaf Journal's 41%. Journal X also leads on update cadence (fortnightly vs every 3 months) and iOS requirement (14.0 vs 17.0). Leaf Journal's advantage is rating (4.5 vs 4.2) and ratings volume (96 vs 31). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Leaf Journal sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $1.49 per month and Journal X sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Leaf Journal holds the better App Store score, 4.5 against 4.2. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 96 and 31 respectively. Written reviews complicate that: 41% of Leaf Journal's written reviews are positive against 83% of Journal X's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

Leaf Journal ships an update every 3 months, Journal X fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on October 23, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Leaf Journal | Journal X |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.5 (96 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/leaf-journal-diary/id1519034794/reviews)** | [4.2 (31 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/journal-x-play-diary/id1670558413/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **96** | 31 |
| Positive reviews | 41.2% of reviews | **83.3% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months | **Fortnightly** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 43 MB | 33 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | **14.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [朝霞 彭](https://appshunter.io/developer/1616283456) | [珍 吴](https://appshunter.io/developer/1663138478) |

## What reviewers say

### Leaf Journal

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/leaf-journal-diary/id1519034794)

This app allows you to securely record your life, emotions, and memories with password protection for both the app and individual journals. Customize your entries with a variety of materials and editing tools, and easily share your creations.

**Highlights:** Password protection for app and journals, Rich material library (stickers, fonts, backgrounds), Mixed editing with free typesetting, Multiple customizable electronic journals, Journal sharing as images, Creative content creation tools

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

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Leaf Plus | $1.49 | per month |
| Quarterly Leaf Plus | $4.49 | per 3 months |
| Leaf Journal VIP | $5.99 | one-time |


### Journal X

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/journal-x-play-diary/id1670558413)

This app allows users to create beautiful and practical journals, diaries, and notes using a variety of stickers, themes, and text options. It offers convenient sharing features and robust privacy protection with password support. Regularly updated materials keep your creative options fresh.

**Highlights:** Flexible editing with stickers, themes, and text, Regularly updated exquisite materials, One-click picture generation for sharing, Password protection for privacy, Monthly, quarterly, and permanent subscription options

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Plus Version | $2.99 | per month |
| Plus Version Quarterly | $6.99 | per 3 months |
| Pro Version | $7.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Leaf Journal free?

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

### Is Journal X free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Leaf Journal or Journal X?

Leaf Journal is rated higher. Leaf Journal averages 4.5 out of 5 from 96 ratings, while Journal X averages 4.2 from 31 ratings.

### Do Leaf Journal or Journal X have ads?

Both Leaf Journal and Journal X show ads.

### Which is updated more often, Leaf Journal or Journal X?

Leaf Journal ships an update every 3 months, and Journal X fortnightly. Most recently, Leaf Journal was updated on October 23, 2026 and Journal X on October 24, 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.*