Comparison

Strain Guide vs Cannabis Journal

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Strain Guide

Explore thousands of cannabis strains with detailed information on effects, flavors, and growing tips. Features an AI assistant for personalized recommendations and advanced search filters. Track your favorites and add personal notes for easy reference.

Highlights
  • AI strain assistant
  • Advanced search and filtering
  • Personalized notes and favorites
  • Growing and harvesting information
  • Strain suggestions
  • Community ratings and comments
Features
Read full description

Discover thousands of cannabis strains with Al BudTender, advanced search, personalized notes, and expert growing tips. Your complete cannabis reference guide. Strain Guide is your full-featured hub for quick and easy cannabis strain information. With thousands of cannabis strains, it provides detailed data (including strain reviews, growing information, history, and descriptions), along with the ability to search, save favorites, and add personalized notes. Introducing Strain Hunter Advanced Search, an advanced tool that aggregates cannabis strain data from multiple sources, analyzes reviews, and resolves discrepancies to provide a reliable, unbiased overview of each strain’s effects, flavors, and characteristics. This app helps you find the cannabis strains you’re looking for in seconds. Key Features • Al BudTender, a technologically advanced strain assistant that helps you make informed cannabis decisions. • Save notes on specific cannabis strains for future reference. • Favorite strains to keep everything in one place. • Search by terpenes, aromas, flavors, and strain names. • Growing and harvesting information by strain. • Suggest new cannabis strains. • Tailored strain suggestions based on your saved strains. • Community ratings and comments to see what other users think. • Clean and beautiful interface for fast strain lookup. • Advanced filtering and search tools. • Adjustable text size. • Dark mode. What You Can Learn • Best weed strains based on user reviews and ratings. • Growing and harvesting information by strain. • Cannabis genetics history and detailed strain descriptions. • Strain flavor, aroma, terpene profiles, and effects. Become a weed pro in no time. Strain Guide contains up-to-date cannabis information, including the latest growing techniques for each strain. If you’re new to recreational marijuana, this app helps you track the strains you try and remember which ones work best for you. Use the search section to find the right strain by aroma, flavor, terpene profile, or name. Notice This app is for reference and educational purposes only. Do not make health decisions without consulting a qualified professional. Follow local laws regarding cannabis use. You must be 18+ to download this app. Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

About

Cannabis Journal

Track your cannabis experiences, logging strains, products, and their effects. Discover ideal activities for different strains and understand how they impact medical conditions. Approach dispensaries with confidence by knowing what works best for you.

Highlights
  • Log cannabis strains and products
  • Record effects and activities
  • Track impact on medical conditions
  • Rate strains by price, THC, aroma, flavor
  • Gain dispensary confidence
Features
Read full description

The Cannabis Journal is the best way to get the most out of your cannabis experience. Log the effects of specific cannabis strains and products. Keep a record of the best activities for those strains whether it's hiking, music-making or sleep. Know what products can help or hurt sensitive medical conditions and health problems. View your journal's highest rated and lowest rated strains by price, THC percentage, aroma, flavors and more. Approach the dispensary with confidence by understanding what genetics and strains work for you and which ones do not. Don't be uncertain about your experience the next time you purchase or consume cannabis. Get the strain journal app and let cannabis enhance your life with confidence. Subscription plans: Annual: $12.99 Payments and Renewal: Payment will be charged to iTunes Account at confirmation of purchase. Subscription automatically renews unless auto-renew is turned off at least 24-hours before the end of the current period. Account will be charged for renewal within 24-hours prior to the end of the current period. You can manage or turn off auto-renew in your Account settings at any time after purchase No cancellation of the current subscription is allowed during the active period. Terms of use: https://cannabisjournal.app/terms-of-use/ Privacy policy: https://cannabisjournal.app/privacy-policy/

Screenshots

Strain Guide4 screens
Cannabis Journal4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Strain Guide at 4.8 against Cannabis Journal's 3.4. Strain Guide also leads on review sentiment (83% vs 43%) and monetization model (free with in-app purchases vs subscription). Cannabis Journal's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and update cadence (every 5 days vs every 3 weeks). On price, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Strain Guide sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per month and Cannabis Journal sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $9.99 per year. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Strain Guide holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 3.4. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Strain Guide has 926 ratings behind it against 28, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 83% of Strain Guide's written reviews are positive against 43% of Cannabis Journal's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Strain Guide ships an update every 3 weeks, Cannabis Journal every 5 days. The most recent releases landed on October 27, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard7 real differences · 3 level
Strain Guide versus Cannabis Journal: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterStrain GuideCannabis Journal
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.8 (926 ratings) — better3.4 (28 ratings)
Positive reviews82.7% of reviews — better43.5% of reviews
Number of ratings926 — better28
Update frequencyEvery 3 weeksEvery 5 days — better
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases — betterSubscription
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPod
Requires iOS15.013.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size86 MB41 MB
Age rating17+17+
Developerphannafest llcPassion Project Productions, LLC

Customer experience

Strain Guide

All ratings921 ratings
Positive95.5%
Neutral1.4%
Negative3.0%
Written reviews52 reviews
Positive82.7%
Neutral1.9%
Negative15.4%

Cannabis Journal

All ratings19 ratings
Positive84.2%
Neutral0.0%
Negative15.8%
Written reviews23 reviews
Positive43.5%
Neutral0.0%
Negative56.5%

Bugs and requests

Strain Guide

Reported bugs

2 issues
  • Crashes and freezes on startup
  • Search function not working properly

Requested features

3 requests
  • Photo identification feature to identify strains
  • Ability to filter strains by terpene profile
  • Option to remove ads through a paid subscription

Cannabis Journal

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

4 purchases

Strain Guide

Subscriptions4
  • Strain guide, pro, monthly7 Days trial$3.991 Month
  • Strain Guide Pro Monthly7 Days trial$6.991 Month
  • Strain Guide Pro Monthly7 Days trial$9.991 Month
Show 1 more
  • Strain guide, pro, yearly7 Days trial$39.991 Year
1 purchases

Cannabis Journal

Subscriptions1
  • Cannabis Journal7 Days trial$9.991 Year

Questions

Is Strain Guide free?
Strain Guide is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Cannabis Journal free?
Cannabis Journal is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Strain Guide or Cannabis Journal?
Strain Guide is rated higher. Strain Guide averages 4.8 out of 5 from 926 ratings, while Cannabis Journal averages 3.4 from 28 ratings.
Do Strain Guide or Cannabis Journal have ads?
Strain Guide shows ads; Cannabis Journal does not.
Which is updated more often, Strain Guide or Cannabis Journal?
Strain Guide ships an update every 3 weeks, and Cannabis Journal every 5 days. Most recently, Strain Guide was updated on October 27, 2026 and Cannabis Journal on October 24, 2026.

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