# Safe Notes is a secure notepad vs Personal Diary (Journal) App

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Personal Diary (Journal) App at 87% against Safe Notes is a secure notepad's 35%. Personal Diary (Journal) App also leads on rating (4.4 vs 3.1) and ads (none vs shown). Safe Notes is a secure notepad's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 4) and iOS requirement (10.0 vs 12.0). On price and ratings volume there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Personal Diary (Journal) App sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month. Safe Notes is a secure notepad asks for nothing beyond the download.

Personal Diary (Journal) App holds the better App Store score, 4.4 against 3.1. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 36 and 104 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 35% of Safe Notes is a secure notepad's written reviews are positive against 87% of Personal Diary (Journal) App's.

Safe Notes is a secure notepad ships an update every 3 months, Personal Diary (Journal) App every 5 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 12, 2026 and October 16, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Safe Notes is a secure notepad | Personal Diary (Journal) App |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.1 (36 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/safe-notes-is-a-secure-notepad/id817051017/reviews) | **[4.4 (104 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/personal-diary-journal-app/id1052570257/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 36 | **104** |
| Positive reviews | 35.3% of reviews | **87.4% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months | **Every 5 weeks** |
| Monetization | **Ad-supported** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 18 MB | 26 MB |
| Requires iOS | **10.0** | 12.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac, Apple Watch** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Benny Isbell](https://appshunter.io/developer/654455100) | [Wern Jie Lim](https://appshunter.io/developer/1032934247) |

## What reviewers say

### Safe Notes is a secure notepad

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/safe-notes-is-a-secure-notepad/id817051017)

This app provides a secure way to store your notes using 128-bit encryption. Access your notes quickly with a PIN or secret question, and organize them with separate titles. It offers features like auto-save, backup, and the ability to send notes via SMS or email.

**Highlights:** 128-bit encryption, PIN and secret question access, Separate note titles, Automated database backup via Google Drive, Notes up to 5000 characters, Send notes via SMS or Email, Auto-save notes

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


### Personal Diary (Journal) App

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/personal-diary-journal-app/id1052570257)

This app provides a simple and secure digital space for journaling. It offers passcode and biometric protection, iCloud sync across devices, and the ability to add photos, moods, and weather to your entries. It's designed to be an accessible and ad-free journalling experience.

**Highlights:** Passcode & biometric protection, iCloud sync across devices, Import photos into entries, Set mood and weather, Daily writing reminders, VoiceOver support, Dark Mode

**Features:** Siri integration

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Continuous Tip | $1.99 | per month |
| Small Tip | $0.99 | one-time |
| Medium Tip | $2.99 | one-time |
| Large Tip | $9.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 💻 Simple and easy to use
- 🔒 Secure with passcode/Touch ID
- 🌤️ Ability to track mood and weather
- 📸 Option to add photos
- 🔍 Useful search functionality

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Occasional crashes and stability issues
- 🗓️ Lack of calendar view to easily navigate entries
- 🔍 Search functionality could be improved
- 📁 Issues with syncing and backing up data
- 🤖 Automatic mood/weather detection not always accurate

**Reported bugs**

- Entries sometimes disappear or fail to load
- Passcode/Touch ID not working reliably
- Syncing issues between devices
- Unexpected crashes when opening the app

**Requested features**

- Add ability to password protect individual entries
- Implement calendar view for better navigation
- Allow adding videos and other media types
- Improve search capabilities with advanced filters
- Provide better data backup and export options


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Safe Notes is a secure notepad free?

Safe Notes is a secure notepad is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Personal Diary (Journal) App free?

Personal Diary (Journal) App is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Safe Notes is a secure notepad or Personal Diary (Journal) App?

Personal Diary (Journal) App is rated higher. Safe Notes is a secure notepad averages 3.1 out of 5 from 36 ratings, while Personal Diary (Journal) App averages 4.4 from 104 ratings.

### Do Safe Notes is a secure notepad or Personal Diary (Journal) App have ads?

Safe Notes is a secure notepad shows ads; Personal Diary (Journal) App does not.

### Which is updated more often, Safe Notes is a secure notepad or Personal Diary (Journal) App?

Safe Notes is a secure notepad ships an update every 3 months, and Personal Diary (Journal) App every 5 weeks. Most recently, Safe Notes is a secure notepad was updated on October 12, 2026 and Personal Diary (Journal) App on October 16, 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.*