# Journal vs Journal for iPad

Journal and Journal for iPad both sit at 4.6 stars, but that hides the real split: 90% of Journal's written reviews are positive against 0% of Journal for iPad's. Journal also leads on ratings volume (1.8K vs 132) and device support (3 vs 1). Journal for iPad's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and update cadence (every 2 days vs every 6 weeks). On price, rating, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Journal sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month and Journal for iPad sells 11 in-app purchases, starting at $5.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.6 for Journal against 4.5 for Journal for iPad. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Journal has 1.8K ratings behind it against 132, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 90% of Journal's written reviews are positive against 0% of Journal for iPad's.

Journal ships an update every 6 weeks, Journal for iPad every 2 days. The most recent releases landed on October 27, 2026 and October 31, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Journal | Journal for iPad |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.6 (1.8K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/journal-diary-and-planner/id6443840608/reviews)** | [4.5 (132 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/journal-for-ipad-diary-plus/id6775478461/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **1.8K** | 132 |
| Positive reviews | **89.7% of reviews** | 0.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Every 6 weeks | **Every 2 days** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 45 MB | 36 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.6** | 16.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [受杰 柯](https://appshunter.io/developer/1634142370) | [Brite Technologies LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1620922833) |

## 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


### Journal for iPad

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/journal-for-ipad-diary-plus/id6775478461)

This app provides a private digital space for journaling on your iPad. It offers features like mood tracking, daily prompts, and photo integration to help you capture thoughts and memories. Security options like Face ID ensure your entries remain confidential.

**Highlights:** Private diary with Face ID/passcode lock, Mood tracker with history, Daily writing prompts, Photo and media support, Search and tag entries, iCloud sync, Apple Pencil support

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

**In-app purchases (11)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Journal Premium Weekly | $5.99 | per 7 days |
| Journal Premium Yearly | $19.99 | per year |
| Self-Care Stickers | $1.99 | one-time |
| Paper Backgrounds | $2.99 | one-time |
| The Morning Pages Month | $6.99 | one-time |
| Gratitude, Specifically | $6.99 | one-time |
| 30 Days to Clear Your Head | $7.99 | one-time |
| Say It Straight | $7.99 | one-time |
| Shadow Work: 30 Sessions | $7.99 | one-time |
| The Worry Trial | $7.99 | one-time |
| Lifetime Premium | $39.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Journal free?

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

### Is Journal for iPad free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Journal or Journal for iPad?

Journal is rated higher. Journal averages 4.6 out of 5 from 1.8K ratings, while Journal for iPad averages 4.5 from 132 ratings.

### Do Journal or Journal for iPad have ads?

Journal shows ads; Journal for iPad does not.

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

Journal ships an update every 6 weeks, and Journal for iPad every 2 days. Most recently, Journal was updated on October 27, 2026 and Journal for iPad on October 31, 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.*