# Diary vs Diary Duck

Diary and Diary Duck both sit at 4.6 stars, but that hides the real split: 77% of Diary's written reviews are positive against 33% of Diary Duck's. Diary also leads on ratings volume (1.4K vs 77). Diary Duck's advantage is update cadence (weekly 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 Diary Duck sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.6 for Diary against 4.6 for Diary Duck. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Diary has 1.4K ratings behind it against 77, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 77% of Diary's written reviews are positive against 33% of Diary Duck's.

Diary ships an update every 2 months, Diary Duck weekly. The most recent releases landed on October 15, 2026 and October 9, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Diary | Diary Duck |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.6 (1.4K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/diary-journal-with-lock/id1590102229/reviews) | **[4.6 (77 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/diary-duck-cute-note-apps/id1638511588/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **1.4K** | 77 |
| Positive reviews | **77.5% of reviews** | 33.3% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | **Weekly** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 65 MB | 205 MB |
| Requires iOS | **13.0** | 14.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [智文 许](https://appshunter.io/developer/1570825478) | [立桓 孙](https://appshunter.io/developer/1543518388) |

## 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


### Diary Duck

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/diary-duck-cute-note-apps/id1638511588)

Create beautiful digital journals with a vast collection of stickers, templates, and AI-powered tools. Easily design custom layouts and protect your memories with password protection. Regularly updated with new materials and features.

**Highlights:** Extensive sticker and background materials, AI sticker generation, Hand account templates, Pen and tape drawing tools, Password protection for journals, Regular content updates

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 月度会员 | $1.99 | per month |
| 年度会员 | $9.99 | per year |
| 终身会员 | $6.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Diary free?

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

### Is Diary Duck free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Diary or Diary Duck?

Diary Duck is rated higher. Diary averages 4.6 out of 5 from 1.4K ratings, while Diary Duck averages 4.6 from 77 ratings.

### Do Diary or Diary Duck have ads?

Both Diary and Diary Duck show ads.

### Which is updated more often, Diary or Diary Duck?

Diary ships an update every 2 months, and Diary Duck weekly. Most recently, Diary was updated on October 15, 2026 and Diary Duck on October 9, 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.*