# Diary vs My Notes

Diary and My Notes both sit at 4.6 stars, but that hides the real split: 77% of Diary's written reviews are positive against 0% of My Notes's. Diary also leads on ratings volume (1.4K vs 13) and iOS requirement (13.0 vs 16.0). My Notes's advantage is update cadence (every 2 weeks vs every 2 months). On price, rating, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Diary sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $2.49 per month and My Notes sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Diary holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 4.4. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Diary has 1.4K ratings behind it against 13, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 77% of Diary's written reviews are positive against 0% of My Notes's.

Diary ships an update every 2 months, My Notes every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 1, 2026 and September 18, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Diary | My Notes |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.6 (1.4K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/diary-journal-with-lock/id1590102229/reviews)** | [4.4 (13 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/my-notes-draft-notes/id1624664967/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **1.4K** | 13 |
| Positive reviews | **77.4% of reviews** | 0.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | **Every 2 weeks** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 65 MB | 55 MB |
| Requires iOS | **13.0** | 16.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [智文 许](https://appshunter.io/developer/1570825478) | [文龙 林](https://appshunter.io/developer/1622961779) |

## What reviewers say

### Diary

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/diary-journal-with-lock/id1590102229)

This app allows you to record your daily thoughts, moods, and experiences in a private digital journal. It offers a visually appealing way to document memories and review your emotional journey over time.

**Highlights:** Write journal entries, Record daily moods, Rich visual materials, Mood review feature, Private notebook

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Plus Version | $2.49 | per month |
| Quarterly Plus | $4.49 | per 3 months |
| Pro Version | $4.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Helpful for staying on track
- 👍 Fun and enjoyable experience
- 👍 Great for OC diaries
- 👍 Aesthetically pleasing
- 👍 Calming and relaxing

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Occasional crashes or glitches
- 💰 Paywall for certain features like password protection
- 🤔 Some language barriers for non-Chinese users
- 🤔 Ads can be intrusive
- 🤔 Limited customization options without premium version

**Reported bugs**

- Deleted user entries
- Sticker issues causing data loss
- Compatibility problems on older devices

**Requested features**

- Password protection or locking feature for free users
- More plain text editing options
- Ability to enlarge text
- Improved syncing and backup functionality
- Expanded language support


### My Notes

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/my-notes-draft-notes/id1624664967)

This app allows for freeform handwritten note-taking and drawing on an infinite canvas. It supports file imports and graphic diary creation with image integration, serving as a digital tool for learning and organization.

**Highlights:** Infinite canvas for notes and drawing, Handwritten note-taking, Graphic diary creation with images, File import and annotation, Apple Pencil support, Paperless learning tool

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly VIP | $1.99 | per month |
| Quarter VIP | $4.49 | per 3 months |
| Pro Version | $4.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Diary free?

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

### Is My Notes free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Diary or My Notes?

Diary is rated higher. Diary averages 4.6 out of 5 from 1.4K ratings, while My Notes averages 4.4 from 13 ratings.

### Do Diary or My Notes have ads?

Both Diary and My Notes show ads.

### Which is updated more often, Diary or My Notes?

Diary ships an update every 2 months, and My Notes every 2 weeks. Most recently, Diary was updated on October 1, 2026 and My Notes on September 18, 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.*