# Lightmark vs Ben Journal Digital Diary

Lightmark and Ben Journal Digital Diary are too close to call on the numbers: across 10 compared parameters — price, rating, review sentiment and ratings volume among them — neither pulls far enough ahead to decide it. What separates them is feature set and interface, not measurable difference.

Both are free to download. Lightmark sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month and Ben Journal Digital Diary sells 6 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Lightmark holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 4.7. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 9 and 6 respectively. Written reviews split almost evenly too, at 100% and 100% positive.

Lightmark ships an update every 3 weeks, Ben Journal Digital Diary every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 24, 2026 and October 28, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Lightmark | Ben Journal Digital Diary |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.9 (9 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/lightmarkprivate-diary-and-time/id6740918794/reviews)** | [4.7 (6 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ben-journal-digital-diary/id6749065195/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **9** | 6 |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews | 100.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | **Every 2 weeks** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Freemium |
| Size | 14 MB | 121 MB |
| Requires iOS | **18.0** | 18.3 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [璐 秦](https://appshunter.io/developer/1526979591) | [韵 曾](https://appshunter.io/developer/1821082810) |

## What reviewers say

### Lightmark

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/lightmarkprivate-diary-and-time/id6740918794)

This app encourages honest self-reflection by allowing users to record thoughts, emotions, and memories without the ability to edit entries after submission. It supports text, voice, photos, and videos, offering a multi-sensory journaling experience. A unique visual timeline helps users see their journey over time.

**Highlights:** Uneditable entries, Text, voice, photo, and video recording, Tag system for organization, Annual 'Lightmap' visualization, Daily timeline archive, Minimalist interface

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly | $1.99 | per month |
| Annual | $12.99 | per year |
| Lifetime | $14.99 | one-time |


### Ben Journal Digital Diary

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ben-journal-digital-diary/id6749065195)

This app helps you capture life's moments through text, photos, and voice recordings. It focuses on your feelings and moods, offering a space for reflection and memory keeping. An optional subscription unlocks enhanced features for a richer journaling experience.

**Highlights:** Text journaling, Photo attachments, Voice recordings, Mood tracking, Timeline view, Password lock

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Family Sharing, Apple Watch app, Vision Pro support, iPhone Duo support

**In-app purchases (6)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly | $4.99 | per month |
| Monthly | $5.99 | per month |
| Yearly | $11.99 | per year |
| Yearly | $29.99 | per year |
| Lifetime | $29.99 | one-time |
| Lifetime | $59.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Lightmark free?

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

### Is Ben Journal Digital Diary free?

Ben Journal Digital Diary is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Lightmark or Ben Journal Digital Diary?

Lightmark is rated higher. Lightmark averages 4.9 out of 5 from 9 ratings, while Ben Journal Digital Diary averages 4.7 from 6 ratings.

### Do Lightmark or Ben Journal Digital Diary have ads?

Neither Lightmark nor Ben Journal Digital Diary shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Lightmark or Ben Journal Digital Diary?

Lightmark ships an update every 3 weeks, and Ben Journal Digital Diary every 2 weeks. Most recently, Lightmark was updated on October 24, 2026 and Ben Journal Digital Diary on October 28, 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.*