# Penzu vs Gistleaf

The clearest difference is update cadence: Gistleaf at every 3 days against Penzu's weekly. Penzu's advantage is iOS requirement (16.0 vs 18.0). On price, ads, in-app purchases 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 and Gistleaf sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Penzu ships an update weekly, Gistleaf every 3 days. The most recent releases landed on October 17, 2026 and October 13, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Penzu | Gistleaf |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 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 | **Every 3 days** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | — |
| Size | 62 MB | 14 MB |
| Requires iOS | **16.0** | 18.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad** | iPhone |
| Age rating | 9+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Penzu Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/452674735) | [Ailancer](https://appshunter.io/developer/1828035577) |

## 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


### Gistleaf

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/gistleaf-voice-notes/id6813644869)

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

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Premium Weekly | $2.99 | per 7 days |
| Premium Monthly | $7.99 | per month |
| Premium Annual | $44.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Penzu free?

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

### Is Gistleaf free?

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

### Do Penzu or Gistleaf have ads?

Neither Penzu nor Gistleaf shows ads.

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

Penzu ships an update weekly, and Gistleaf every 3 days. Most recently, Penzu was updated on October 17, 2026 and Gistleaf on October 13, 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.*