Comparison

Zen vs Wohnly

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

Wohnly

Features
Read full description

Wohnly makes shared living easier. Whether you're roommates, a couple, or a family, Wohnly helps everyone stay on top of household responsibilities. Shared chores with fair rotation — Assign recurring tasks like cleaning, dishes, and laundry. Wohnly rotates assignments automatically so everyone does their fair share. Track completion stats to keep things balanced. Split expenses and settle up — Log shared costs, see who owes what, and settle balances with a tap. Track subscriptions and recurring bills in one place. Collaborative shopping lists — Build your grocery list together in real-time. Check off items as you shop, with smart suggestions based on past purchases. Shared calendar — Keep track of household events, chore schedules, and subscription billing dates. Sync with your device calendar so nothing gets missed. Todos and meal planning — Manage household and personal tasks with due dates. Plan meals for the week and auto-add ingredients to your shopping list. Private and secure — End-to-end encrypted so your household data stays yours. Available in 42 languages. Works on phones, tablets, and desktop.

Screenshots

Zen4 screens
Wohnly4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is ads: Wohnly at none against Zen's shown. Zen's advantage is update cadence (every 10 days vs every 5 weeks). On price, in-app purchases, device support and iOS requirement 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 Wohnly sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Zen ships an update every 10 days, Wohnly every 5 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 3, 2026 and October 25, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences · 7 level
Zen versus Wohnly: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterZenWohnly
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.3 (3 ratings) — better—
Number of ratings3 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 10 days — betterEvery 5 weeks
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases—
DevicesiPhone, iPodiPhone, iPad, Mac — better
Requires iOS15.0 — better16.4
Further details — not scored
Size66 MB74 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperRyunosuke NagaseTHOMAS SCHEIBER

In-app purchases

2 purchases

Zen

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

Wohnly

One-time1
  • Wohnly Pro$4.99

Questions

Is Zen free?
Zen is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Wohnly free?
Wohnly is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Zen or Wohnly have ads?
Zen shows ads; Wohnly does not.
Which is updated more often, Zen or Wohnly?
Zen ships an update every 10 days, and Wohnly every 5 weeks. Most recently, Zen was updated on November 3, 2026 and Wohnly on October 25, 2026.

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