# PencilDiary vs GrateGuard

The clearest difference is update cadence: PencilDiary at every 2 weeks against GrateGuard's every 6 weeks. GrateGuard's advantage is iOS requirement (16.4 vs 18). On price, ads, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. PencilDiary sells 4 one-off in-app purchases and GrateGuard sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

PencilDiary ships an update every 2 weeks, GrateGuard every 6 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 4, 2026 and October 31, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | PencilDiary | GrateGuard |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.8 (41 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pencildiary-notes-pdf-markup/id6739626574/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **41** | — |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 2 weeks** | Every 6 weeks |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | — |
| Size | 214 MB | 57 MB |
| Requires iOS | 18 | **16.4** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [RABBITEYE LAB LLP](https://appshunter.io/developer/1482497034) | [Moritz Kiefer](https://appshunter.io/developer/1572995864) |

## 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 (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Premium | $29.99 | one-time |
| LifeTime | $39.99 | one-time |
| Premium | $49.99 | one-time |
| LifeTime | $59.99 | one-time |


### GrateGuard

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/grateguard-app-blocker/id6774633967)

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

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| GrateGuard Plus Monthly | $4.99 | per month |
| GrateGuard Plus Annual | $24.99 | per year |
| GrateGuard Plus Lifetime | $59.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is PencilDiary free?

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

### Is GrateGuard free?

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

### Do PencilDiary or GrateGuard have ads?

Neither PencilDiary nor GrateGuard shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, PencilDiary or GrateGuard?

PencilDiary ships an update every 2 weeks, and GrateGuard every 6 weeks. Most recently, PencilDiary was updated on November 4, 2026 and GrateGuard on October 31, 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.*