# Penzu vs Moonfield

The clearest difference is iOS requirement: Penzu at 16.0 against Moonfield's 26.0. On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Penzu sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month and Moonfield sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. 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 23, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Penzu | Moonfield |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 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 | 5 MB |
| Requires iOS | **16.0** | 26.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 9+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Penzu Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/452674735) | [Parnassia llc](https://appshunter.io/developer/6801891352) |

## 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


### Moonfield

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/moonfield/id6801891350)

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Moonfield Monthly | $4.99 | per month |
| Moonfield Annual | $29.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Penzu free?

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

### Is Moonfield free?

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

### Do Penzu or Moonfield have ads?

Neither Penzu nor Moonfield shows ads.

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

Penzu ships an update weekly, and Moonfield weekly. Most recently, Penzu was updated on October 23, 2026 and Moonfield on October 24, 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.*