# Journal vs WilliDreams

The clearest difference is rating: Journal at 4.6 against WilliDreams's 4.0. Journal also leads on ratings volume (1.8K vs 1) and iOS requirement (15.6 vs 17.4). WilliDreams's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 3) and ads (none vs shown). On price, update cadence and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Journal sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month. WilliDreams asks for nothing beyond the download.

Journal holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 4.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Journal has 1.8K ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two.

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 6 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 20, 2026 and October 3, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Journal | WilliDreams |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.6 (1.8K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/journal-diary-and-planner/id6443840608/reviews)** | [4.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/willidreams/id6553981777/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **1.8K** | 1 |
| Positive reviews | 89.7% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Every 6 weeks | Every 6 weeks |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Size | 45 MB | 15 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.6** | 17.4 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, Mac |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [受杰 柯](https://appshunter.io/developer/1634142370) | [William Gallegos](https://appshunter.io/developer/1672879909) |

## What reviewers say

### Journal

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/journal-diary-and-planner/id6443840608)

This app allows users to create a personal diary with a variety of cute stickers and backgrounds. It offers automatic saving of drafts, password protection for privacy, and the ability to insert photos. The app is also optimized for iPad use.

**Highlights:** Customizable stickers and backgrounds, Automatic draft saving, Password protection for privacy, iPad support with Apple Pencil, Photo insertion for diary entries

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Plus Version | $2.99 | per month |
| Plus Version | $4.99 | per 3 months |
| Pro Version | $8.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 💖 Cute and aesthetic design
- 📚 Helpful for journaling and planning
- 🎨 Customizable backgrounds and stickers
- 👍 Easy to use and organize
- 🥰 Fun and enjoyable experience

**What reviewers complain about**

- 💰 Limited free features, many paid options
- 🔑 Issues with login/access
- 🐛 Occasional crashes or bugs
- 📝 Limited font/formatting options

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes when trying to reopen saved pages
- Stickers not displaying properly in some cases
- Sync issues causing data loss

**Requested features**

- Add more free stickers and customization options
- Improve syncing and backup functionality
- Allow creating custom backgrounds and stickers
- Introduce a dark mode option


### WilliDreams

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/willidreams/id6553981777)

Record and analyze your dreams to improve self-awareness, sleep quality, and memory. Optionally share your dream journal entries with friends for deeper connection.

**Highlights:** Dream tracking, Mental health benefits, Memory retention improvement, Optional friend sharing, Private dream entries, Positive app environment

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Journal free?

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

### Is WilliDreams free?

WilliDreams is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Journal or WilliDreams?

Journal is rated higher. Journal averages 4.6 out of 5 from 1.8K ratings, while WilliDreams averages 4.0 from 1 ratings.

### Do Journal or WilliDreams have ads?

Journal shows ads; WilliDreams does not.

### Which is updated more often, Journal or WilliDreams?

Journal ships an update every 6 weeks, and WilliDreams every 6 weeks. Most recently, Journal was updated on October 20, 2026 and WilliDreams on October 3, 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.*