# Nice journal vs Buddy Journal

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Buddy Journal at 100% against Nice journal's 60%. Buddy Journal also leads on rating (4.8 vs 4.5). Nice journal's advantage is ratings volume (122 vs 17) and iOS requirement (13.0 vs 15.0). On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Nice journal sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per month and Buddy Journal sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Buddy Journal holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Nice journal has 122 ratings behind it against 17, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 60% of Nice journal's written reviews are positive against 100% of Buddy Journal's.

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on November 3, 2026 and November 4, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Nice journal | Buddy Journal |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.5 (122 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/nice-journal-diary-journal/id1598243217/reviews) | **[4.8 (17 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/buddy-journal-cute-diary/id6502621629/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **122** | 17 |
| Positive reviews | 60.0% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | Every 2 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 58 MB | 32 MB |
| Requires iOS | **13.0** | 15.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [风云 余](https://appshunter.io/developer/1570564655) | [瑞媚 杨](https://appshunter.io/developer/1731046721) |

## What reviewers say

### Nice journal

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/nice-journal-diary-journal/id1598243217)

This app helps users create beautiful and private journals with a variety of customization options. Add stickers, backgrounds, and photos to record memories and aspirations. Password protection ensures your entries remain secure.

**Highlights:** Customizable stickers and backgrounds, Password-protected private space, Apple Pencil support for iPad, Photo insertion for visual journaling, Goal and dream recording

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Plus Version | $3.99 | per month |
| Quarterly Version | $8.99 | per 3 months |
| 6 months Version | $14.99 | per 6 months |


### Buddy Journal

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/buddy-journal-cute-diary/id6502621629)

This app provides a user-friendly space to record daily thoughts, moods, and memories. It offers extensive customization options with backgrounds and stickers to personalize your entries and is accessible on mobile devices.

**Highlights:** Intuitive interface for easy journaling, Personalized backgrounds and stickers, Add text and images to entries, Record daily moods and memories, Mobile convenience for on-the-go use, iPad compatibility

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Plus version | $2.99 | per month |
| Plus Quarterly | $6.99 | per 3 months |
| Pro version | $9.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Nice journal free?

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

### Is Buddy Journal free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Nice journal or Buddy Journal?

Buddy Journal is rated higher. Nice journal averages 4.5 out of 5 from 122 ratings, while Buddy Journal averages 4.8 from 17 ratings.

### Do Nice journal or Buddy Journal have ads?

Both Nice journal and Buddy Journal show ads.

### Which is updated more often, Nice journal or Buddy Journal?

Nice journal ships an update every 2 months, and Buddy Journal every 2 months. Most recently, Nice journal was updated on November 3, 2026 and Buddy Journal on November 4, 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.*