# Lightmark vs Kept By

The clearest difference is monetization model: Kept By at free against Lightmark's free with in-app purchases. Lightmark's advantage is update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 2 months) and ratings volume (9 vs 3). On price, rating, review sentiment and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Lightmark sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month and Kept By sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.9 for Lightmark against 5.0 for Kept By. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 9 and 3 respectively. Written reviews split almost evenly too, at 100% and 100% positive.

Lightmark ships an update every 3 weeks, Kept By every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 24, 2026 and October 19, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Lightmark | Kept By |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.9 (9 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/lightmarkprivate-diary-and-time/id6740918794/reviews) | **[5.0 (3 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/kept-by/id6769453316/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **9** | 3 |
| 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 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Size | 14 MB | 68 MB |
| Requires iOS | 18.0 | 18.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [璐 秦](https://appshunter.io/developer/1526979591) | [James Jackson](https://appshunter.io/developer/1896659717) |

## 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 |


### Kept By

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/kept-by/id6769453316)

Digitally preserve cherished paper memories like cards, letters, and notes. Capture images, add details like sender and occasion, and easily organize, search, and revisit your personal keepsakes.

**Highlights:** Digitally preserve paper memories, Capture front, inside, and back images, Add sender, event, date, and notes, Organize and search personal collection, Browse saved keepsakes easily

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

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Unlimited Keepsakes | $4.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Lightmark free?

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

### Is Kept By free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Lightmark or Kept By?

Kept By is rated higher. Lightmark averages 4.9 out of 5 from 9 ratings, while Kept By averages 5.0 from 3 ratings.

### Do Lightmark or Kept By have ads?

Neither Lightmark nor Kept By shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Lightmark or Kept By?

Lightmark ships an update every 3 weeks, and Kept By every 2 months. Most recently, Lightmark was updated on October 24, 2026 and Kept By on October 19, 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.*