# Dotly vs JournalWrite

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: JournalWrite at none against Dotly's 1. JournalWrite also leads on iOS requirement (18.0 vs 26.0). Dotly's advantage is device support (4 vs 2). On price, update cadence and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Dotly sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. JournalWrite asks for nothing beyond the download.

Dotly ships an update every 5 weeks, JournalWrite every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 6, 2026 and October 9, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Dotly | JournalWrite |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | — | **[5.0 (3 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/journalwrite-journal-and-stats/id6763682076/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | — | **3** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 5 weeks** | Every 2 months |
| Monetization | — | Free |
| Size | 15 MB | 9 MB |
| Requires iOS | 26.0 | **18.0** |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Andriy Bezemchuk](https://appshunter.io/developer/1844098134) | [Jacob Kappler](https://appshunter.io/developer/1894734920) |

## What reviewers say

### Dotly

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/dotly-quick-capture/id6753629055)

**Features:** Family Sharing

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Dotly Pro (Lifetime) | $2.99 | one-time |


### JournalWrite

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/journalwrite-journal-and-stats/id6763682076)

This app offers a private and distraction-free space for writing journal entries. It helps users build consistent habits by tracking streaks and visualizing progress with clear insights, all while remaining fully offline and ad-free.

**Highlights:** Distraction-free writing experience, Offline journaling, No ads or accounts required, Track journaling streaks, Visualize progress with insights, Explore entry trends

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Dotly free?

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

### Is JournalWrite free?

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

### Do Dotly or JournalWrite have ads?

Neither Dotly nor JournalWrite shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Dotly or JournalWrite?

Dotly ships an update every 5 weeks, and JournalWrite every 2 months. Most recently, Dotly was updated on October 6, 2026 and JournalWrite on October 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.*