# Minimalist Journal vs Digital Planner for iPad

The clearest difference is update cadence: Digital Planner for iPad at every 6 days against Minimalist Journal's every 3 months. Digital Planner for iPad also leads on rating (4.3 vs 4.0) and ratings volume (2.1K vs 381). Minimalist Journal's advantage is review sentiment (58% vs 44%). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Minimalist Journal sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and Digital Planner for iPad sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $6.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Digital Planner for iPad holds the better App Store score, 4.3 against 4.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Digital Planner for iPad has 2.1K ratings behind it against 381, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 58% of Minimalist Journal's written reviews are positive against 44% of Digital Planner for iPad's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

Minimalist Journal ships an update every 3 months, Digital Planner for iPad every 6 days. Both last shipped on November 12, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Minimalist Journal | Digital Planner for iPad |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.0 (381 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/minimalist-journal/id6443493135/reviews) | **[4.3 (2.1K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/digital-planner-for-ipad/id6444685151/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 381 | **2.1K** |
| Positive reviews | **58.4% of reviews** | 44.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months | **Every 6 days** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Freemium |
| Size | 2 MB | 226 MB |
| Requires iOS | **16.0** | 17.0 |
| Devices | iPad | **iPhone, iPad, Mac** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Christian Merk](https://appshunter.io/developer/1487924099) | [Alina Shpak](https://appshunter.io/developer/1656104667) |

## What reviewers say

### Minimalist Journal

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/minimalist-journal/id6443493135)

Capture your thoughts and ideas digitally with a handwriting experience that mimics pen on paper. Utilize Apple Pencil for precision and ease, transforming your device into a personal diary. Unlock unlimited entries with a one-time purchase.

**Highlights:** Handwritten journaling, Apple Pencil support, Digital diary, Capture thoughts and ideas, Unlimited entries unlock

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Unlimited entries | $8.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Minimalist design
- 💡 Handwriting support
- 🔒 Password protection
- 🚀 Simple and intuitive
- 📝 Effective for journaling

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Buggy performance
- 🖌️ Limited drawing/editing tools
- 💰 Paywall after limited entries
- 📁 No backup/export options
- 👨‍💻 Lack of customization

**Reported bugs**

- Apple Pencil double-tap not working
- Keyboard not appearing on screen
- Jumping between entries while writing
- Faint/invisible writing lines in dark mode

**Requested features**

- Ability to erase entire pages
- Option to change pen color
- Landscape mode support
- Sync with iCloud or other cloud storage
- Undo/redo functionality


### Digital Planner for iPad

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/digital-planner-for-ipad/id6444685151)

Organize your life with a digital planner that mimics a classic paper notebook. Write naturally with Apple Pencil, manage tasks, events, and notes across your Apple devices. Offers flexible planning views and calendar syncing.

**Highlights:** Hourly, daily, weekly, monthly, yearly planning, Natural handwriting with Apple Pencil, Syncs with Apple, Google, and Outlook Calendars, Create and manage tasks and notes, Import and annotate PDFs, Customizable templates

**Features:** Family Sharing, Vision Pro support, iPhone Duo support

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Digital Planner (Monthly) | $6.99 | per month |
| Digital Planner (Three month) | $12.99 | per 3 months |
| Digital Planner (Annual) | $29.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Seamless integration with calendar
- 📝 Intuitive and easy to use
- ✨ Visually appealing design
- 🖋️ Great for handwritten notes
- 📚 Helpful book tracking feature

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent crashes and glitches
- 💰 Subscription-based model
- 🔒 Difficulty canceling subscription
- 🔍 Limited customization options
- 🗓️ Sync issues between devices

**Reported bugs**

- Lasso tool issues with cut and paste
- Disappearing text when writing over stickers
- Inconsistent calendar sync
- Eraser leaving jumbled pieces
- Inability to rearrange pages

**Requested features**

- Ability to delete individual pages
- Improved eraser functionality
- Sync with Outlook calendar
- Monthly and yearly view improvements
- Widgets for quick access


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Minimalist Journal free?

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

### Is Digital Planner for iPad free?

Digital Planner for iPad is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Minimalist Journal or Digital Planner for iPad?

Digital Planner for iPad is rated higher. Minimalist Journal averages 4.0 out of 5 from 381 ratings, while Digital Planner for iPad averages 4.3 from 2.1K ratings.

### Do Minimalist Journal or Digital Planner for iPad have ads?

Neither Minimalist Journal nor Digital Planner for iPad shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Minimalist Journal or Digital Planner for iPad?

Minimalist Journal ships an update every 3 months, and Digital Planner for iPad every 6 days. Most recently, Minimalist Journal was updated on November 12, 2026 and Digital Planner for iPad on November 12, 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.*