# Penzu vs Diary With Password

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Diary With Password at 92% against Penzu's 52%. Diary With Password also leads on rating (4.7 vs 4.2) and ratings volume (27K vs 2.5K). Penzu's advantage is update cadence (weekly vs every 2 weeks). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Penzu sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month and Diary With Password sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Diary With Password holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.2. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Diary With Password has 27K ratings behind it against 2.5K, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 52% of Penzu's written reviews are positive against 92% of Diary With Password's.

Penzu ships an update weekly, Diary With Password every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 21, 2026 and September 28, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Penzu | Diary With Password |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.2 (2.5K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/penzu/id452674732/reviews) | **[4.7 (27K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/diary-with-password/id1252208166/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 2.5K | **27K** |
| Positive reviews | 51.5% of reviews | **92.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Weekly** | Every 2 weeks |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 62 MB | 11 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.0 | **12.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 9+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Penzu Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/452674735) | [帆 杨](https://appshunter.io/developer/959829749) |

## What reviewers say

### Penzu

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/penzu/id452674732)

This app provides a secure and private space for journaling, note-taking, and storing personal thoughts. It offers robust security features like password and PIN locks, encryption, and cloud syncing across devices. Users can also add photos and tags to their entries, making it a comprehensive digital diary.

**Highlights:** Unlimited journaling, Cloud sync for free, Password and PIN locks, Journal encryption, Add photos to entries, Search and tag entries, Offline writing

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Penzu Pro Subscription | $4.99 | per month |
| Penzu Pro Subscription | $19.99 | per year |
| Penzu Pro Upgrade | $18.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Easy to use
- 🔒 Secure and private
- 📝 Convenient journaling on the go
- 🗓️ Helpful reminders and date tracking
- 💻 Syncs across devices

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent crashes and bugs
- 🔑 Password issues and lockout problems
- 📁 Syncing and data loss issues
- 📱 Limited functionality on mobile app
- 💰 Expensive premium subscription

**Reported bugs**

- Keyboard disappearing during use
- Entries not saving or syncing properly
- Inability to access account after updates

**Requested features**

- More customization options for fonts, themes, and layouts
- Ability to export/backup journal entries
- Improved mobile app stability and features
- Better customer support and communication


### Diary With Password

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/diary-with-password/id1252208166)

This app provides a private digital space to record daily thoughts, emotions, and life events. It offers robust security features like password and biometric locks, alongside tools for organizing, searching, and exporting your entries. Enjoy a customizable and ad-free journaling experience.

**Highlights:** Password and biometric security, Daily entry logging, Full text search, Data backup and export (PDF/Text), Customizable fonts and sizes, Night mode, Daily reminders

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Pro version- One-time purchase | $12.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 💻 Simple and easy to use
- 🔒 Password protection
- 📝 Customizable fonts and layout
- ⏱️ Time stamp feature
- 🔓 No ads or paywalls

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🔍 Difficulty finding/accessing past entries
- 🖼️ No image/media support
- 🔄 Lack of syncing across devices
- 🔒 Password recovery issues
- 🔧 Limited customization options

**Reported bugs**

- Date entries sometimes display incorrectly
- Occasional app crashes or freezes

**Requested features**

- Add ability to import/attach photos
- Implement calendar view for entries
- Allow multiple entries per day
- Provide cloud backup and sync options
- Add more customization options (colors, themes, etc.)


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Penzu free?

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

### Is Diary With Password free?

Diary With Password is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Penzu or Diary With Password?

Diary With Password is rated higher. Penzu averages 4.2 out of 5 from 2.5K ratings, while Diary With Password averages 4.7 from 27K ratings.

### Do Penzu or Diary With Password have ads?

Neither Penzu nor Diary With Password shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Penzu or Diary With Password?

Penzu ships an update weekly, and Diary With Password every 2 weeks. Most recently, Penzu was updated on September 21, 2026 and Diary With Password on September 28, 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.*