Comparison

Thankful vs Journal

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

Head to head
About

Thankful

Read full description

The little things matter most. Thankful is a couples app that helps you and your partner build a daily gratitude habit - noticing, naming, and sharing what you appreciate about each other and your life together. It's not therapy. It's not a communication course. It's a quiet, daily ritual that keeps you both present and connected, even on the ordinary days. What you'll do together: Answer a daily gratitude prompt - separately, then see each other's responses once you've both answered Check in on your mood with a simple emoji - no pressure, just honesty Test how well you know each other with fun partner quizzes - answers revealed only when both of you have replied Read curated articles with practical, actionable things you can try together today Look back on monthly highlights: your shared moments, moods, and memories, beautifully summarised Why couples love it: Gratitude isn't just feel-good advice - research consistently shows that expressing appreciation strengthens relationships over time. Thankful makes it effortless: a gentle nudge each day, a shared space to reflect, and a growing record of everything good between you. Designed for real relationships. Not just the honeymoon phase. Thankful is built for established couples who want to invest in what they already have - partners who are busy, realistic, and know that the small gestures add up. Private by design. Your entries are yours. Thankful is a shared space between you and your partner only - no social feeds, no public profiles. Your most personal data - notes, quiz answers, and journal entries - are encrypted, so what you share stays between the two of you. Start a new habit today. Your relationship is worth one minute a day. LEGAL Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Privacy Policy: https://thankfuldaily.com/privacy

About

Journal

A private, offline diary and notes app that keeps your thoughts secure on your device. Write freely, set custom reminders, and track your progress with a distraction-free editor. Everything is encrypted and stored locally for ultimate privacy.

Highlights
  • Private offline diary
  • Secure with Face ID/Touch ID/passcode
  • Encrypted local storage
  • Customizable reminders
  • Home screen widget for quick capture
  • Mood and tag tracking
  • Writing streak and mood trend analysis
Features
Read full description

Journal is a private diary and reminders app that keeps everything on your device. No accounts, no cloud sync, no tracking — your words never leave your iPhone. A secure place to write Write freely in a clean, distraction-free editor. Your journal is protected by Face ID, Touch ID, or your passcode, and entries are encrypted on your device. Add moods and tags, revisit past entries by date, and search everything instantly. Reminders that use your own words Jot down to-dos, plans, or affirmations and let Journal remind you at the times you choose. Turn notifications on or off per note, so you're nudged about what matters and left alone about what doesn't. Quick capture A home screen widget lets you capture a thought the moment it hits — no need to open the app and find the right screen. Track your rhythm See your writing streaks, mood trends over time, and a calendar view of your journaling history. Yours, and only yours Everything is stored locally and encrypted. There are no accounts to create and nothing is uploaded to a server. Export or make an encrypted backup whenever you want. Private by design. Simple by choice.

Screenshots

Thankful4 screens
Journal4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Journal at none against Thankful's 2. Thankful's advantage is update cadence (every 2 weeks vs every 2 months). On price, ads, device support and iOS requirement 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. Thankful sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month. Journal asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Thankful ships an update every 2 weeks, Journal every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 28, 2026 and October 21, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences · 7 level
Thankful versus Journal: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterThankfulJournal
PriceFreeFree
Rating—5.0 (1 ratings) — better
Number of ratings—1 — better
Update frequencyEvery 2 weeks — betterEvery 2 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
Monetization—Free
DevicesiPhoneiPhone
Requires iOS17.017.0
Further details — not scored
Size13 MB8 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperJulie Ann CalulotTag Studios Limited Liability Company

In-app purchases

2 purchases

Thankful

Subscriptions2
  • Monthly7 Days trial$2.991 Month
  • Annual Subscription7 Days trial$24.991 Year
None

Journal

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Thankful free?
Thankful is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Journal free?
Journal is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do Thankful or Journal have ads?
Neither Thankful nor Journal shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Thankful or Journal?
Thankful ships an update every 2 weeks, and Journal every 2 months. Most recently, Thankful was updated on October 28, 2026 and Journal on October 21, 2026.

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