Comparison

Secret Diary vs Diary Go

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

Head to head
About

Secret Diary

Features
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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.

About

Diary Go

Features
Read full description

Keep your daily moments together with Diary Go. Write diary entries, attach photos, and browse your memories by date. Choose a light or dark appearance and use the app in English, Traditional Chinese, Simplified Chinese, or Japanese. Free features: • Write and edit diary entries • Attach photos • Browse entries on a calendar • View previous versions in Diary History Diary Pro Lifetime: Unlock these features with one purchase, with no subscription: • Sync diary entries and photos between your devices using your private iCloud account • Import diary text from Excel and CSV files • Export current entries and photos in a ZIP file Your diary is stored on your device. Optional iCloud sync runs while the app is open and when you return to it. An iCloud account and available storage are required for sync. Support: https://diary-go.pages.dev/support/ Privacy policy: https://diary-go.pages.dev/privacy/

Screenshots

Secret Diary4 screens
Diary Go4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is update cadence: Diary Go at every 4 days against Secret Diary's every 4 months. On price, ads, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price Ā· Rating Ā· Positive reviews Ā· Number of ratings Ā· Update frequency Ā· Ads Ā· In-app purchases Ā· Monetization Ā· Best chart rank Ā· Devices Ā· Requires iOS

CostPrice Ā· In-app purchases Ā· Ads Ā· Monetization

Both are free to download. Secret Diary sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month and Diary Go sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Secret Diary ships an update every 4 months, Diary Go every 4 days. Both last shipped on October 31, 2026.

Scorecard1 real difference Ā· 5 level
Secret Diary versus Diary Go: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSecret DiaryDiary Go
PriceFreeFree
Update frequencyEvery 4 monthsEvery 4 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
DevicesiPhone, iPad, Apple Watch — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS17.016.4 — better
Further details — not scored
Size14 MB39 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperShankar DuttNgo Hin Tam

In-app purchases

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
1 purchases

Diary Go

One-time1
  • Diary Pro Lifetime$4.99

Questions

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

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