Comparison

Throwback vs Custom Journal

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

Head to head
About

Throwback

Features
Read full description

KEY FEATURES: - Record your daily memories - Reflect on those from the recent past - Notification reminders - Create a positive habit - Trigger your nostalgia SUMMARY: From day-to-day ups and downs to significant personal milestones, keep track of your life using the reflection diary app, Throwback. Visit the app on a daily basis to record your memories and reminisce on those you submitted from one week, one month and one year ago to trigger feelings of nostalgia! Thanks to built-in notification reminders you’ll never forget to check in, ensuring those important moments are never missed. Throwback is entirely free to use – you just need to create an account in order to store your memories securely online, allowing you to access your diary even if you change devices. The app was created by Saturday Club Online. To find out more about this app development group, please visit https://www.saturdayclub.online. TERMS AND CONDITIONS: https://www.saturdayclub.online/throwback-terms-and-conditions PRIVACY POLICY: https://www.saturdayclub.online/throwback-privacy-policy

About

Custom Journal

Design and organize personalized journaling prompts and routines. This minimalist app offers full control over your journaling experience, allowing you to create prompts tailored to your life. Store entries locally for privacy and easily search or export them.

Highlights
  • Create custom prompts
  • Organize prompts into routines
  • Flexible journaling routines
  • Local and secure data storage
  • Search past entries
  • Export journal entries
Features
Read full description

Unlock the full potential of your journaling routine with Custom Journal, a minimalist app designed for those who want complete control over their journaling experience. Create, organise, and search custom prompts that fit your life. Start building your personalised journaling routine today! Custom Journal is a powerful yet simple app that gives you full control over your journaling experience. Unlike other journaling apps, Custom Journal allows you to create and organise your own series of prompts, tailored exactly to your needs. Whether you're crafting a morning routine, reflecting on your day, or brainstorming new ideas, Custom Journal adapts to how you want to journal. Key Features: Create Custom Prompts: Easily design your own journal prompts and organise them into routines that suit your lifestyle. Flexible Routines: Set up different journaling routines for various aspects of your life, from daily reflections to goal tracking. Local & Secure: Your journal entries are stored locally on your device, ensuring your data stays private and secure. Search & Export: Quickly find past entries with the search function and export them for safekeeping or review. Custom Journal is perfect for users who want more than just a blank page or prompts written by someone else—it's for those who want to make their journaling practice truly their own. Start creating your custom journaling routines today with Custom Journal. Privacy Policy: https://222apps.notion.site/Privacy-Policy-Custom-Journal-29ec310e81df4ad2b41d3aef5d00e8c3?pvs=4 Terms of Service: https://222apps.notion.site/Terms-of-Service-Custom-Journal-4781e6cec89f4a73a4f7b6fb261c6055?pvs=4

Screenshots

Throwback4 screens
Custom Journal4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Throwback at none against Custom Journal's 2. Throwback also leads on iOS requirement (15.0 vs 17.2). Custom Journal's advantage is update cadence (every 2 months vs every 15 months). On price, ads 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. Custom Journal sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per 7 days. Throwback asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Throwback ships an update every 15 months, Custom Journal every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on November 3, 2026 and November 4, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
Throwback versus Custom Journal: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterThrowbackCustom Journal
PriceFreeFree
Rating—2.8 (4 ratings) — better
Positive reviews—40.0% of reviews
Number of ratings—4 — better
Update frequencyEvery 15 monthsEvery 2 months — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
Monetization—Free with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPodiPhone, iPad
Requires iOS15.0 — better17.2
Further details — not scored
Size49 MB11 MB
Age rating12+4+
DeveloperThomas TurnerMia Benn

In-app purchases

None

Throwback

No in-app purchases

2 purchases

Custom Journal

Subscriptions2
  • Pro Plan$1.997 Days
  • Pro Plan3 Days trial$22.991 Year

Questions

Is Throwback free?
Throwback is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Custom Journal free?
Custom Journal is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Throwback or Custom Journal have ads?
Neither Throwback nor Custom Journal shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Throwback or Custom Journal?
Throwback ships an update every 15 months, and Custom Journal every 2 months. Most recently, Throwback was updated on November 3, 2026 and Custom Journal on November 4, 2026.

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