# Pixel Journal vs Smile Ritual

The clearest difference is price: Pixel Journal at Free against Smile Ritual's $9.99. Pixel Journal also leads on iOS requirement (15.1 vs 18.0). Smile Ritual's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 4). On update cadence, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Pixel Journal is free to download; Smile Ritual costs $9.99 up front. Pixel Journal sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $6.99 per month. Smile Ritual asks for nothing beyond the download.

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 6 days. The most recent releases landed on October 31, 2026 and November 5, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Pixel Journal | Smile Ritual |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | **Free** | $9.99 |
| Rating | **[4.8 (5 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pixel-journal-mood-tracker/id6759248926/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **5** | — |
| Positive reviews | 66.7% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 6 days | Every 6 days |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | — |
| Size | 86 MB | 3 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.1** | 18.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Esteban Reynier](https://appshunter.io/developer/1877644197) | [heather sherry](https://appshunter.io/developer/1896039847) |

## What reviewers say

### Pixel Journal

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pixel-journal-mood-tracker/id6759248926)

Visually track your moods and daily habits with a simple tap. Watch your year unfold in a colorful pixel grid, revealing emotional patterns without any writing. Build a consistent journaling habit effortlessly.

**Highlights:** Year in Pixels view, Simple daily check-in, Track mood and habits, Visual data patterns, Privacy-focused, on-device data

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

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly Premium | $6.99 | per month |
| Yearly Premium | $39.99 | per year |
| Yearly Premium | $39.99 | per year |
| Lifetime Premium | $79.99 | one-time |


### Smile Ritual

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/smile-ritualbrushing-timer/id6770630192)

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Pixel Journal free?

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

### Is Smile Ritual free?

Smile Ritual costs $9.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Do Pixel Journal or Smile Ritual have ads?

Neither Pixel Journal nor Smile Ritual shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Pixel Journal or Smile Ritual?

Pixel Journal ships an update every 6 days, and Smile Ritual every 6 days. Most recently, Pixel Journal was updated on October 31, 2026 and Smile Ritual on November 5, 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.*