Comparison

Journal vs PinyPiny

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Journal

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
Read full description

Journal, record the unrepeatable moments carefully. Journal is a diary designed for journal enthusiasts. You can use cute stickers and backgrounds as your Journal. As an interesting journaling app, Journal looks forward to recording warm times with you! [Journal Features] -Super many materials: stickers and backgrounds are updated regularly, and there are new surprises every time you make a diary. -Drafts: Save the content of your Journal automatically, so you can no longer be afraid of losing your journal. -Security privacy: You can set a password for the app to protect your secret space. -Support for iPad: It is easier to edit journals with a large screen and an apple pencil. -Photo record: The diary supports inserting photos to retain beautiful moments. This subscription will be automatically renewed through your iTunes account, and the renewal fee will be deducted according to your package within 24 hours before the end of the current subscription period. You can manage or cancel the automatic renewal at the Account Settings Department. To cancel the automatic renewal, you must at least 24 hours before the end of the current subscription period. If your trial has not ended, the remaining days will automatically expire after you start subscribing. To open the subscription, you need to agree to the following terms: Terms of Service: https://keshoujie.github.io/posts/keshoujie/fuwu Privacy terms: https://keshoujie.github.io/posts/keshoujie/privacy

About

PinyPiny

Features
Read full description

PinyPiny Life isn't something you only write down. It's something you piece together. Some days need only a sentence. Some memories deserve a photo. Some passing ideas feel right in a different font, a little color, or a sticker made from something you just photographed. PinyPiny is a visual journal where notes do not have to stay inside the lines. Words, photos, papers, fonts, colors, stickers, and animation can all become part of the way you remember. Write a simple diary entry, build a scrapbook-like collage, or shape each page like a tiny magazine made just for you. A different way to revisit your notes Open PinyPiny and your past entries become a stack of cards floating in a quiet, deep space. Swipe through them one by one and make finding an old note feel like part of the experience. Make every page your own • Choose from different papers and fonts, then pair them with the colors you like. • Move, rotate, and arrange content instead of keeping every line in a fixed column. • Place photos on the page or embed them directly between words. • Photograph something you love and turn it into your own sticker. • Add a touch of animation when a still page is not quite enough. A trip can hold photos, colors, and words from another language. Dinner can become the collage of the day. A sentence can sit proudly in the center of the page. A cat, a ticket stub, or a rainy afternoon can each have a place of its own. No design experience required There is no single right way to make a note here. Keep it neat or let it wander. Make it minimal or fill the page. Write three words today or spend half an hour arranging every detail. It is still your note. When a page feels complete, export it as an image and save it to Photos. The small pieces of an ordinary day can slowly grow into a visual journal that belongs only to you. PinyPiny is more than a place to keep information. It is a sheet of paper that can keep changing—a home for ideas, photos, and fragments of life. Piece together what happened today, the people you love, the places you visited, and the thoughts that appeared without warning. Years from now, may you find more than a paragraph. May you find the day as it really felt. Privacy Policy: https://pinypiny.lraitech.com/privacy Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

Journal4 screens
PinyPiny4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is ads: PinyPiny at none against Journal's shown. PinyPiny also leads on update cadence (every 2 days vs every 6 weeks). Journal's advantage is iOS requirement (15.6 vs 18.0). On price, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Journal sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month and PinyPiny sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Journal ships an update every 6 weeks, PinyPiny every 2 days. The most recent releases landed on November 3, 2026 and October 31, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
Journal versus PinyPiny: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterJournalPinyPiny
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.6 (1.8K ratings) — better—
Positive reviews89.7% of reviews—
Number of ratings1.8K — better—
Update frequencyEvery 6 weeksEvery 2 days — better
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS15.6 — better18.0
Further details — not scored
Size45 MB185 MB
Age rating4+4+
Developer受杰 柯馨瑶 王

Bugs and requests

Journal

Reported bugs

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

Requested features

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

PinyPiny

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

3 purchases

Journal

Subscriptions2
  • Plus Version3 Days trial$2.991 Month
  • Plus Version3 Days trial$4.993 Months
One-time1
  • Pro Version$8.99
3 purchases

PinyPiny

Subscriptions2
  • Monthly$1.991 Month
  • Annual7 Days trial$9.991 Year
One-time1
  • Lifetime$24.99

Questions

Is Journal free?
Journal is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is PinyPiny free?
PinyPiny is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Journal or PinyPiny have ads?
Journal shows ads; PinyPiny does not.
Which is updated more often, Journal or PinyPiny?
Journal ships an update every 6 weeks, and PinyPiny every 2 days. Most recently, Journal was updated on November 3, 2026 and PinyPiny on October 31, 2026.

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