Comparison

Pixels vs Year Journal

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

Head to head
About

Pixels

This app helps you track your daily mood and emotions by turning them into a visual map of color. You can record your mood with a tap, add details with subpixels and custom tags, and use it as a companion for therapy. It offers a private and minimalist experience with no ads.

Highlights
  • Visual mood map
  • Daily pixel color entries
  • Subpixel tracking for mood variations
  • Custom tags and notes
  • Therapy companion tool
  • Minimalist and private design
Features
Read full description

Pixels turns every day into a single colored square on a yearly grid. Your mood, at a glance, for the entire year. TRACK YOUR MOOD • Pick a mood from custom categories • Add a journal note for deeper reflection • Log symptoms, habits, and how you really feel SEE THE FULL PICTURE • Watch your year fill up pixel by pixel • Spot emotional patterns across weeks and months • Detailed stats and charts for your mental health journey PRIVATE & BEAUTIFUL • No ads, no tracking • Customizable moods, colors, and reminders Join thousands of people building self-awareness, one day at a time. Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

About

Year Journal

Features
Read full description

Plant a memory. Watch your year grow. 'One Year' is a minimal daily journal designed for people who want to capture their lives without the clutter of traditional journaling apps. Instead of long-form entries, focus on one highlight, one photo, and one mood each day. A Visual Journey See your entire year at a glance with our unique 365-dot grid. Each dot represents a day, and as you "plant" memories, your grid transforms from a simple canvas into a beautiful, sketch-filled map of your year. Truly Private Your memories are personal. Unlike other apps, 'One Year' collects zero data. No accounts to create. No tracking or analytics. Your entries are stored on your device and synced via your private iCloud. "Your data stays yours" – exactly as it should be. Features: Minimalist Entry: Add a note, a photo, and a mood in seconds. Year Visualization: A stunning, all-in-one-view grid of your journey. Rotary Memory Dial: Spin back through time and rediscover random moments from your past. Interactive Widgets: Keep your progress on your Home Screen and never miss a day. Biometric Lock: Secure your journal with Face ID or Touch ID. Day-by-Day Sketches: Enjoy beautiful, hand-drawn style illustrations that change with every entry. Why One Year? Most journaling apps feel like work. 'One Year' feels like a garden. It’s designed to be used for just 30 seconds a day—enough to preserve the moment, but simple enough to keep you consistent. Start planting your memories today.

Screenshots

Pixels4 screens
Year Journal4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Year Journal at none against Pixels's 5. Pixels's advantage is update cadence (every 11 days vs every 2 months) and iOS requirement (15.0 vs 18.1). On price, ads 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. Pixels sells 5 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month. Year Journal asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Pixels ships an update every 11 days, Year Journal every 2 months. Both last shipped on October 24, 2026.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
Pixels versus Year Journal: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterPixelsYear Journal
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.8 (44 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews96.7% of reviews—
Number of ratings44 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 11 days — betterEvery 2 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS15.0 — better18.1
Further details — not scored
Size77 MB2 MB
Age rating12+4+
DeveloperTeo VogelSuraj Kumar

In-app purchases

5 purchases

Pixels

Subscriptions4
  • Pixels Cloud+7 Days trial$1.991 Month
  • Pixels Cloud+$1.991 Month
  • Pixels Cloud+7 Days trial$21.991 Year
Show 1 more
  • Pixels Cloud+$21.991 Year
One-time1
  • Pixels+$4.99
None

Year Journal

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Pixels free?
Pixels is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Year Journal free?
Year Journal is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do Pixels or Year Journal have ads?
Neither Pixels nor Year Journal shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Pixels or Year Journal?
Pixels ships an update every 11 days, and Year Journal every 2 months. Most recently, Pixels was updated on October 24, 2026 and Year Journal on October 24, 2026.

Other comparisons