Comparison

writesome | Journaling vs Secret Diary

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

writesome | Journaling

This app provides a private space for daily writing and reflection. It helps users build a digital library of entries, offers custom prompts for inspiration, and allows for organization of favorite topics. All entries are fully encrypted for user privacy.

Highlights
  • Build a journal entry library
  • Daily inspiration prompts
  • Track favorite topics
  • Fully encrypted entries
  • Streak-based library items
Read full description

Crafted with a passion for journaling. - Build a beautiful library, stacked with journal entries. - Add cute items to your library, with each 3-day streak. - Get custom prompts for daily inspiration. - Write about the people, places, and memories that matter to you. - Keep track of your favorite topics in neat lists. - Anything you enter is fully encrypted, inaccessible to anyone but you. Terms and conditions: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Privacy policy: https://www.iubenda.com/privacy-policy/39501024

About

Secret Diary

Features
Read full description

Secret Diary is the diary only you can open. Write a few honest lines, add a photo, pick a mood, and keep it all behind Face ID. Free to download. Your journal is free; Premium unlocks extra tools. FREE, WITH NO ENTRY LIMIT - Unlimited daily entries with text, a photo, mood, place and weather - Face ID, Touch ID or passcode lock, with entries hidden in the app switcher - Calendar, timeline, search and favorites - A daily writing prompt and a gentle daily reminder - On This Day, streaks, achievements, basic stats and your year in pixels - Home Screen, Lock Screen and StandBy widgets that never show your words - Apple Watch app: log a mood or dictate a quick note, and it's added to that day's entry on your iPhone - Siri and Shortcuts: add an entry, log a mood or check your streak - Password-protected backups (AES-256) that restore on any device PREMIUM, WHEN YOU WANT MORE - Decoy Mode: open to a working calculator, notes or weather screen; only your secret code reveals the diary - Private iCloud sync between your iPhone and iPad - Voice notes, transcribed on your device where supported - Dream journal with symbols and tags - Time capsules: letters to your future self, sealed until the day you choose - Mood insights, trends and Year Wrapped - Seven more themes, two more journal fonts and alternate app icons - The full prompt library and entry templates - A printable PDF photo book of your entries and photos If Premium ends, nothing you made is taken away. You keep writing for free, voice notes, dreams and time capsules stay readable and are included in backups, Decoy Mode keeps protecting your diary until you turn it off, and premium themes switch back to the free look. PRIVATE BY DESIGN - No account, no sign-up, no email address - No ads, no analytics SDKs and no tracking - Your journal stays on your device, or in your own private iCloud if you turn on sync - Photos are saved without location data - The developer runs no server and can't read what you write PREMIUM PRICING Premium is optional. Premium Monthly is $2.99 a month and Premium Yearly is $19.99 a year, each with a 7-day free trial for eligible new subscribers. Premium Lifetime is a one-time purchase of $49.99. Prices are in US dollars and vary by region. Payment is charged to your Apple Account when you confirm the purchase, or when a free trial ends. Subscriptions renew automatically unless cancelled at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. Manage or cancel in your Apple Account settings. Terms of Use: https://secretdiary.duttlabs.app/terms.html Privacy Policy: https://secretdiary.duttlabs.app/privacy.html Support & FAQ: https://secretdiary.duttlabs.app/support.html Questions or ideas? Email shankarduttsgd@gmail.com. Every message is read by the developer.

Screenshots

writesome | Journaling4 screens
Secret Diary4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is update cadence: writesome | Journaling at weekly against Secret Diary's every 4 months. On price, ads, in-app purchases and device support 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. writesome | Journaling sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month and Secret Diary sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

writesome | Journaling ships an update weekly, Secret Diary every 4 months. Both last shipped on October 31, 2026.

Scorecard1 real difference · 8 level
writesome | Journaling versus Secret Diary: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
Parameterwritesome | JournalingSecret Diary
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.0 (5 ratings) — better—
Number of ratings5 — better—
Update frequencyWeekly — betterEvery 4 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases—
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad, Apple Watch — better
Requires iOS17.017.0
Further details — not scored
Size33 MB14 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperTom MeltersShankar Dutt

In-app purchases

2 purchases

writesome | Journaling

Subscriptions1
  • writesome - Monthly$2.991 Month
One-time1
  • writesome - Forever$19.99
3 purchases

Secret Diary

Subscriptions2
  • Premium Monthly7 Days trial$2.991 Month
  • Premium Yearly7 Days trial$19.991 Year
One-time1
  • Premium Lifetime$49.99

Questions

Is writesome | Journaling free?
writesome | Journaling is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Secret Diary free?
Secret Diary is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do writesome | Journaling or Secret Diary have ads?
Neither writesome | Journaling nor Secret Diary shows ads.
Which is updated more often, writesome | Journaling or Secret Diary?
writesome | Journaling ships an update weekly, and Secret Diary every 4 months. Most recently, writesome | Journaling was updated on October 31, 2026 and Secret Diary on October 31, 2026.

Other comparisons