Lava vs Today Was
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Lava
A private messaging app for couples to share intimate moments securely. Features include disappearing photos and videos, text overlays, and end-to-end encryption. Stay connected with daily streaks and real-time notifications in a distraction-free environment.
- Disappearing photos and videos
- Text overlays for personalization
- End-to-end encryption
- Messages auto-delete after 24 hours
- Daily streaks for connection
- Customizable theme colors
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**Lava is the private messaging app designed exclusively for couples.** Share your most intimate moments with the one person who matters most. Lava creates a secure, private space just for you and your partner. No group chats, no social feeds, no distractions. Share What Matters - Send **photos and videos** with a single tap or hold - Add **text overlays** to personalize your media - View media once, then watch it disappear Stay Connected - **Daily streaks** reward you for staying in touch - **Real-time notifications** so you never miss a moment - Beautiful, distraction-free interface Make It Yours - Customize your **theme color** to match your style - Set your **profile picture** and display name - Personalize your experience Privacy First - **End-to-end encryption** ensures only you and your partner can see your messages - **Messages auto-delete after 24 hours** your moments stay in the moment - **No screenshots, no screen recordings** what you share stays between you two Lava is built for couples who value their privacy and want a dedicated space to connect. No ads, no algorithms, no noise—just you and your partner. Privacy: https://touchlava.com/privacy Terms of Service: https://touchlava.com/terms
Today Was
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Some days disappear before you have time to write them down. Today Was makes keeping them simple: open the app, speak naturally, and save the moment in your own words. Today Was is a private, voice-first journal for remembering everyday life without the pressure of writing the perfect entry. Keep your Verbatim transcript alongside a Cleaned version that turns scattered thoughts into clearer, more cohesive sentences without inventing details. CAPTURE THE DAY YOUR WAY • Speak or type a memory • Keep the original transcript and optional audio • Attach multiple photos, browse them in a full-screen gallery, and add another moment to the same day • Highlight the days you want to find again • Personalize Today with a background photo and readable, adaptive contrast REMEMBER THE WHOLE SETTING With your permission, Today Was can add a place, weather, and moon phase to a memory. Your journal works offline after setup: write, search, and save locally without service; weather and map details can refresh when you reconnect. FIND YOUR WAY BACK Browse your journal as a timeline or calendar, search your words and tags on-device, revisit highlighted days, and set a discreet daily reminder. BUILT FOR PRIVACY New journal entries, transcripts, photos, audio, settings, and saved day context are encrypted and stored on your device. Search and Cleaned writing run on-device after your vault is unlocked. You choose whether to add location or weather context. YOUR STORY, PORTABLE Create a decrypted export with your words and media when you want a copy you control, then import it later. There is no automatic cloud backup or multi-device sync, so keep your recovery key and exports somewhere safe. Your first 10 memories are free. Unlock Full Journal with one non-consumable, one-time in-app purchase—no subscription—and keep adding to your story. Say today. Keep it true.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is iOS requirement: Today Was at 17.0 against Lava's 26.0. On price, rating, ratings volume and ads there is nothing between them.
Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS
Both are free to download. Lava sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $3.99 per month and Today Was sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 5.0 for Lava against 5.0 for Today Was. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 1 and 2 respectively.
| Parameter | Lava | Today Was |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 5.0 (1 ratings) | 5.0 (2 ratings) |
| Number of ratings | 1 | 2 — better |
| Update frequency | Every 6 days | — |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad — better | iPhone |
| Requires iOS | 26.0 | 17.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 7 MB | 1 MB |
| Age rating | 17+ | 4+ |
| Developer | MIND, LLC (OH) | Charged Alpha |
In-app purchases
Lava
- Monthly Subscription$3.991 Month
Today Was
- Full Journal$29.99








