Comparison

Shadow Work Journal vs Self Reflection Journal

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

Head to head
About

Shadow Work Journal

Explore hidden aspects of yourself through guided prompts and tools. Understand triggers, heal past wounds, and foster self-awareness. This private journal helps you gently uncover and integrate the parts of yourself you've kept in the dark.

Highlights
  • Guided journeys with 200+ prompts
  • Tools for processing charged moments
  • Core belief exploration
  • Parts work exercises
  • Daily mood and trigger tracking
  • Private insights and emotional timeline
  • Voice note recording
Features
Read full description

Meet the parts of yourself you've kept in the dark. Penumbra is a private, beautifully simple shadow work journal that helps you understand your triggers, heal old wounds, and come home to who you really are — one honest prompt at a time. Shadow work is the practice of exploring the hidden parts of yourself: the fears, patterns, and emotions you learned to push away. Bringing them into the light is how real, lasting change begins. Penumbra makes that work approachable, gentle, and yours alone. — GUIDED JOURNEYS — 19 themed paths with 200+ deep, therapist-style prompts: Meet Your Shadow, Inner Child, Self-Sabotage, Fear & Anxiety, Anger, Relationships, Self-Worth, Forgiveness, Boundaries, Grief, Shame, Mother & Father Wounds, Money Stories, Work & Purpose, Perfectionism, Jealousy, Attachment, Identity, and more. — GUIDED TOOLS — • Guided Session — process a charged moment, step by step • Core Belief Explorer — trace a limiting belief to its root • Parts Work — meet a part of yourself with curiosity (IFS-inspired) • Multi-day Courses — Meet Your Inner Critic, Reparenting, Self-Compassion — TRACK & SEE PATTERNS — • Daily check-in: mood, energy and anxiety in 10 seconds • Trigger tracker: capture what set you off and why • Shadow archetypes: notice the Inner Critic, People-Pleaser and more • Private insights, weekly review, emotional timeline & trends — all on-device, no AI — REFLECT YOUR WAY — • A fresh daily prompt and a streak to keep you coming back • Write or record a voice note; tag mood, emotions and archetypes • Dream journal and daily grounding affirmations — YOURS ALONE — Everything stays on your device. Lock your journal behind Face ID, Touch ID, or your passcode. No accounts, no cloud, no one watching. — GENTLE & SAFE — Grounding exercises and crisis resources are one tap away. A soft, modern interface for dark and light mode, with a reminder you can set to any time. Meet your shadow. Reclaim your light. — PENUMBRA PRO — Unlock every guided journey and course, full insights, Face ID app lock, daily reminders, voice notes and export. Try Pro free for 3 days. • Yearly subscription with a 3-day free trial • Weekly subscription Subscriptions automatically renew unless cancelled at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. Your account will be charged for renewal within 24 hours prior to the end of the current period. You can manage or cancel your subscription in your App Store account settings after purchase. Any unused portion of a free trial is forfeited when you purchase a subscription. Privacy Policy: https://sites.google.com/view/allegrodigital/privacy-policy Terms of Use: https://sites.google.com/view/allegrodigital/terms-of-use Penumbra is a self-reflection tool and is not a substitute for professional therapy or medical care. If you are in crisis, please reach out to a qualified professional or a local helpline.

About

Self Reflection Journal

Features
Read full description

Self Reflection Journal is a private space for understanding your feelings, thoughts, relationships, and emotional patterns. Some days you know exactly what you feel. Other days everything is mixed: a message you want to send, a conversation you keep replaying, a feeling you cannot name, or a thought that keeps coming back. Self Reflection Journal helps you slow down and write with more clarity. Instead of starting with a blank page, you can use gentle reflection prompts, emotional check-ins, and guided writing practices to understand what is happening inside you. What you can do Check in with yourself Track your emotional state through three simple axes: mood, energy, and connection. Move the sliders and notice what changes from day to day. Write private journal entries Save thoughts, feelings, conversations, relationship reflections, difficult moments, and honest notes you do not need to send to anyone. Use guided reflection prompts When you do not know what to write, open a thoughtful question and start from there. Prompts are designed for self-reflection, emotional clarity, boundaries, relationships, letting go, and inner support. Notice emotional patterns See simple insights based on your entries, including frequent emotions, writing patterns, and emotional trends over time. Protect your journal Use PIN, Face ID, or device biometrics to keep your private space more secure. Write your way Use text or voice input when it feels easier to speak than type. Choose your visual style Pick a soft theme that matches your mood: warm, gentle, calm, or darker and more private. Premium features Self Reflection Journal Premium unlocks: unlimited journal entries; full library of reflection prompts; relationship journal; breakup journal; extended insights; PDF export; PIN / Face ID protection; no ads. A gentle note Self Reflection Journal is a personal journaling and self-reflection app. It is not a medical, psychological, or psychotherapy service. It does not diagnose, treat, or replace professional support. Use it as a private space to pause, write, understand yourself better, and return to your own voice. Terms of Use: https://maksastera.com/apps/psychological-diary/terms-of-use.html Privacy Policy: https://maksastera.com/apps/psychological-diary/privacy-policy.html

Screenshots

Shadow Work Journal4 screens
Self Reflection Journal4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is ads: Shadow Work Journal at none against Self Reflection Journal's shown. Self Reflection Journal's advantage is iOS requirement (13.0 vs 16.0). On price, in-app purchases and device support 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. Shadow Work Journal sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per 7 days and Self Reflection Journal sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Scorecard2 real differences · 7 level
Shadow Work Journal versus Self Reflection Journal: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterShadow Work JournalSelf Reflection Journal
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (4 ratings) — better—
Number of ratings4 — better—
Update frequency—Every 5 weeks
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFreemium—
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS16.013.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size6 MB38 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperAllegro DigitalMaksym Andriienko

In-app purchases

2 purchases

Shadow Work Journal

Subscriptions2
  • Penumbra Pro$4.997 Days
  • Penumbra Pro3 Days trial$29.991 Year
3 purchases

Self Reflection Journal

Subscriptions2
  • Premium month$2.991 Month
  • Premium Year$17.991 Year
One-time1
  • Lifetime Premium$22.99

Questions

Is Shadow Work Journal free?
Shadow Work Journal is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Self Reflection Journal free?
Self Reflection Journal is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Shadow Work Journal or Self Reflection Journal have ads?
Self Reflection Journal shows ads; Shadow Work Journal does not.

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