# Pencil Journaling vs Refill Calendar

The clearest difference is rating: Refill Calendar at 5.0 against Pencil Journaling's 4.1. Refill Calendar also leads on ads (none vs shown) and monetization model (free vs ad-supported). Pencil Journaling's advantage is update cadence (every 6 weeks vs every 5 months) and ratings volume (7 vs 1). On price, in-app purchases, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

Refill Calendar holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.1. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Pencil Journaling has 7 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two.

Pencil Journaling ships an update every 6 weeks, Refill Calendar every 5 months. Both last shipped on November 3, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Pencil Journaling | Refill Calendar |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.1 (7 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pencil-journaling/id1581410096/reviews) | **[5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/refill-calendar/id1584545612/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **7** | 1 |
| Positive reviews | 50.0% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | **Every 6 weeks** | Every 5 months |
| Monetization | Ad-supported | **Free** |
| Size | 5 MB | 1 MB |
| Requires iOS | **14.0** | 14.5 |
| Devices | iPad | iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Masaru Suzuki](https://appshunter.io/developer/1581410098) | [SHIN INABA](https://appshunter.io/developer/800415932) |

## What reviewers say

### Pencil Journaling

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pencil-journaling/id1581410096)

This app offers a focused journaling experience with a pen-compatible notebook and a built-in timer. Choose from over 50 themes and set daily reminders to cultivate a writing habit. Its minimalist interface helps you concentrate on your thoughts and clear your mind.

**Highlights:** Pen-compatible notebook, Focus timer, Over 50 journaling themes, Daily habit notifications, Minimalist UI, Page sharing options

**In-app purchases:** none


### Refill Calendar

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/refill-calendar/id1584545612)

Organize your schedule with a weekly vertical planner that supports customization of date labels and refill images. This app is designed for handwriting input and is optimized for Apple Pencil use on iPads.

**Highlights:** Weekly vertical schedule layout, Customizable refill images, Adjustable date label position, size, and color, Optimized for Apple Pencil, Handwriting input support

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Pencil Journaling free?

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

### Is Refill Calendar free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Pencil Journaling or Refill Calendar?

Refill Calendar is rated higher. Pencil Journaling averages 4.1 out of 5 from 7 ratings, while Refill Calendar averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.

### Do Pencil Journaling or Refill Calendar have ads?

Pencil Journaling shows ads; Refill Calendar does not.

### Which is updated more often, Pencil Journaling or Refill Calendar?

Pencil Journaling ships an update every 6 weeks, and Refill Calendar every 5 months. Most recently, Pencil Journaling was updated on November 3, 2026 and Refill Calendar on November 3, 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.*