Comparison

Daily Journal vs Shadow Work App & Journal

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

Head to head
About

Daily Journal

This app guides users through emotional exploration and self-reflection with a focus on creative writing. It offers scheduled notifications to encourage consistent journaling and a simple interface for exploring past, present, and future thoughts.

Highlights
  • Emotional exploration
  • Self-reflection prompts
  • Creative writing exercises
  • Scheduled journaling notifications
  • Intuitive interface
Features
Read full description

The Zafa Journal app is the only journaling app you will ever need. It was designed to help you connect with your heart and explore your emotions. Whether reflecting on yourself from past to future, exploring your relationships, and exercising your creative writing skills. Simple and intuitive, just hit the Zafa button and we'll let you do what you do best, journal! Consistency is everything, make sure to schedule notifications when signing up. EULA: https://www.therapyjournal.app/end-user-agreement Privacy Policy: https://www.therapyjournal.app/privacy-policy

About

Shadow Work App & Journal

Explore the unconscious aspects of your psyche with guided journaling prompts. This app helps you heal past wounds, break free from limiting cycles, and cultivate authenticity through self-discovery. Start with free prompts and unlock advanced sequences for deeper exploration.

Highlights
  • Guided journaling prompts
  • Exploration of unconscious psyche
  • Healing past wounds
  • Breaking limiting cycles
  • Cultivating authenticity
  • Free foundational prompts
  • Unlock advanced sequences
Features
Read full description

Embark on a profound and transformative journey of self-discovery with the guided Shadow Work Journal app. Shadow work is the essential, courageous practice of exploring the unconscious aspects of your psyche. It's about illuminating the parts of yourself you may have denied or ignored to heal past wounds, break free from limiting cycles, and cultivate deep, lasting authenticity. Facing your shadow can feel complex, but this journey is significantly eased with gentle guidance. Our app acts as your compassionate companion, providing structured, insightful journaling prompts to guide you through the intricate landscape of your inner world. Begin your journey for free with a selection of our foundational journaling prompts. When you are ready to delve deeper, you can unlock our complete library of advanced journaling sequences and themes with a separate purchase. This ensures you can start exploring your shadow at your own pace. Each sequence, both free and premium, focuses on a critical area of exploration. We offer carefully considered prompts that encourage deep reflection and radical honesty within a safe, non-judgmental space, empowering you to achieve true self-acceptance. Terms of use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

Daily Journal3 screens
Shadow Work App & Journal3 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is update cadence: Daily Journal at fortnightly against Shadow Work App & Journal's every 2 months. Daily Journal also leads on iOS requirement (13.0 vs 17.6). On price, rating, review sentiment and ratings volume 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. Daily Journal sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month and Shadow Work App & Journal sells 6 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 5.0 for Daily Journal against 5.0 for Shadow Work App & Journal. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 4 and 7 respectively. Written reviews split almost evenly too, at 100% and 100% positive.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Daily Journal ships an update fortnightly, Shadow Work App & Journal every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on June 3, 2026 and September 10, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences · 8 level
Daily Journal versus Shadow Work App & Journal: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterDaily JournalShadow Work App & Journal
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (4 ratings)5.0 (7 ratings)
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews100.0% of reviews
Number of ratings47 — better
Update frequencyFortnightly — betterEvery 2 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFreemiumFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS13.0 — better17.6
Further details — not scored
Size54 MB21 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperBirdbath LLCDarko Nikolic

Customer experience

Daily Journal

All ratings4 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews3 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

Shadow Work App & Journal

All ratings7 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews1 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

2 purchases

Daily Journal

Subscriptions2
  • Zafa Monthly$2.991 Month
  • Zafa Annual$19.991 Year
6 purchases

Shadow Work App & Journal

Subscriptions5
  • Weekly Pro Access$1.997 Days
  • Weekly Shadow Work$2.997 Days
  • Weekly Access7 Days trial$2.997 Days
Show 2 more
  • Yearly Pro Access$19.991 Year
  • Yearly Pro Access7 Days trial$19.991 Year
One-time1
  • Lifetime Access$34.99

Questions

Is Daily Journal free?
Daily Journal is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Shadow Work App & Journal free?
Shadow Work App & Journal is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Daily Journal or Shadow Work App & Journal?
Daily Journal and Shadow Work App & Journal are both rated 5.0 out of 5 on the App Store, from 4 and 7 ratings respectively.
Do Daily Journal or Shadow Work App & Journal have ads?
Neither Daily Journal nor Shadow Work App & Journal shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Daily Journal or Shadow Work App & Journal?
Daily Journal ships an update fortnightly, and Shadow Work App & Journal every 2 months. Most recently, Daily Journal was updated on June 3, 2026 and Shadow Work App & Journal on September 10, 2026.

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