# Opal vs AI Notes

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Opal at none against AI Notes's 9. Opal also leads on ads (none vs shown) and update cadence (every 9 days vs every 4 months). AI Notes's advantage is iOS requirement (15.1 vs 18.1). On price and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. AI Notes sells 9 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per 7 days. Opal asks for nothing beyond the download.

Opal ships an update every 9 days, AI Notes every 4 months. The most recent releases landed on August 1, 2026 and September 9, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Opal | AI Notes |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[5.0 (28 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/opal-journal-and-private-diary/id6745115075/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **28** | — |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Every 9 days** | Every 4 months |
| Monetization | Free | — |
| Size | 317 MB | 53 MB |
| Requires iOS | 18.1 | **15.1** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [Darby Tarlow](https://appshunter.io/developer/1810836939) | [Pursharth Zutshi](https://appshunter.io/developer/1856952308) |

## What reviewers say

### Opal

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/opal-journal-and-private-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


### AI Notes

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ai-notes-write-and-reply/id6757496314)

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (9)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Ai Notes Pro (Weekly) | $1.99 | per 7 days |
| Ai Notes Pro (Monthly) | $5.99 | per month |
| Ai Notes Lite Package | $0.99 | one-time |
| Ai Notes Power Package | $1.99 | one-time |
| Pro Pack | $2.99 | one-time |
| Ai Notes Elite Package | $3.99 | one-time |
| Ai Notes Ultimate Package | $5.99 | one-time |
| Ai Notes Mega Package | $9.99 | one-time |
| Ai Notes Supreme Package | $24.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Opal free?

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

### Is AI Notes free?

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

### Do Opal or AI Notes have ads?

AI Notes shows ads; Opal does not.

### Which is updated more often, Opal or AI Notes?

Opal ships an update every 9 days, and AI Notes every 4 months. Most recently, Opal was updated on August 1, 2026 and AI Notes on September 9, 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.*