# Penzu vs HydroFasting

Penzu and HydroFasting are too close to call on the numbers: across 6 compared parameters — price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases among them — neither pulls far enough ahead to decide it. What separates them is feature set and interface, not measurable difference.

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

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly weekly. The most recent releases landed on October 17, 2026 and October 7, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Penzu | HydroFasting |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 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 | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Weekly | Weekly |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | — |
| Size | 62 MB | 34 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.0 | **15.5** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 9+ | 9+ |
| Developer | [Penzu Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/452674735) | [ASAPP STUDIO](https://appshunter.io/developer/1338092352) |

## 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


### HydroFasting

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hydrofasting/id6764896316)

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

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Premium Lifetime Access | $0.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Penzu free?

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

### Is HydroFasting free?

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

### Do Penzu or HydroFasting have ads?

Neither Penzu nor HydroFasting shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Penzu or HydroFasting?

Penzu ships an update weekly, and HydroFasting weekly. Most recently, Penzu was updated on October 17, 2026 and HydroFasting on October 7, 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.*