Sunrise Journal vs PencilDiary
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Sunrise Journal
A simple and private digital journal for capturing thoughts and life events. Personalize your experience with themes and icons. Your entries are securely stored on your device and synced via iCloud.
- Simple journaling interface
- Secure on-device storage
- iCloud syncing
- Customizable themes
- Personalizable icons
Read full descriptionHide full description
Meet Sunrise Journal, your new favorite spot for jotting down thoughts and life's big moments. We keep it simple here — no complex setups, just open and pour out your heart. It's like your trusty notepad, always ready and waiting. And don't sweat about privacy; your words are stored safely on your device and synced to your private iCloud account. Feel like changing things up? Personalize your journal with themes and icons that suit your mood. As we grow, you'll see new features, but for now, enjoy the simplicity. Ready to start? Your Sunrise is just a tap away.
PencilDiary
This app provides a daily handwritten journal experience with a new page automatically generated each day, organized by date. It offers seamless light and dark mode adaptation with smart color inversion for optimal readability and a minimalist design for focused reflection.
- New page generated daily, organized by date
- Automatic light and dark mode with color inversion
- Pure handwriting input with Apple Pencil support
- Minimalist and distraction-free interface
- Ideal for personal growth and reflection
- No manual sorting or folder management
Read full descriptionHide full description
Pencil Diary is the only handwritten journal app that gives you a new page every day, automatically organized by date. Whether you're jotting down daily reflections, tracking your moods, ADHD, every note is instantly saved and accessible by date—so you never have to manage folders or files. With seamless light and dark mode adaptation, your notes automatically invert colors to match your iPad’s theme. This ensures that your handwritten text remains readable and aesthetically consistent, no matter when or where you write. If you love writing by hand with an Apple Pencil, Pencil Diary is your perfect digital alternative to a traditional journal. KEY FEATURES: 1. New Page Every Day, Organized by Date - Automatically starts a fresh blank page every day—just like a real notebook. - No need to create or sort notes—your entries are stored by date for easy browsing. - Go back and review past notes without clutter or folders. 2. Auto Light & Dark Mode With Smart Color Inversion - When switching modes, your handwritten notes automatically adjust, ensuring perfect contrast - In light mode, notes appear on a white page in dark mode, they seamlessly invert for a comfortable nighttime writing experience 3. Pure Handwriting —No Typing, No Distractions - Write naturally with Apple Pencil —no keyboards, just a real pen-on-paper feel. - Perfect for journaling, planning, mood tracking, or creative sketching. - Supports freehand drawing, doodling, and note-taking. 4. Minimalist & Aesthetic Design - A clean, distraction-free interface to help you focus on your thoughts. - Inspired by artful agendas, aesthetic planners, and mindful journaling techniques. 5. Ideal for Personal Growth & Reflection - Use it as a gratitude journal, mood tracker, self-care planner, or time management tool. - Great for stoic journaling, mental health tracking, and personal development. - WHY CHOOSE PENCIL DIARY? Most journaling apps rely on templates, stickers, or typing. Pencil Diary is different. A fresh page every day — just open the app and start writing. No manual sorting — everything is saved by date. Automatic light & dark mode — your notes adapt perfectly. Handwriting only — for a truly paper-like experience on iPad. No clutter — just a simple, elegant space for your thoughts. If you love handwriting, daily journaling, and a clean, distraction-free experience, Pencil Diary is the perfect app for you. Start Your Journaling Journey Today!
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Sunrise Journal at none against PencilDiary's 2. Sunrise Journal also leads on rating (5.0 vs 4.8). PencilDiary's advantage is ratings volume (41 vs 4). On price, review sentiment, update cadence and ads 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
Both are free to download. PencilDiary sells 2 one-off in-app purchases. Sunrise Journal asks for nothing beyond the download.
Sunrise Journal holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: PencilDiary has 41 ratings behind it against 4, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews split almost evenly too, at 100% and 100% positive.
Sunrise Journal ships an update every 5 days, PencilDiary weekly. The most recent releases landed on October 5, 2026 and October 21, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Sunrise Journal | PencilDiary |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 5.0 (4 ratings) — better | 4.8 (41 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews | 100.0% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 4 | 41 — better |
| Update frequency | Every 5 days — better | Weekly |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No — better | Yes |
| Monetization | Free — better | Free with in-app purchases |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, Vision Pro — better | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 — better | 18 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 5 MB | 212 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Yon Montoto | RABBITEYE LAB LLP |
Customer experience
Sunrise Journal
PencilDiary
In-app purchases
Sunrise Journal
No in-app purchases
PencilDiary
- Premium$19.99
- Premium$49.99
Questions
Is Sunrise Journal free?
Is PencilDiary free?
Which has better reviews, Sunrise Journal or PencilDiary?
Do Sunrise Journal or PencilDiary have ads?
Which is updated more often, Sunrise Journal or PencilDiary?
Other comparisons















