# Mini journal vs Opal

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Mini journal at none against Opal's 1. Mini journal also leads on ratings volume (158 vs 38) and iOS requirement (15.0 vs 18.1). Opal's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and rating (5.0 vs 4.7). On price, review sentiment, monetization model and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Opal sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $7.99 per month. Mini journal asks for nothing beyond the download.

Opal holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.7. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 158 and 38 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 94% of Mini journal's written reviews are positive against 100% of Opal's.

Mini journal ships an update every 2 months, Opal every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 30, 2026 and November 5, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Mini journal | Opal |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.7 (158 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mini-journal-cute-diary/id6476841474/reviews) | **[5.0 (38 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/opal-guided-journal-and-diary/id6745115075/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **158** | 38 |
| Positive reviews | 94.0% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | **Every 2 weeks** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Freemium |
| Size | 52 MB | 359 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.0** | 18.1 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [新群 陈](https://appshunter.io/developer/1701840990) | [Darby Tarlow](https://appshunter.io/developer/1810836939) |

## What reviewers say

### Mini journal

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mini-journal-cute-diary/id6476841474)

This app offers a cute and simple way to journal your thoughts and memories. Customize your entries with a variety of stickers and backgrounds, and even create your own unique designs. Share your creations easily with friends and enjoy a seamless journaling experience on any device.

**Highlights:** Cute stickers and backgrounds, Concise and fast editing, DIY sticker creation, One-click sharing, iPad large screen support

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- ✨ So fun and enjoyable
- 💖 Very cute and aesthetic
- 🎨 Great for creativity and imagination
- 📚 Useful for journaling and note-taking
- 🎁 Lots of free stickers and content

**What reviewers complain about**

- 💸 Some features require payment
- 🐛 Glitching and annoying issues
- 🖱️ Stressful to move stickers
- ⚠️ Some stickers can't be used
- 🚫 Pop-ups when clicking unusable stickers

**Reported bugs**

- Notebooks deleted
- Kept glitching out
- Doesn't automatically save
- Cannot purchase VIP

**Requested features**

- Add more stickers
- Add a free lock or password to the journal
- Make password protection free, not pro
- Add more free sticker options
- Improve sticker package availability without payment


### Opal

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

This app offers guided journaling and reflection prompts to help users explore their thoughts, emotions, and dreams. It features a free library of guides, multi-day series, and audio journaling options. Users can also connect themes across their entries and maintain privacy with on-device storage.

**Highlights:** Guided journaling prompts, Free library of guides, Multi-day reflection series, Audio journaling with ambient soundscapes, Handwriting, typing, and voice entry, AI-powered theme analysis, On-device private storage

**In-app purchases (1)**

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


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Mini journal free?

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

### Is Opal free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Mini journal or Opal?

Opal is rated higher. Mini journal averages 4.7 out of 5 from 158 ratings, while Opal averages 5.0 from 38 ratings.

### Do Mini journal or Opal have ads?

Mini journal shows ads; Opal does not.

### Which is updated more often, Mini journal or Opal?

Mini journal ships an update every 2 months, and Opal every 2 weeks. Most recently, Mini journal was updated on October 30, 2026 and Opal on November 5, 2026.

---

*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*