# Scribble vs Opal

The clearest difference is monetization model: Opal at free against Scribble's freemium. Opal also leads on update cadence (every 8 days vs every 3 weeks). Scribble's advantage is iOS requirement (16.0 vs 18.1). On price, rating, review sentiment and ratings volume there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Scribble sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month and Opal sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $7.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.9 for Scribble against 5.0 for Opal. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 24 and 37 respectively. Written reviews split almost evenly too, at 100% and 100% positive.

Scribble ships an update every 3 weeks, Opal every 8 days. The most recent releases landed on October 12, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Scribble | Opal |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.9 (24 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/scribble-micro-journal/id6444217607/reviews) | **[5.0 (37 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/opal-guided-journal-and-diary/id6745115075/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 24 | **37** |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews | 100.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | **Every 8 days** |
| Monetization | Freemium | **Free** |
| Size | 42 MB | 359 MB |
| Requires iOS | **16.0** | 18.1 |
| Devices | iPhone | **iPhone, iPad** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Hunter Lai](https://appshunter.io/developer/1653146308) | [Darby Tarlow](https://appshunter.io/developer/1810836939) |

## What reviewers say

### Scribble

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/scribble-micro-journal/id6444217607)

This app provides a quick and easy way to record thoughts, ideas, and reflections through short, concise entries. Organize your notes with custom journals and tags, favorite important entries, and set reminders for future reflection. Keep your journal private with biometric lock features.

**Highlights:** Categorize entries into custom journals, Organize with multiple tags, Favorite important entries, View entries from any date, Filter entries by journals and tags, Lock with Touch/FaceID, Schedule entry reminders

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Pro | $1.99 | per month |
| Pro | $14.99 | per year |


### Opal

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/opal-guided-journal-and-diary/id6745115075)

This private journaling app uses AI to help you understand your thoughts and emotions. It offers guided prompts, ambient soundscapes, and the ability to write, speak, or add photos to your entries. AI tools analyze your writing to reveal patterns and insights, all while prioritizing your privacy with on-device storage.

**Highlights:** AI-powered pattern analysis, Guided journaling journeys, Voice and image entry support, Multiple journal organization, On-device privacy controls, Prompt-based or blank page entries

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Premium Monthly | $7.99 | per month |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Scribble free?

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

### Is Opal free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Scribble or Opal?

Opal is rated higher. Scribble averages 4.9 out of 5 from 24 ratings, while Opal averages 5.0 from 37 ratings.

### Do Scribble or Opal have ads?

Neither Scribble nor Opal shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Scribble or Opal?

Scribble ships an update every 3 weeks, and Opal every 8 days. Most recently, Scribble was updated on October 12, 2026 and Opal on October 24, 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.*