Comparison

Years Journal vs Five Years

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

Head to head
About

Years Journal

This app allows you to record your daily thoughts and emotions, and revisit past entries for the same date. You can attach photos, search your history, and enjoy a visually organized calendar view. Automatic backups and multi-device support ensure your memories are always accessible.

Highlights
  • Write and display journal entries
  • Attach photos to entries
  • Calendar view of entries
  • Search past entries
  • Automatic data backup
  • Multi-device viewing and editing
  • Dark mode and theme customization
Features
Read full description

Years is a journal app that displays entries for the same date. You can reflect on what experiences they had and what emotions they felt on that day in the past. ● Main Features - Display and write journal entries - Attach photos - Display calendar - Search entries - Display a list of photos - Automatic data backup - Viewing and editing on multiple devices - Setting dark mode and theme colors

About

Five Years

Features
Read full description

Five Years is a private, on-device journal built around one simple habit: write a little every day, then revisit that same date across the years. Open the app. Capture today in a sentence or a few paragraphs. Next year—and the years after—you'll see what you wrote on this exact date. Over time, each day becomes a quiet five-year record of your life. HOW IT WORKS • Write about your day—one line or more, your choice • Return on the same date next year and read past-you • Compare today with one, two, three, four, or five years ago • Build a personal memory loop without an audience or a feed PRIVATE BY DESIGN • Local-first: entries stay on your iPhone • No account, no cloud required, works offline • Lock with Face ID, Touch ID, or a passcode (Premium) • Export your journal anytime as a backup (Premium) • Optional AI Reflections powered by Apple Intelligence—processed on-device; your words are not sent to a server for reflection BUILT FOR THE LONG RUN • Calm, distraction-free writing • Daily reminders to keep the habit • Visual calendar and search to find memories fast • Designed for gratitude, reflection, and everyday life—not engagement tricks FREE TO DOWNLOAD • Start journaling today at no cost • Unlock Five Years Premium once ($4.99 USD, price may vary by region)—a one-time purchase, not a subscription • Premium unlocks past years on Today, biometric lock, export/import, and the full long-term experience Five Years is for people who want a thoughtful journal that respects privacy and gets more meaningful the longer you use it. Write today. Read it next year.

Screenshots

Years Journal3 screens
Five Years4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Years Journal at none against Five Years's 1. Years Journal also leads on device support (3 vs 1) and iOS requirement (15.1 vs 26.0). Five Years's advantage is ads (none vs shown). On price and update cadence 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. Five Years sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Years Journal asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Years Journal ships an update every 10 days, Five Years fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on October 13, 2026 and September 24, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 4 level
Years Journal versus Five Years: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterYears JournalFive Years
PriceFreeFree
Positive reviews72.7% of reviews—
Update frequencyEvery 10 days — betterFortnightly
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone
Requires iOS15.1 — better26.0
Further details — not scored
Size69 MB2 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperYutaro KidoEduardo Costa

In-app purchases

None

Years Journal

No in-app purchases

1 purchases

Five Years

One-time1
  • Five Years Premium$4.99

Questions

Is Years Journal free?
Years Journal is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Five Years free?
Five Years is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Years Journal or Five Years have ads?
Years Journal shows ads; Five Years does not.
Which is updated more often, Years Journal or Five Years?
Years Journal ships an update every 10 days, and Five Years fortnightly. Most recently, Years Journal was updated on October 13, 2026 and Five Years on September 24, 2026.

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