# Grid Diary Classic vs Personal Diary (Journal) App

The clearest difference is ratings volume: Grid Diary Classic at 774 against Personal Diary (Journal) App's 106. Grid Diary Classic also leads on update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 5 weeks) and iOS requirement (9.0 vs 12.0). Personal Diary (Journal) App's advantage is review sentiment (87% vs 77%) and device support (5 vs 3). On price, rating, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Grid Diary Classic sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $2.49 per month and Personal Diary (Journal) App sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.4 for Grid Diary Classic against 4.4 for Personal Diary (Journal) App. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Grid Diary Classic has 774 ratings behind it against 106, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 77% of Grid Diary Classic's written reviews are positive against 87% of Personal Diary (Journal) App's.

Grid Diary Classic ships an update every 3 weeks, Personal Diary (Journal) App every 5 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 1, 2026 and November 2, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Grid Diary Classic | Personal Diary (Journal) App |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.4 (774 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/grid-diary-classic/id597077261/reviews)** | [4.4 (106 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/personal-diary-journal-app/id1052570257/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **774** | 106 |
| Positive reviews | 76.6% of reviews | **87.4% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 3 weeks** | Every 5 weeks |
| Monetization | Freemium | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 94 MB | 26 MB |
| Requires iOS | **9.0** | 12.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac, Apple Watch** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Sumi Interactive](https://appshunter.io/developer/597077264) | [Wern Jie Lim](https://appshunter.io/developer/1032934247) |

## What reviewers say

### Grid Diary Classic

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/grid-diary-classic/id597077261)

This journaling app offers a unique grid-based format with prompts to overcome writer's block. It allows for photo attachments, full-text search, and health data integration. Advanced features like passcode lock and cloud sync are available through a subscription or one-time purchase.

**Highlights:** Unique grid format for journaling, Prompt library for writing inspiration, Photo attachment to entries, Full text search functionality, Backup and restore options, HealthKit integration for steps and calories

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Pro Subscription | $2.49 | per month |
| Upgrade to Pro | $9.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Simple and easy to use
- 📝 Helps with daily reflection and journaling
- 🎨 Clean and minimalist design
- 🔍 Customizable prompts and templates
- 🌐 Syncs across devices

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🔒 Paid version required for password protection
- 🖼️ Limited photo storage in free version
- 🌐 Sync issues for some users
- 💰 Concerns over transition to subscription model
- 🐛 Occasional crashes and bugs

**Reported bugs**

- Upgrade issues and failed purchases
- Entries disappearing or being deleted
- Compatibility problems with newer iOS versions

**Requested features**

- More font and color customization options
- Integration with calendar and other apps
- Ability to export/backup journal entries
- More emotion/mood options
- Desktop/web version


### Personal Diary (Journal) App

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/personal-diary-journal-app/id1052570257)

This app provides a simple and secure digital space for journaling. It offers passcode and biometric protection, iCloud sync across devices, and the ability to add photos, moods, and weather to your entries. It's designed to be an accessible and ad-free journalling experience.

**Highlights:** Passcode & biometric protection, iCloud sync across devices, Import photos into entries, Set mood and weather, Daily writing reminders, VoiceOver support, Dark Mode

**Features:** Siri integration

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Continuous Tip | $1.99 | per month |
| Small Tip | $0.99 | one-time |
| Medium Tip | $2.99 | one-time |
| Large Tip | $9.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 💻 Simple and easy to use
- 🔒 Secure with passcode/Touch ID
- 🌤️ Ability to track mood and weather
- 📸 Option to add photos
- 🔍 Useful search functionality

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Occasional crashes and stability issues
- 🗓️ Lack of calendar view to easily navigate entries
- 🔍 Search functionality could be improved
- 📁 Issues with syncing and backing up data
- 🤖 Automatic mood/weather detection not always accurate

**Reported bugs**

- Entries sometimes disappear or fail to load
- Passcode/Touch ID not working reliably
- Syncing issues between devices
- Unexpected crashes when opening the app

**Requested features**

- Add ability to password protect individual entries
- Implement calendar view for better navigation
- Allow adding videos and other media types
- Improve search capabilities with advanced filters
- Provide better data backup and export options


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Grid Diary Classic free?

Grid Diary Classic is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Personal Diary (Journal) App free?

Personal Diary (Journal) App is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Grid Diary Classic or Personal Diary (Journal) App?

Grid Diary Classic is rated higher. Grid Diary Classic averages 4.4 out of 5 from 774 ratings, while Personal Diary (Journal) App averages 4.4 from 106 ratings.

### Do Grid Diary Classic or Personal Diary (Journal) App have ads?

Neither Grid Diary Classic nor Personal Diary (Journal) App shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Grid Diary Classic or Personal Diary (Journal) App?

Grid Diary Classic ships an update every 3 weeks, and Personal Diary (Journal) App every 5 weeks. Most recently, Grid Diary Classic was updated on November 1, 2026 and Personal Diary (Journal) App on November 2, 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.*