# Softly vs Journal

The clearest difference is update cadence: Softly at every 3 days against Journal's every 2 months. Softly also leads on ratings volume (4 vs 1). On price, rating, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 5.0 for Softly against 5.0 for Journal. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 4 and 1 respectively.

Softly ships an update every 3 days, Journal every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 24, 2026 and October 21, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Softly | Journal |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [5.0 (4 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/softly-private-journal/id6770157963/reviews) | [5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/journal-reminders-and-notes/id6786935221/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **4** | 1 |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 3 days** | Every 2 months |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 60 MB | 8 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | 17.0 |
| Devices | iPhone | iPhone |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Jean Millan](https://appshunter.io/developer/1890519536) | [Tag Studios Limited Liability Company](https://appshunter.io/developer/6786935223) |

## What reviewers say

### Softly

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/softly-private-journal/id6770157963)

A private journaling app focused on reflection and emotional well-being. It offers multiple writing styles, a visual emotional calendar, and word pattern analysis. All data is stored locally for complete privacy.

**Highlights:** Multiple writing styles, Visual emotional calendar, Word constellation analysis, Time capsule feature, On-device data storage, Face ID protection

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

**In-app purchases:** none


### Journal

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/journal-reminders-and-notes/id6786935221)

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:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Softly free?

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

### Is Journal free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Softly or Journal?

Softly and Journal are both rated 5.0 out of 5 on the App Store, from 4 and 1 ratings respectively.

### Do Softly or Journal have ads?

Neither Softly nor Journal shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Softly or Journal?

Softly ships an update every 3 days, and Journal every 2 months. Most recently, Softly was updated on October 24, 2026 and Journal on October 21, 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.*