# PencilDiary vs Private Journal

The clearest difference is rating: PencilDiary at 4.8 against Private Journal's 4.5. PencilDiary also leads on iOS requirement (18 vs 26.0). On price, review sentiment, ratings volume and update cadence there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. PencilDiary sells 2 one-off in-app purchases and Private Journal sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $6.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

PencilDiary holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.5. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 41 and 20 respectively. Written reviews split almost evenly too, at 100% and 100% positive.

PencilDiary ships an update weekly, Private Journal every 5 days. The most recent releases landed on October 4, 2026 and October 9, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | PencilDiary | Private Journal |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.8 (41 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pencildiary-notes-pdf-markup/id6739626574/reviews)** | [4.5 (20 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/private-journal-mindspace/id6760581621/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **41** | 20 |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews | 100.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Weekly | **Every 5 days** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Freemium |
| Size | 212 MB | 30 MB |
| Requires iOS | **18** | 26.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, Mac** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [RABBITEYE LAB LLP](https://appshunter.io/developer/1482497034) | [Artefact Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1500232554) |

## What reviewers say

### PencilDiary

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pencildiary-notes-pdf-markup/id6739626574)

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:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Premium | $19.99 | one-time |
| Premium | $49.99 | one-time |


### Private Journal

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/private-journal-mindspace/id6760581621)

This app helps you cultivate a more mindful life through daily journaling, mood and habit tracking, and creative sketching. It offers a private space to organize thoughts, set intentions, and review your life's journey with powerful search and media browsing tools.

**Highlights:** Rich text journaling with photos/videos, Mood and habit tracking with custom templates, Freeform drawing with Apple Pencil support, Intentions and task management, Location tagging and map view, Face ID/Touch ID security, iCloud sync

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly | $6.99 | per month |
| Quarterly | $14.99 | per 3 months |
| Yearly | $49.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is PencilDiary free?

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

### Is Private Journal free?

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

### Which has better reviews, PencilDiary or Private Journal?

PencilDiary is rated higher. PencilDiary averages 4.8 out of 5 from 41 ratings, while Private Journal averages 4.5 from 20 ratings.

### Do PencilDiary or Private Journal have ads?

Neither PencilDiary nor Private Journal shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, PencilDiary or Private Journal?

PencilDiary ships an update weekly, and Private Journal every 5 days. Most recently, PencilDiary was updated on October 4, 2026 and Private Journal on October 9, 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.*