# Cute Journal vs Mini journal

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Mini journal at none against Cute Journal's 3. Cute Journal's advantage is update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 2 months) and iOS requirement (13.0 vs 15.0). On price, rating, review sentiment and ratings volume there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Cute Journal sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $4.49 per month. Mini journal asks for nothing beyond the download.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.6 for Cute Journal against 4.7 for Mini journal. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 133 and 158 respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 88% of Cute Journal's written reviews are positive against 94% of Mini journal's.

Cute Journal ships an update every 3 weeks, Mini journal every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on November 3, 2026 and October 30, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Cute Journal | Mini journal |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.6 (133 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/cute-journal-private-diary/id1602190978/reviews) | **[4.7 (158 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mini-journal-cute-diary/id6476841474/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 133 | **158** |
| Positive reviews | 88.1% of reviews | **94.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Every 3 weeks** | Every 2 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 43 MB | 52 MB |
| Requires iOS | **13.0** | 15.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [俊镇 吴](https://appshunter.io/developer/1116584225) | [新群 陈](https://appshunter.io/developer/1701840990) |

## What reviewers say

### 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 |


### Mini journal

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mini-journal-cute-diary/id6476841474)

This app offers a cute and simple way to journal your thoughts and memories. Customize your entries with a variety of stickers and backgrounds, and even create your own unique designs. Share your creations easily with friends and enjoy a seamless journaling experience on any device.

**Highlights:** Cute stickers and backgrounds, Concise and fast editing, DIY sticker creation, One-click sharing, iPad large screen support

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- ✨ So fun and enjoyable
- 💖 Very cute and aesthetic
- 🎨 Great for creativity and imagination
- 📚 Useful for journaling and note-taking
- 🎁 Lots of free stickers and content

**What reviewers complain about**

- 💸 Some features require payment
- 🐛 Glitching and annoying issues
- 🖱️ Stressful to move stickers
- ⚠️ Some stickers can't be used
- 🚫 Pop-ups when clicking unusable stickers

**Reported bugs**

- Notebooks deleted
- Kept glitching out
- Doesn't automatically save
- Cannot purchase VIP

**Requested features**

- Add more stickers
- Add a free lock or password to the journal
- Make password protection free, not pro
- Add more free sticker options
- Improve sticker package availability without payment


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Cute Journal free?

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

### Is Mini journal free?

Mini journal is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Cute Journal or Mini journal?

Mini journal is rated higher. Cute Journal averages 4.6 out of 5 from 133 ratings, while Mini journal averages 4.7 from 158 ratings.

### Do Cute Journal or Mini journal have ads?

Both Cute Journal and Mini journal show ads.

### Which is updated more often, Cute Journal or Mini journal?

Cute Journal ships an update every 3 weeks, and Mini journal every 2 months. Most recently, Cute Journal was updated on November 3, 2026 and Mini journal on October 30, 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.*