# Lightmark vs InkSwatch

Lightmark and InkSwatch are too close to call on the numbers: across 6 compared parameters — price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases 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 InkSwatch sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Lightmark ships an update every 3 weeks, InkSwatch monthly. The most recent releases landed on November 4, 2026 and October 31, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Lightmark | InkSwatch |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.9 (9 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/lightmarkprivate-diary-and-time/id6740918794/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **9** | — |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 3 weeks** | Monthly |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | — |
| Size | 14 MB | 33 MB |
| Requires iOS | 18.0 | **17.0** |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad** | iPhone |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [璐 秦](https://appshunter.io/developer/1526979591) | [Mitaanshu Agarwal](https://appshunter.io/developer/1896724075) |

## 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 |


### InkSwatch

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/inkswatch-pen-journal/id6771600685)

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

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| InkSwatch Pro | $9.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Lightmark free?

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

### Is InkSwatch free?

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

### Do Lightmark or InkSwatch have ads?

Neither Lightmark nor InkSwatch shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Lightmark or InkSwatch?

Lightmark ships an update every 3 weeks, and InkSwatch monthly. Most recently, Lightmark was updated on November 4, 2026 and InkSwatch 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.*