# Penzu vs Sprout Frontliner

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Sprout Frontliner at none against Penzu's 3. On price, update cadence, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Penzu sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. Sprout Frontliner asks for nothing beyond the download.

Penzu ships an update weekly, Sprout Frontliner every 10 days. Both last shipped on October 23, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Penzu | Sprout Frontliner |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.2 (2.5K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/penzu/id452674732/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **2.5K** | — |
| Positive reviews | 52.0% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Weekly** | Every 10 days |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | — |
| Size | 62 MB | 80 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.0 | **15.5** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 9+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Penzu Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/452674735) | [Sprout Solutions](https://appshunter.io/developer/1434660054) |

## 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


### Sprout Frontliner

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sprout-frontliner/id6762179757)

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Penzu free?

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

### Is Sprout Frontliner free?

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

### Do Penzu or Sprout Frontliner have ads?

Neither Penzu nor Sprout Frontliner shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Penzu or Sprout Frontliner?

Penzu ships an update weekly, and Sprout Frontliner every 10 days. Most recently, Penzu was updated on October 23, 2026 and Sprout Frontliner on October 23, 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.*