# Monolog vs Cypher

The clearest difference is ads: Cypher at none against Monolog's shown. Cypher also leads on update cadence (every 4 days vs weekly). Monolog's advantage is iOS requirement (13.0 vs 18.4). On price, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

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

Monolog ships an update weekly, Cypher every 4 days. The most recent releases landed on November 3, 2026 and November 8, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Monolog | Cypher |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Positive reviews | 83.3% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Weekly | **Every 4 days** |
| Monetization | Ad-supported | — |
| Size | 46 MB | 23 MB |
| Requires iOS | **13.0** | 18.4 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 17+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Ryosuke Nakamura](https://appshunter.io/developer/1560811877) | [株式会社グラフ](https://appshunter.io/developer/1826964596) |

## What reviewers say

### Monolog

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/monolog-diary-in-bgm/id1584549979)

This app offers a private space to express your thoughts, feelings, and creativity through writing. Explore diverse virtual worlds as a backdrop for your journaling, poetry, or novel writing, providing an escape from reality.

**Highlights:** Anonymous journaling, Creative writing space, Immersive virtual worlds, Express emotions freely, Write poetry and novels

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

**In-app purchases:** none


### Cypher

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/cypher/id6748674526)

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Monolog free?

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

### Is Cypher free?

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

### Do Monolog or Cypher have ads?

Monolog shows ads; Cypher does not.

### Which is updated more often, Monolog or Cypher?

Monolog ships an update weekly, and Cypher every 4 days. Most recently, Monolog was updated on November 3, 2026 and Cypher on November 8, 2026.

---

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