# Throwback vs Diary, Private Journal

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Throwback at none against Diary, Private Journal's 1. Diary, Private Journal's advantage is update cadence (fortnightly vs every 15 months) and iOS requirement (13.0 vs 15.0). On price, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Diary, Private Journal sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $29.99 per year. Throwback asks for nothing beyond the download.

Throwback ships an update every 15 months, Diary, Private Journal fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on September 19, 2026 and September 18, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Throwback | Diary, Private Journal |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | — | **[4.9 (41 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/diary-private-journal-diario/id6484153948/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | — | **41** |
| Positive reviews | — | 100.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 15 months | **Fortnightly** |
| Monetization | — | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 49 MB | 106 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | **13.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 12+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Thomas Turner](https://appshunter.io/developer/1610930426) | [Majestica Lab LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1733618788) |

## What reviewers say

### Throwback

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/throwback-reflection-diary/id6443944478)

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


### Diary, Private Journal

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/diary-private-journal-diario/id6484153948)

Securely record your thoughts and memories in a private digital journal. Create personalized entries and protect them with a passcode for peace of mind. Start your daily journaling habit with this easy-to-use application.

**Highlights:** Personalized diaries, Add notes, Passcode protection, Daily journaling, Secure entries

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Premium Annual, 3 days free | $29.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Throwback free?

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

### Is Diary, Private Journal free?

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

### Do Throwback or Diary, Private Journal have ads?

Neither Throwback nor Diary, Private Journal shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Throwback or Diary, Private Journal?

Throwback ships an update every 15 months, and Diary, Private Journal fortnightly. Most recently, Throwback was updated on September 19, 2026 and Diary, Private Journal on September 18, 2026.

---

*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*