# SMemo vs JournalCircle

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: SMemo at none against JournalCircle's 3. JournalCircle's advantage is update cadence (every 4 days vs every 5 months) and iOS requirement (16.0 vs 26.0). On price, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. JournalCircle sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per month. SMemo asks for nothing beyond the download.

SMemo ships an update every 5 months, JournalCircle every 4 days. The most recent releases landed on October 4, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | SMemo | JournalCircle |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | — | **[4.8 (25 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/journalcircle-diary-and-journal/id6448851631/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | — | **25** |
| Positive reviews | — | 83.8% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 5 months | **Every 4 days** |
| Monetization | — | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 3 MB | 38 MB |
| Requires iOS | 26.0 | **16.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, Mac** |
| Age rating | 12+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Katsumi Nishii](https://appshunter.io/developer/1578045784) | [Genau Factory](https://appshunter.io/developer/1512838460) |

## What reviewers say

### SMemo

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/smemo/id6447325484)

**In-app purchases:** none


### JournalCircle

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/journalcircle-diary-and-journal/id6448851631)

This app helps you record your daily life through AI-powered journaling, voice notes, and mood tracking. Analyze your entries, set goals, and build routines with a clean, intuitive interface designed for consistent reflection.

**Highlights:** AI-powered journaling, Voice note transcription, Mood tracking, Routine and goal setting, Entry analysis, Flexible journal views

**Features:** Family Sharing, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly | $3.99 | per month |
| Yearly | $24.99 | per year |
| Lifetime | $59.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is SMemo free?

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

### Is JournalCircle free?

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

### Do SMemo or JournalCircle have ads?

Neither SMemo nor JournalCircle shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, SMemo or JournalCircle?

SMemo ships an update every 5 months, and JournalCircle every 4 days. Most recently, SMemo was updated on October 4, 2026 and JournalCircle 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.*