# Opal vs Ruby

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Opal at none against Ruby's 2. Opal also leads on ratings volume (37 vs 1) and update cadence (every 8 days vs monthly). Ruby's advantage is iOS requirement (15.6 vs 18.1). On price, rating, review sentiment and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Ruby sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. Opal asks for nothing beyond the download.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 5.0 for Opal against 5.0 for Ruby. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Opal has 37 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews split almost evenly too, at 100% and 100% positive.

Opal ships an update every 8 days, Ruby monthly. The most recent releases landed on October 8, 2026 and October 13, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Opal | Ruby |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [5.0 (37 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/opal-guided-journal-and-diary/id6745115075/reviews) | [5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ruby-private-voice-journal/id6754594782/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **37** | 1 |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews | 100.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 8 days** | Monthly |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 336 MB | 42 MB |
| Requires iOS | 18.1 | **15.6** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Darby Tarlow](https://appshunter.io/developer/1810836939) | [Oliver Saylor](https://appshunter.io/developer/691952957) |

## What reviewers say

### Opal

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/opal-guided-journal-and-diary/id6745115075)

This private journaling app uses AI to help you understand your thoughts and emotions. It offers guided prompts, ambient soundscapes, and the ability to write, speak, or add photos to your entries. AI tools analyze your writing to reveal patterns and insights, all while prioritizing your privacy with on-device storage.

**Highlights:** AI-powered pattern analysis, Guided journaling journeys, Voice and image entry support, Multiple journal organization, On-device privacy controls, Prompt-based or blank page entries

**In-app purchases:** none


### Ruby

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ruby-private-voice-journal/id6754594782)

Effortlessly capture your thoughts and feelings using your voice. This AI-powered journal transforms spoken words into organized written entries, offering insights and prompts for self-reflection. Enjoy a private, ad-free space to improve your mood, focus, and mental well-being.

**Highlights:** Voice-to-text journaling, Smart AI insights, Completely private storage, Daily reflection prompts, Minimalist design, Track personal growth

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

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly Plan | $4.99 | per month |
| Yearly | $39.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Opal free?

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

### Is Ruby free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Opal or Ruby?

Opal and Ruby are both rated 5.0 out of 5 on the App Store, from 37 and 1 ratings respectively.

### Do Opal or Ruby have ads?

Neither Opal nor Ruby shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Opal or Ruby?

Opal ships an update every 8 days, and Ruby monthly. Most recently, Opal was updated on October 8, 2026 and Ruby on October 13, 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.*