# DailyBean vs Empath

The clearest difference is ads: Empath at none against DailyBean's shown. Empath also leads on review sentiment (100% vs 86%). DailyBean's advantage is ratings volume (71K vs 6) and device support (3 vs 1). On price, rating, update cadence and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. DailyBean sells 10 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per month and Empath sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $6.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Empath holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: DailyBean has 71K ratings behind it against 6, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 86% of DailyBean's written reviews are positive against 100% of Empath's.

DailyBean ships an update every 5 days, Empath every 4 days. The most recent releases landed on November 12, 2026 and November 4, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | DailyBean | Empath |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.8 (71K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/dailybean-simplest-journal/id1553223828/reviews) | **[5.0 (6 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/empath-private-journal/id6472873287/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **71K** | 6 |
| Positive reviews | 85.9% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Every 5 days | **Every 4 days** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Freemium |
| Size | 218 MB | 88 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.0** | 18 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [BlueSignum Corp.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1553223830) | [Div Khare](https://appshunter.io/developer/1718006882) |

## What reviewers say

### DailyBean

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/dailybean-simplest-journal/id1553223828)

This app offers a simple and visually appealing way to track your mood and daily life without extensive writing. Easily log your emotions, activities, and add photos to create a personal visual journal. Discover patterns in your life with smart analytics and keep your memories secure.

**Highlights:** Mood logging with customizable beans, Icon-based activity recording, Photo and short note entries, Customizable journal blocks, Monthly aesthetic themes, Visual year-in-pixels mood calendar, Smart analytics for mood patterns, Secure PIN/Face ID lock

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

**In-app purchases (10)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly Pass | $3.99 | per month |
| 1-Month Pass | $4.99 | per month |
| 1-Month Pass | $5.99 | per month |
| Annual Pass | $19.99 | per year |
| 1-Year Pass | $29.99 | per year |
| Annual Pass | $29.99 | per year |
| Annual Pass | $39.99 | per year |
| Annual Pass | $49.99 | per year |
| 100 Clovers | $1.99 | one-time |
| 300 Clovers | $4.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 💻 Great app for journaling and mood tracking
- 🎨 Cute and visually appealing design
- 🕰️ Easy to use and quick to record daily entries
- 📊 Helpful data insights and analytics
- 🔒 Secure with password/fingerprint option

**What reviewers complain about**

- 💰 Premium subscription required for full features
- 🗓️ Limited data history without premium
- 🚫 Inability to customize/add new categories
- 📂 No option to export data
- 🔍 Lack of search functionality in journal entries

**Reported bugs**

- Occasional app crashes
- Issues with uploading photos after extended use

**Requested features**

- Ability to add custom categories and icons
- Option to record multiple moods per day
- Yearly/monthly review and analytics features
- Data export and backup functionality
- Text search within journal entries


### Empath

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/empath-private-journal/id6472873287)

This app helps you untangle your thoughts and gain clarity by providing a secure space for journaling. It offers AI-driven insights, integrates with health data, and maps emotions using feeling and intensity dimensions. It can also serve as a companion for therapy sessions.

**Highlights:** Secure AI-powered insights, Health data integration, Mood mapping (feeling & intensity), Therapist companion feature, Private and secure journaling, Thought untangling and clarity

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Premium Monthly | $6.99 | per month |
| Premium Annual | $49.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is DailyBean free?

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

### Is Empath free?

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

### Which has better reviews, DailyBean or Empath?

Empath is rated higher. DailyBean averages 4.8 out of 5 from 71K ratings, while Empath averages 5.0 from 6 ratings.

### Do DailyBean or Empath have ads?

DailyBean shows ads; Empath does not.

### Which is updated more often, DailyBean or Empath?

DailyBean ships an update every 5 days, and Empath every 4 days. Most recently, DailyBean was updated on November 12, 2026 and Empath on November 4, 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.*