Comparison

Zen vs Three

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

Head to head
About

Zen

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
Read full description

Zen is the minimal diary app. Zen was developed based on the developer's own struggles of not being able to continue any diary. - Effortlessly Record If you try to write perfectly, you will not know where to start. Zen allows you to keep a diary in a simple and easy manner by recording what happened in fragments, line by line, just like a note. Even on days when you are tired, you can keep a diary as if it were a note, making it easy to continue to keep a diary every day. Of course, you can also record detailed information. - Calendar Sync Zen automatically displays your schedule for the day by connecting to your calendar. This makes it easy to look back on the day and smoothly start writing in the diary. Even if you forget to keep a diary for a few days, you can easily keep a diary by checking the day's schedule. - Make Journaling a Habit Receiving notifications at a set time every day will support in making journaling a habit. - Minimal We paid special attention to the design because it is an app that you use every day. The minimal design allows you to keep track of your daily activities intuitively without getting lost in the operations. - Wabi-sabi Wabi-sabi is a world view centered on the acceptance of transience and imperfection. We are not perfect. So we don't need to write perfect sentences. Just write what you think. The essence is short. That's why Zen has a limit of 280 characters. - Security You can set a password when you start the app to further enhance your privacy. You can also unlock the app with fingerprint or face-ID. - Organize with Tags You can add keywords or categories related to your diary as tags. This allows you to efficiently manage and search diary entries using tags. Don’t worry, just write. --- Our Story There are many diary apps in the world, but I couldn't master any of them because they are all too complex. So, I decided to create my own minimal diary app that only includes the bare minimum necessary features. The only thing this app can do is to record and look back on daily events. I am constantly updating the app so that people who are looking for a simple diary app like me can be satisfied with it. I would be happy if this app can be of any help in your life. I wish for your life to be enriched. Terms of Use: https://tinylab-apps.web.app/TermsOfService/ja.html Privacy Policy: https://tinylab-apps.web.app/PrivacyPolicy/ja.html

About

Three

Features
Read full description

Capture your day authentically with just 1-3 words. Three is the journaling app that gets out of your way, making it effortless to build a meaningful daily reflection habit without the time commitment of long-form journal entries or the pressure of perfect prose. WHY THREE? Life is busy. Traditional journaling takes time you don't have, and most journaling apps overwhelm you with blank pages and the pressure to write perfectly. Three takes the opposite approach: radical simplicity. By limiting entries to three words or less, we eliminate overthinking and help you focus on what truly matters each day. Meaningful journaling in seconds, not hours. HOW IT WORKS • Write 1-3 words daily to capture your authentic moments • Get deep, valuable insights presented with beautiful visualizations • Build momentum with visual streak tracking • Entries lock after midnight, preserving honest memories • Browse your history in a beautiful calendar view • Track your longest streaks and current momentum PREMIUM ANALYTICS Unlock deeper insights into your journal with AI-powered analytics: • Theme insights - discover patterns in your entries • Theme evolution tracking – see how your focus shifts over time • Day-of-week patterns - learn which days inspire certain themes • Customizable time periods (7, 30, 90, 365 days) • Beautiful visualizations and trend analysis SIMPLE. HONEST. YOURS. Three respects your privacy. Your words are stored securely, with no ads or data selling. Just you and your daily reflections. Start your streak today with a 7-day free trial of Premium, then continue enjoying advanced analytics or switch to our free tier. Please note that Apple's Standard Licence Agreement applies: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

Zen4 screens
Three4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is ads: Three at none against Zen's shown. Zen's advantage is iOS requirement (15.0 vs 18.5). On price, update cadence, 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. Zen sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month and Three sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Zen ships an update every 10 days, Three weekly. The most recent releases landed on September 24, 2026 and September 10, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences · 7 level
Zen versus Three: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterZenThree
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.3 (3 ratings) — better—
Number of ratings3 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 10 daysWeekly — better
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases—
DevicesiPhone, iPod — betteriPhone
Requires iOS15.0 — better18.5
Further details — not scored
Size66 MB30 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperRyunosuke NagaseSageLabs

In-app purchases

2 purchases

Zen

Subscriptions2
  • PREMIUM - MONTHLY14 Days trial$2.991 Month
  • PREMIUM - ANNUAL14 Days trial$19.991 Year
2 purchases

Three

Subscriptions2
  • Premium Subscription - Monthly7 Days trial$3.991 Month
  • Premium Subscription - Yearly7 Days trial$19.991 Year

Questions

Is Zen free?
Zen is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Three free?
Three is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Zen or Three have ads?
Zen shows ads; Three does not.
Which is updated more often, Zen or Three?
Zen ships an update every 10 days, and Three weekly. Most recently, Zen was updated on September 24, 2026 and Three on September 10, 2026.

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