# JournalWrite vs CTRL

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: JournalWrite at none against CTRL's 2. On price, update cadence, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. CTRL sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. JournalWrite asks for nothing beyond the download.

JournalWrite ships an update every 2 months, CTRL every 6 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 7, 2026 and September 18, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | JournalWrite | CTRL |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[5.0 (3 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/journalwrite-journal-and-stats/id6763682076/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **3** | — |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | **Every 6 weeks** |
| Monetization | Free | — |
| Size | 9 MB | 2 MB |
| Requires iOS | 18.0 | **17.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Jacob Kappler](https://appshunter.io/developer/1894734920) | [Jibran Ahmed](https://appshunter.io/developer/1896727466) |

## What reviewers say

### JournalWrite

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/journalwrite-journal-and-stats/id6763682076)

This app offers a private and distraction-free space for writing journal entries. It helps users build consistent habits by tracking streaks and visualizing progress with clear insights, all while remaining fully offline and ad-free.

**Highlights:** Distraction-free writing experience, Offline journaling, No ads or accounts required, Track journaling streaks, Visualize progress with insights, Explore entry trends

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

**In-app purchases:** none


### CTRL

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ctrl-earn-your-scroll/id6776657128)

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

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly | $4.99 | per month |
| Yearly | $39.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is JournalWrite free?

JournalWrite is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is CTRL free?

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

### Do JournalWrite or CTRL have ads?

Neither JournalWrite nor CTRL shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, JournalWrite or CTRL?

JournalWrite ships an update every 2 months, and CTRL every 6 weeks. Most recently, JournalWrite was updated on September 7, 2026 and CTRL on September 18, 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.*