# Ephemeral Journal vs Sabbath

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.

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.

## The numbers

| Metric | Ephemeral Journal | Sabbath |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[5.0 (3 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ephemeral-journal/id6737073180/reviews)** | [4.4 (26 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sabbath-screen-time/id6761978095/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 3 | **26** |
| Positive reviews | **100.0% of reviews** | 66.7% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Fortnightly | **Every 5 days** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 10 MB | 57 MB |
| Requires iOS | **18.0** | 26.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad** | iPhone |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Joshua Scott Weesner](https://appshunter.io/developer/1767301873) | [Dig Wells, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1498971378) |

## What reviewers say

### Ephemeral Journal

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ephemeral-journal/id6737073180)

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.

**Highlights:** Local storage, Biometric authentication, 24-hour entry deletion, Minimalist design, Daily writing prompts, Customizable themes

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Remove Ads | $0.99 | one-time |


### Sabbath

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sabbath-screen-time/id6761978095)

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.

**Highlights:** Weekly digital detox, App blocking for one day, Family and friend participation, Modern take on ancient practice, Promotes offline activities

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Sabbath Plus Monthly | $6.99 | per month |
| Sabbath Plus Annual | $39.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Ephemeral Journal free?

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

### Is Sabbath free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Ephemeral Journal or Sabbath?

Ephemeral Journal is rated higher. Ephemeral Journal averages 5.0 out of 5 from 3 ratings, while Sabbath averages 4.4 from 26 ratings.

### Do Ephemeral Journal or Sabbath have ads?

Ephemeral Journal shows ads; Sabbath does not.

### Which is updated more often, Ephemeral Journal or Sabbath?

Ephemeral Journal ships an update fortnightly, and Sabbath every 5 days. Most recently, Ephemeral Journal was updated on October 24, 2026 and Sabbath on October 28, 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.*