# Bookmarks vs Backyard Journal

The clearest difference is rating: Backyard Journal at 5.0 against Bookmarks's 4.2. Backyard Journal also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 1) and iOS requirement (15.1 vs 18.0). Bookmarks's advantage is update cadence (weekly vs every 3 weeks) and ratings volume (6 vs 1). On price, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Bookmarks sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Backyard Journal asks for nothing beyond the download.

Backyard Journal holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.2. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Bookmarks has 6 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two.

Bookmarks ships an update weekly, Backyard Journal every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 11, 2026 and October 10, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Bookmarks | Backyard Journal |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.2 (6 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bookmarks-send-to-self/id6747897667/reviews) | **[5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/backyard-journal/id6747956168/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **6** | 1 |
| Positive reviews | 66.7% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Weekly** | Every 3 weeks |
| Monetization | Freemium | **Free** |
| Size | 5 MB | 18 MB |
| Requires iOS | 18.0 | **15.1** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [GILI](https://appshunter.io/developer/1794250127) | [Justin Ledvina](https://appshunter.io/developer/1818680381) |

## What reviewers say

### Bookmarks

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bookmarks-send-to-self/id6747897667)

Save links, notes, PDFs, and photos from any app into a private, searchable messenger-style interface. Organize content with categories and reminders, and sync across Apple devices. The core app is free and ad-free, with an optional one-time purchase for premium features.

**Highlights:** Save from any app, Organize with categories and notes, Private and secure data storage, Syncs across Apple devices, Offline functionality, One-time purchase for premium features

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Premium Upgrade | $8.99 | one-time |


### Backyard Journal

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/backyard-journal/id6747956168)

Easily document events and changes on your property, from planting to wildlife sightings. Log entries with photos, notes, date, and location, plus current weather. Review your land's history over time with a clean, distraction-free interface.

**Highlights:** Log events with photos and notes, Automatic date and location recording, Add current weather and temperature, Simple, clean interface, Review land history

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Bookmarks free?

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

### Is Backyard Journal free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Bookmarks or Backyard Journal?

Backyard Journal is rated higher. Bookmarks averages 4.2 out of 5 from 6 ratings, while Backyard Journal averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.

### Do Bookmarks or Backyard Journal have ads?

Neither Bookmarks nor Backyard Journal shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Bookmarks or Backyard Journal?

Bookmarks ships an update weekly, and Backyard Journal every 3 weeks. Most recently, Bookmarks was updated on October 11, 2026 and Backyard Journal on October 10, 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.*