# Grid Diary Classic vs Grateful

Grid Diary Classic and Grateful both sit at 4.4 stars, but that hides the real split: 77% of Grid Diary Classic's written reviews are positive against 48% of Grateful's. Grid Diary Classic also leads on update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 2 months) and iOS requirement (9.0 vs 16.0). Grateful's advantage is ratings volume (3K vs 774). 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 Grateful sells 9 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Grateful holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 4.4. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 774 and 3K respectively. Written reviews complicate that: 77% of Grid Diary Classic's written reviews are positive against 48% of Grateful's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

Grid Diary Classic ships an update every 3 weeks, Grateful every 2 months. Both last shipped on November 6, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Grid Diary Classic | Grateful |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.4 (774 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/grid-diary-classic/id597077261/reviews) | **[4.6 (3K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/grateful-a-gratitude-journal/id1197512462/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 774 | **3K** |
| Positive reviews | **76.6% of reviews** | 48.1% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 3 weeks** | Every 2 months |
| Monetization | Freemium | Freemium |
| Size | 94 MB | 126 MB |
| Requires iOS | **9.0** | 16.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Sumi Interactive](https://appshunter.io/developer/597077264) | [Kodeon, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1748846686) |

## 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


### Grateful

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/grateful-a-gratitude-journal/id1197512462)

This app helps you cultivate a more positive outlook by making gratitude easy and fun. It offers daily prompts, allows you to add photos, and lets you easily browse past entries. Your journal remains completely private, stored only on your device.

**Highlights:** Daily gratitude prompts, Add photos to entries, Browse entries by time or prompt, Customizable prompts, Private and local storage, Edit past entries

**In-app purchases (9)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Grateful Growth Bundle: Month | $3.99 | per month |
| Grateful Premium | $14.99 | per year |
| Grateful Premium | $14.99 | per year |
| Annual Subscription | $14.99 | per year |
| Grateful Growth Bundle: Yearly | $18.99 | per year |
| Grateful Premium | $29.99 | per year |
| Grateful Premium | $29.99 | per year |
| Grateful Growth Bundle: Yearly | $59.99 | per year |
| One-Time Premium Upgrade | $4.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- ✨ Simple and effective
- 📷 Ability to add photos
- 🗓️ Helpful prompts and reminders
- 💻 Clean and intuitive interface

**What reviewers complain about**

- 💰 Paid subscription required after limited free entries
- 🔒 Lack of customer support and unresponsive developers
- 💾 Issues with data backup and restoration
- 🐛 Frequent crashes and bugs

**Reported bugs**

- App crashing on launch
- Inability to restore previous purchases
- Entries disappearing or not saving properly

**Requested features**

- Calendar view to track progress
- Custom prompt writing
- Improved photo handling and display
- Cloud sync across devices


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Grid Diary Classic free?

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

### Is Grateful free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Grid Diary Classic or Grateful?

Grateful is rated higher. Grid Diary Classic averages 4.4 out of 5 from 774 ratings, while Grateful averages 4.6 from 3K ratings.

### Do Grid Diary Classic or Grateful have ads?

Neither Grid Diary Classic nor Grateful shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Grid Diary Classic or Grateful?

Grid Diary Classic ships an update every 3 weeks, and Grateful every 2 months. Most recently, Grid Diary Classic was updated on November 6, 2026 and Grateful on November 6, 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.*