# Quick Journal vs First Light

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Quick Journal at none against First Light's 2. Quick Journal also leads on review sentiment (88% vs 67%) and ratings volume (24 vs 2). First Light's advantage is rating (5.0 vs 4.7) and update cadence (every 3 days vs every 9 days). On price, ads and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. First Light sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per month. Quick Journal asks for nothing beyond the download.

First Light holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Quick Journal has 24 ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 88% of Quick Journal's written reviews are positive against 67% of First Light's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

Quick Journal ships an update every 9 days, First Light every 3 days. Both last shipped on November 5, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Quick Journal | First Light |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.7 (24 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/quick-journal-just-write/id6554003659/reviews) | **[5.0 (2 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/first-light-daily-wisdom/id6744778080/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **24** | 2 |
| Positive reviews | **87.5% of reviews** | 66.7% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 9 days | **Every 3 days** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 4 MB | 46 MB |
| Requires iOS | **17.4** | 17.6 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch** | iPhone |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Charlie Deets](https://appshunter.io/developer/660036260) | [The Wellness Company, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1674352365) |

## What reviewers say

### Quick Journal

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/quick-journal-just-write/id6554003659)

This app offers a straightforward journaling experience with extensive customization options. Personalize themes, fonts, icons, and layouts to create your ideal digital notebook. Widgets and draft saving features enhance usability for daily reflection.

**Highlights:** Customizable themes and fonts, App icon and layout personalization, Home screen widgets, Save entries as drafts, Copy and share entries

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Apple Watch app, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


### First Light

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/first-light-daily-wisdom/id6744778080)

Begin each day with a curated passage of ancient philosophy, poetry, or spiritual insight. This app offers gentle reflection prompts and a visual reward to foster presence, peace, and clarity. It's designed to help users cultivate a daily habit of reflection and start their mornings with intention.

**Highlights:** Daily wisdom passages, Reflection prompts, Visual rewards, Minimalist design, Calming experience, Build daily habit

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| First Light Monthly | $3.99 | per month |
| First Light Annual | $19.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Quick Journal free?

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

### Is First Light free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Quick Journal or First Light?

First Light is rated higher. Quick Journal averages 4.7 out of 5 from 24 ratings, while First Light averages 5.0 from 2 ratings.

### Do Quick Journal or First Light have ads?

Neither Quick Journal nor First Light shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Quick Journal or First Light?

Quick Journal ships an update every 9 days, and First Light every 3 days. Most recently, Quick Journal was updated on November 5, 2026 and First Light on November 5, 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.*