# ToadNote vs Shadow Work Journal

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: ToadNote at none against Shadow Work Journal's 3. ToadNote also leads on update cadence (weekly vs monthly) and iOS requirement (16 vs 18.2). On price, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Shadow Work Journal sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per month. ToadNote asks for nothing beyond the download.

ToadNote ships an update weekly, Shadow Work Journal monthly. The most recent releases landed on October 4, 2026 and October 25, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | ToadNote | Shadow Work Journal |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | — | **[4.5 (113 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/shadow-work-journal/id6746123700/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | — | **113** |
| Positive reviews | — | 66.7% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Weekly** | Monthly |
| Monetization | — | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 3 MB | 50 MB |
| Requires iOS | **16** | 18.2 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [姗姗 姚](https://appshunter.io/developer/1777727592) | [ERSAH ATMACA](https://appshunter.io/developer/1708793991) |

## What reviewers say

### ToadNote

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/toadnote/id6737879158)

**In-app purchases:** none


### Shadow Work Journal

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/shadow-work-journal/id6746123700)

This guided journaling app helps you explore your inner world with AI-powered dialogues, mood tracking, and a learning library. It offers a private space for self-discovery, emotional clarity, and mental wellness through structured reflection.

**Highlights:** Guided journal prompts, AI-powered shadow self dialogue, Mood and emotion tracking, Learning library on mental health, Symbol and archetype exploration, Weekly reflections and insights, Secure and private on-device storage

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Family Sharing, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Shadow Work Journal Monthly | $9.99 | per month |
| Shadow Work Annual Discounted | $24.99 | per year |
| Shadow Work Annual | $39.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is ToadNote free?

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

### Is Shadow Work Journal free?

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

### Do ToadNote or Shadow Work Journal have ads?

Neither ToadNote nor Shadow Work Journal shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, ToadNote or Shadow Work Journal?

ToadNote ships an update weekly, and Shadow Work Journal monthly. Most recently, ToadNote was updated on October 4, 2026 and Shadow Work Journal on October 25, 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.*