# Digital Journal Diary vs PencilDiary

Digital Journal Diary and PencilDiary both sit at 4.6 stars, but that hides the real split: 100% of PencilDiary's written reviews are positive against 62% of Digital Journal Diary's. Digital Journal Diary's advantage is ratings volume (6.5K vs 41) and iOS requirement (16.6 vs 18). On price, rating, update cadence and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Digital Journal Diary sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month and PencilDiary sells 2 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

PencilDiary holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Digital Journal Diary has 6.5K ratings behind it against 41, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 62% of Digital Journal Diary's written reviews are positive against 100% of PencilDiary's.

Digital Journal Diary ships an update every 2 weeks, PencilDiary weekly. The most recent releases landed on October 20, 2026 and October 21, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Digital Journal Diary | PencilDiary |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.6 (6.5K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/digital-journal-diary/id1520435704/reviews) | **[4.8 (41 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pencildiary-notes-pdf-markup/id6739626574/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **6.5K** | 41 |
| Positive reviews | 61.7% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 2 weeks | **Weekly** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 42 MB | 212 MB |
| Requires iOS | **16.6** | 18 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Protection & Security App LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1282949976) | [RABBITEYE LAB LLP](https://appshunter.io/developer/1482497034) |

## What reviewers say

### Digital Journal Diary

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/digital-journal-diary/id1520435704)

Document your life, track goals, and monitor your mood with this versatile journaling app. Enhance well-being, creativity, and productivity through daily reflection. Secure your entries with password protection and sync across devices.

**Highlights:** Add photos, videos, and audio recordings, Track mood, goals, and activities, Create to-do lists and business plans, Password protection for privacy, Sync entries across devices, Export journal entries, Set daily reminders

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

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly | $4.99 | per month |
| Weekly | $9.99 | per 7 days |
| Yearly | $49.99 | per year |
| Journal Lifetime | $19.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Easy to use
- 👍 Customizable features
- 🔒 Password protection
- 📝 Helps with journaling and self-expression
- 🎨 Aesthetically pleasing

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Backup and sync issues
- 🔍 Lack of spell check and autocorrect
- 🔒 Concerns about privacy and security
- 🤖 Poor voice transcription
- 💬 Repetitive review prompts

**Reported bugs**

- Entries not saving on the correct date
- App crashes when trying to record audio
- Inability to change or recover password

**Requested features**

- Longer video/audio recording duration
- More customization options for moods and themes
- Ability to edit or delete entries
- Improved backup and sync functionality
- Better organization and navigation


### PencilDiary

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pencildiary-notes-pdf-markup/id6739626574)

This app provides a daily handwritten journal experience with a new page automatically generated each day, organized by date. It offers seamless light and dark mode adaptation with smart color inversion for optimal readability and a minimalist design for focused reflection.

**Highlights:** New page generated daily, organized by date, Automatic light and dark mode with color inversion, Pure handwriting input with Apple Pencil support, Minimalist and distraction-free interface, Ideal for personal growth and reflection, No manual sorting or folder management

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

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Premium | $19.99 | one-time |
| Premium | $49.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Digital Journal Diary free?

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

### Is PencilDiary free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Digital Journal Diary or PencilDiary?

PencilDiary is rated higher. Digital Journal Diary averages 4.6 out of 5 from 6.5K ratings, while PencilDiary averages 4.8 from 41 ratings.

### Do Digital Journal Diary or PencilDiary have ads?

Neither Digital Journal Diary nor PencilDiary shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Digital Journal Diary or PencilDiary?

Digital Journal Diary ships an update every 2 weeks, and PencilDiary weekly. Most recently, Digital Journal Diary was updated on October 20, 2026 and PencilDiary on October 21, 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.*