# Text Diary vs Zen

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Text Diary at none against Zen's 2. Text Diary also leads on rating (4.6 vs 4.3). Zen's advantage is update cadence (every 10 days vs every 2 months) and iOS requirement (15.0 vs 26.0). On price, ratings volume, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Zen sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month. Text Diary asks for nothing beyond the download.

Text Diary holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 4.3. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 7 and 3 respectively.

Text Diary ships an update every 2 months, Zen every 10 days. Both last shipped on October 24, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Text Diary | Zen |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.6 (7 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/text-diary-journal-notebook/id1620144716/reviews)** | [4.3 (3 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/zen-daily-diary-journal/id1665333520/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **7** | 3 |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | **Every 10 days** |
| Monetization | **Ad-supported** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 10 MB | 66 MB |
| Requires iOS | 26.0 | **15.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [FugaPiyo Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1497887610) | [Ryunosuke Nagase](https://appshunter.io/developer/1506451599) |

## What reviewers say

### Text Diary

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/text-diary-journal-notebook/id1620144716)

A free and simple text-based journaling app that allows unlimited entries. Organize your thoughts with folders, colors, and tags, and easily search or filter your past entries. Enjoy a comfortable user experience with quick startup and dark mode.

**Highlights:** Unlimited daily diary entries, Organize by folder, color, tag, Searchable diary entries, Filter by date or tag, Quick startup and comfortable operation, Dark mode support, Completely free to use

**In-app purchases:** none


### Zen

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/zen-daily-diary-journal/id1665333520)

This minimal journaling app helps you build a daily habit of recording your thoughts and experiences. It offers a simple, line-by-line entry system, calendar synchronization, and security features like password and biometric unlock. Organize entries with tags for easy retrieval.

**Highlights:** Effortless line-by-line recording, Calendar synchronization for context, Daily notification reminders, Minimalist and intuitive design, Password and biometric security, Tag-based organization and search

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| PREMIUM - MONTHLY | $2.99 | per month |
| PREMIUM - ANNUAL | $19.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Text Diary free?

Text Diary is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Zen free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Text Diary or Zen?

Text Diary is rated higher. Text Diary averages 4.6 out of 5 from 7 ratings, while Zen averages 4.3 from 3 ratings.

### Do Text Diary or Zen have ads?

Both Text Diary and Zen show ads.

### Which is updated more often, Text Diary or Zen?

Text Diary ships an update every 2 months, and Zen every 10 days. Most recently, Text Diary was updated on October 24, 2026 and Zen on October 24, 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.*