# First Timers vs Inkwell

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: First Timers at none against Inkwell's 3. First Timers also leads on device support (3 vs 1) and iOS requirement (15.1 vs 18.0). Inkwell's advantage is update cadence (every 9 days vs every 6 weeks) and ratings volume (4 vs 1). On price, rating and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Inkwell sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month. First Timers asks for nothing beyond the download.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 5.0 for First Timers against 5.0 for Inkwell. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 1 and 4 respectively.

First Timers ships an update every 6 weeks, Inkwell every 9 days. The most recent releases landed on October 14, 2026 and October 22, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | First Timers | Inkwell |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/first-timers/id6740599274/reviews) | [5.0 (4 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/inkwell-private-micro-journal/id6748805942/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 1 | **4** |
| Positive reviews | — | 100.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 6 weeks | **Every 9 days** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Freemium |
| Size | 30 MB | 18 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.1** | 18.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [KAYJO, LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1790766804) | [Mario Mouris](https://appshunter.io/developer/1376063231) |

## What reviewers say

### First Timers

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/first-timers/id6740599274)

Document and cherish your life's first experiences, from trying new foods to visiting new places. Capture these moments with photos, notes, and ratings, and organize them by category. Enjoy a private and secure journal with smart calendar views and detailed statistics.

**Highlights:** Log first experiences with photos and notes, Categorize experiences by type, Private and secure local storage, Calendar and list views, Detailed statistics and insights, Share experiences and statistics, Light and dark mode support

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


### Inkwell

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/inkwell-private-micro-journal/id6748805942)

This app offers a private, offline journaling experience with mood tracking and gratitude prompts. Your personal thoughts and entries remain securely on your device, with no internet connection or account required. It's designed for quick daily reflections and capturing fleeting ideas.

**Highlights:** 100% offline journaling, Mood tracking with on-device insights, Instant search of entries, Home screen widget for quick access, Optional iCloud sync, Markdown support, Photo inclusion

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Inkwell Pro (Monthly) | $1.99 | per month |
| Inkwell Pro (Annual) | $14.99 | per year |
| Inkwell Pro (Lifetime) | $29.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is First Timers free?

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

### Is Inkwell free?

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

### Which has better reviews, First Timers or Inkwell?

First Timers and Inkwell are both rated 5.0 out of 5 on the App Store, from 1 and 4 ratings respectively.

### Do First Timers or Inkwell have ads?

Neither First Timers nor Inkwell shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, First Timers or Inkwell?

First Timers ships an update every 6 weeks, and Inkwell every 9 days. Most recently, First Timers was updated on October 14, 2026 and Inkwell on October 22, 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.*