Comparison

PencilDiary vs sunbeam

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

Head to head
About

PencilDiary

This app provides a daily handwritten journal experience with a new page automatically generated each day, organized by date. It offers seamless light and dark mode adaptation with smart color inversion for optimal readability and a minimalist design for focused reflection.

Highlights
  • New page generated daily, organized by date
  • Automatic light and dark mode with color inversion
  • Pure handwriting input with Apple Pencil support
  • Minimalist and distraction-free interface
  • Ideal for personal growth and reflection
  • No manual sorting or folder management
Features
Read full description

Pencil Diary is the only handwritten journal app that gives you a new page every day, automatically organized by date. Whether you're jotting down daily reflections, tracking your moods, ADHD, every note is instantly saved and accessible by date—so you never have to manage folders or files. With seamless light and dark mode adaptation, your notes automatically invert colors to match your iPad’s theme. This ensures that your handwritten text remains readable and aesthetically consistent, no matter when or where you write. If you love writing by hand with an Apple Pencil, Pencil Diary is your perfect digital alternative to a traditional journal. KEY FEATURES: 1. New Page Every Day, Organized by Date - Automatically starts a fresh blank page every day—just like a real notebook. - No need to create or sort notes—your entries are stored by date for easy browsing. - Go back and review past notes without clutter or folders. 2. Auto Light & Dark Mode With Smart Color Inversion - When switching modes, your handwritten notes automatically adjust, ensuring perfect contrast - In light mode, notes appear on a white page in dark mode, they seamlessly invert for a comfortable nighttime writing experience 3. Pure Handwriting —No Typing, No Distractions - Write naturally with Apple Pencil —no keyboards, just a real pen-on-paper feel. - Perfect for journaling, planning, mood tracking, or creative sketching. - Supports freehand drawing, doodling, and note-taking. 4. Minimalist & Aesthetic Design - A clean, distraction-free interface to help you focus on your thoughts. - Inspired by artful agendas, aesthetic planners, and mindful journaling techniques. 5. Ideal for Personal Growth & Reflection - Use it as a gratitude journal, mood tracker, self-care planner, or time management tool. - Great for stoic journaling, mental health tracking, and personal development. - WHY CHOOSE PENCIL DIARY? Most journaling apps rely on templates, stickers, or typing. Pencil Diary is different. A fresh page every day — just open the app and start writing. No manual sorting — everything is saved by date. Automatic light & dark mode — your notes adapt perfectly. Handwriting only — for a truly paper-like experience on iPad. No clutter — just a simple, elegant space for your thoughts. If you love handwriting, daily journaling, and a clean, distraction-free experience, Pencil Diary is the perfect app for you. Start Your Journaling Journey Today!

About

sunbeam

A simple daily journal and diary app focused on self-care, reflection, and mental well-being. It offers gentle prompts, password protection for privacy, and a calming design to encourage relaxation and gratitude.

Highlights
  • Daily journaling and diary entries
  • Self-care and mental health focus
  • Password protection for privacy
  • Calming and minimal design
  • Interactive prompt widgets
  • Backup and restore functionality
Read full description

sunbeam is a simple daily journal and diary designed for self-care, reflection, and mental health. here you can write about your feelings, things you like, good memories, and practice gratitude with easy prompts. with password protection, your journal stays private and secure. the gentle design makes it easy to relax, slow down, and find comfort whenever you need it. why you’ll love sunbeam: • calming, minimal design that feels cozy • light prompts that make writing effortless • password lock for privacy and peace of mind • no streaks, pressure, or forced goals • interactive prompt widgets for your home screen • backup and restore option to keep your journal safe with sunbeam Glow (premium), you can make your journal truly yours: • 20 soothing themes to match your style • 10 fonts to give your words a personal touch • 11 delicate border styles for a warm, creative feel give yourself the gentle, quiet pauses that you need with sunbeam privacy policy & terms of use: https://puppetsproject.craft.me/sunbeam-policy

Screenshots

PencilDiary4 screens
sunbeam4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: sunbeam at 5.0 against PencilDiary's 4.8. sunbeam also leads on iOS requirement (16.0 vs 18). PencilDiary's advantage is update cadence (every 2 weeks vs monthly). On price, review sentiment, ratings volume and ads 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. PencilDiary sells 4 one-off in-app purchases and sunbeam sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $14.99 per year. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

sunbeam holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.8. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 41 and 17 respectively. Written reviews split almost evenly too, at 100% and 100% positive.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

PencilDiary ships an update every 2 weeks, sunbeam monthly. The most recent releases landed on October 26, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
PencilDiary versus sunbeam: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterPencilDiarysunbeam
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.8 (41 ratings)5.0 (17 ratings) — better
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews100.0% of reviews
Number of ratings41 — better17
Update frequencyEvery 2 weeks — betterMonthly
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad
Requires iOS1816.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size214 MB177 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperRABBITEYE LAB LLPGorav Singh

Customer experience

PencilDiary

All ratings41 ratings
Positive97.6%
Neutral0.0%
Negative2.4%
Written reviews3 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

sunbeam

All ratings10 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews10 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

4 purchases

PencilDiary

One-time4
  • Premium$29.99
  • LifeTime$39.99
  • Premium$49.99
Show 1 more
  • LifeTime$59.99
2 purchases

sunbeam

Subscriptions1
  • sunbeam Glow$14.991 Year
One-time1
  • sunbeam Glow forever$34.99

Questions

Is PencilDiary free?
PencilDiary is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is sunbeam free?
sunbeam is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, PencilDiary or sunbeam?
sunbeam is rated higher. PencilDiary averages 4.8 out of 5 from 41 ratings, while sunbeam averages 5.0 from 17 ratings.
Do PencilDiary or sunbeam have ads?
Neither PencilDiary nor sunbeam shows ads.
Which is updated more often, PencilDiary or sunbeam?
PencilDiary ships an update every 2 weeks, and sunbeam monthly. Most recently, PencilDiary was updated on October 26, 2026 and sunbeam on October 24, 2026.

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