# Duck Widget Memo vs Cute Journal

The clearest difference is device support: Cute Journal at 3 against Duck Widget Memo's 1. Cute Journal also leads on iOS requirement (13.0 vs 16.0). On price, rating, review sentiment and ratings volume there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Duck Widget Memo sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and Cute Journal sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $4.49 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 Duck Widget Memo against 4.6 for Cute Journal. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 188 and 133 respectively. Written reviews split almost evenly too, at 88% and 88% positive.

Duck Widget Memo ships an update every 2 weeks, Cute Journal every 3 weeks. Both last shipped on November 3, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Duck Widget Memo | Cute Journal |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.6 (188 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/duck-widget-memo/id1594616099/reviews) | **[4.6 (133 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/cute-journal-private-diary/id1602190978/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **188** | 133 |
| Positive reviews | 87.5% of reviews | **88.1% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Every 2 weeks** | Every 3 weeks |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 163 MB | 43 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.0 | **13.0** |
| Devices | iPhone | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Hiroaki Umino](https://appshunter.io/developer/1594616101) | [俊镇 吴](https://appshunter.io/developer/1116584225) |

## What reviewers say

### Duck Widget Memo

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/duck-widget-memo/id1594616099)

This app allows you to create customizable sticky notes that can be placed directly on your device's desktop. Personalize backgrounds, fonts, and choose from a variety of icons to help you remember tasks and information.

**Highlights:** Desktop sticky notes, Customizable background and font color, 40+ icon shapes, Draw games, Free wallpapers, Edit widgets, Multiple memos on widget

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

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Pro version | $4.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 😍 Extremely cute designs
- 👍 Easy to use interface
- 📝 Useful for reminders
- 💖 Adds joy and motivation
- ✨ Customizable appearance

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Data loss after updates
- 🐛 Lost Pro features after update
- 💸 Ads for free characters
- 🤔 Difficulty deleting
- 😩 Complicated for some users

**Reported bugs**

- Update caused data loss
- Lost Pro features after update
- Cannot get new ducks/characters
- Small characters cause input issues
- App crashes or won't open after update

**Requested features**

- Add scrolling for long notes
- Add ability to insert photos
- More character designs
- Third-party account linking for progress transfer
- Add list or numbered memo function


### Cute Journal

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/cute-journal-private-diary/id1602190978)

Create a personalized digital journal with customizable backgrounds and materials. Secure your entries with a lock and enjoy ample space for all your thoughts. Offers various national and minimalist styles.

**Highlights:** Customizable backgrounds and materials, Book-like cover customization, Variety of national and minimalist styles, Large writing capacity, Secure and private entries, Lock feature for privacy

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Plus Version | $4.49 | per month |
| Quarterly Plus | $9.49 | per 3 months |
| Half a year Plus | $12.49 | per 6 months |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Duck Widget Memo free?

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

### Is Cute Journal free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Duck Widget Memo or Cute Journal?

Cute Journal is rated higher. Duck Widget Memo averages 4.6 out of 5 from 188 ratings, while Cute Journal averages 4.6 from 133 ratings.

### Do Duck Widget Memo or Cute Journal have ads?

Both Duck Widget Memo and Cute Journal show ads.

### Which is updated more often, Duck Widget Memo or Cute Journal?

Duck Widget Memo ships an update every 2 weeks, and Cute Journal every 3 weeks. Most recently, Duck Widget Memo was updated on November 3, 2026 and Cute Journal 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.*