# Pencil Journaling vs InkPlanner

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Pencil Journaling at none against InkPlanner's 1. Pencil Journaling also leads on update cadence (every 6 weeks vs every 4 months) and review sentiment (50% vs 38%). InkPlanner's advantage is ads (none vs shown). On price, rating, ratings volume and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. InkPlanner sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Pencil Journaling asks for nothing beyond the download.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.1 for Pencil Journaling against 4.2 for InkPlanner. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 7 and 10 respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 50% of Pencil Journaling's written reviews are positive against 38% of InkPlanner's.

Pencil Journaling ships an update every 6 weeks, InkPlanner every 4 months. The most recent releases landed on November 3, 2026 and November 12, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Pencil Journaling | InkPlanner |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.1 (7 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pencil-journaling/id1581410096/reviews) | **[4.2 (10 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/inkplanner/id1665455386/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 7 | **10** |
| Positive reviews | **50.0% of reviews** | 37.5% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | **Every 6 weeks** | Every 4 months |
| Monetization | **Ad-supported** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 5 MB | 6 MB |
| Requires iOS | **14.0** | 17.0 |
| Devices | iPad | iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Masaru Suzuki](https://appshunter.io/developer/1581410098) | [Christian Merk](https://appshunter.io/developer/1487924099) |

## 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


### InkPlanner

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/inkplanner/id1665455386)

A digital wall calendar app for iPad and Apple Pencil, offering a clear yearly overview. It allows handwritten entry of appointments and notes with a customizable color-coded legend for enhanced organization and a minimalist planning experience.

**Highlights:** Yearly overview at a glance, Handwritten notes and appointments, Customizable color-coded legend, Minimalist and simple design, Digital replication of physical wall calendars

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Calendar | $6.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Pencil Journaling free?

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

### Is InkPlanner free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Pencil Journaling or InkPlanner?

InkPlanner is rated higher. Pencil Journaling averages 4.1 out of 5 from 7 ratings, while InkPlanner averages 4.2 from 10 ratings.

### Do Pencil Journaling or InkPlanner have ads?

Pencil Journaling shows ads; InkPlanner does not.

### Which is updated more often, Pencil Journaling or InkPlanner?

Pencil Journaling ships an update every 6 weeks, and InkPlanner every 4 months. Most recently, Pencil Journaling was updated on November 3, 2026 and InkPlanner on November 12, 2026.

---

*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*