# Retrospect vs JournalNow

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Retrospect at none against JournalNow's 1. JournalNow's advantage is update cadence (every 9 days vs every 21 months). On price, rating, ratings volume and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. JournalNow sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Retrospect asks for nothing beyond the download.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 5.0 for Retrospect against 5.0 for JournalNow. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 4 and 2 respectively.

Retrospect ships an update every 21 months, JournalNow every 9 days. The most recent releases landed on November 3, 2026 and October 31, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Retrospect | JournalNow |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [5.0 (4 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/retrospect-smart-journal/id1635622908/reviews) | [5.0 (2 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/journalnow/id6760954710/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **4** | 2 |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 21 months | **Every 9 days** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 4 MB | 18 MB |
| Requires iOS | 18.0 | 18.0 |
| Devices | iPhone | **iPhone, iPad** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Lowell Pence](https://appshunter.io/developer/1577559242) | [Gustavo Venzon](https://appshunter.io/developer/1880022947) |

## What reviewers say

### Retrospect

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/retrospect-smart-journal/id1635622908)

This app offers a private and straightforward method for recording your thoughts, locations, and moods. It allows for daily reflection and helps you make informed future decisions by reviewing your life experiences from various perspectives. Your data is securely stored on your device and backed up to iCloud.

**Highlights:** Private journaling, Mood tracking, Location logging, On-device storage, iCloud backup, No account required

**In-app purchases:** none


### JournalNow

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/journalnow/id6760954710)

Capture your life, reflect with clarity, and organize memories with an AI-assisted private journaling app. Record thoughts via voice, attach media, and use intelligent suggestions for titles and summaries. It offers a secure, premium space for reflection and personal growth.

**Highlights:** AI-assisted journaling, Voice dictation, Media attachments, Smart search, Organization by journals and tags, Memory resurfacing, Export options

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| JournalNow Lifetime | $1.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Retrospect free?

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

### Is JournalNow free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Retrospect or JournalNow?

Retrospect and JournalNow are both rated 5.0 out of 5 on the App Store, from 4 and 2 ratings respectively.

### Do Retrospect or JournalNow have ads?

Neither Retrospect nor JournalNow shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Retrospect or JournalNow?

Retrospect ships an update every 21 months, and JournalNow every 9 days. Most recently, Retrospect was updated on November 3, 2026 and JournalNow on October 31, 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.*