Ephemeral Journal vs Sabbath
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Ephemeral Journal
This minimalist diary app offers a secure and private space for your thoughts. Entries are automatically deleted after 24 hours and stored locally, ensuring your reflections remain yours alone. Enjoy a distraction-free writing experience with customizable themes and daily prompts.
- Local storage
- Biometric authentication
- 24-hour entry deletion
- Minimalist design
- Daily writing prompts
- Customizable themes
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Ephemeral Journal: Your Private, Secure, and Ephemeral Diary Looking for a safe space to capture your thoughts, feelings, and ideas without worrying about privacy? Ephemeral Journal offers a minimalist journaling experience focused on security and simplicity. Key Features: Privacy First: All your entries are stored locally on your device and secured with biometric authentication (Face ID/Touch ID). No data is ever stored on servers or shared with third parties. Ephemeral Entries: Embrace the freedom of writing without permanence. Entries are automatically deleted after 24 hours, encouraging honest and uninhibited expression. Minimalist Design: A clean, intuitive interface that lets you focus on what matters—your writing. Daily Writing Prompts: Kickstart your journaling with thought-provoking prompts that inspire reflection. Customizable Themes: Personalize your journaling experience with a selection of elegant themes and color schemes. Distraction-Free Writing: No ads, no clutter—just you and your thoughts. Why Choose Ephemeral Journal? No Accounts or Sign-Ups: Start journaling immediately without the hassle of creating an account or remembering a password. 100% Offline: Write anytime, anywhere. Ephemeral Journal doesn't require an internet connection. Automatic Data Deletion: Maintain peace of mind knowing your entries won't linger indefinitely. Who Is Ephemeral Journal For? Mindfulness Practitioners: Enhance your mindfulness routine by jotting down daily reflections. Writers and Creatives: Capture fleeting ideas and inspirations without overthinking. Privacy-Conscious Users: Enjoy a secure space that's truly yours. Support and Feedback We value your feedback! If you have any questions or suggestions, please reach out to us.
Sabbath
This app encourages users to disconnect from their phones one day a week, fostering a digital detox. It's designed for individuals and families to engage in offline activities together. The practice is inspired by an ancient tradition.
- Weekly digital detox
- App blocking for one day
- Family and friend participation
- Modern take on ancient practice
- Promotes offline activities
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A modern app for a ancient practice. Put your phone down one day a week. Do it with your family and friends. Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Privacy Policy: https://sabbath-screentime.netlify.app/privacy/
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: Ephemeral Journal at 5.0 against Sabbath's 4.4. Ephemeral Journal also leads on review sentiment (100% vs 67%) and iOS requirement (18.0 vs 26.0). Sabbath's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and update cadence (every 5 days vs fortnightly). On price, in-app purchases, monetization model and device support 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. Ephemeral Journal sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and Sabbath sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $6.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
Ephemeral Journal holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.4. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Sabbath has 26 ratings behind it against 3, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 100% of Ephemeral Journal's written reviews are positive against 67% of Sabbath's.
Ephemeral Journal ships an update fortnightly, Sabbath every 5 days. The most recent releases landed on October 24, 2026 and October 28, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Ephemeral Journal | Sabbath |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 5.0 (3 ratings) — better | 4.4 (26 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews — better | 66.7% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 3 | 26 — better |
| Update frequency | Fortnightly | Every 5 days — better |
| Ads | Yes | No — better |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad — better | iPhone |
| Requires iOS | 18.0 — better | 26.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 10 MB | 57 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Joshua Scott Weesner | Dig Wells, Inc. |
Customer experience
Ephemeral Journal
Sabbath
In-app purchases
Ephemeral Journal
- Remove Ads$0.99
Sabbath
- Sabbath Plus Monthly$6.991 Month
- Sabbath Plus Annual7 Days trial$39.991 Year
Questions
Is Ephemeral Journal free?
Is Sabbath free?
Which has better reviews, Ephemeral Journal or Sabbath?
Do Ephemeral Journal or Sabbath have ads?
Which is updated more often, Ephemeral Journal or Sabbath?
Other comparisons
