# nikki vs DrawerJournal

The clearest difference is update cadence: DrawerJournal at every 4 days against nikki's every 2 months. DrawerJournal also leads on ratings volume (74 vs 5). nikki's advantage is rating (5.0 vs 4.6) and review sentiment (98% vs 88%). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. nikki sells 2 one-off in-app purchases and DrawerJournal sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

nikki holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: DrawerJournal has 74 ratings behind it against 5, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 98% of nikki's written reviews are positive against 88% of DrawerJournal's.

nikki ships an update every 2 months, DrawerJournal every 4 days. The most recent releases landed on June 9, 2026 and September 25, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | nikki | DrawerJournal |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[5.0 (5 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/nikki-diary/id921470934/reviews)** | [4.6 (74 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/drawerjournal-private-diary/id1553585038/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 5 | **74** |
| Positive reviews | **98.1% of reviews** | 87.5% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | **Every 4 days** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 30 MB | 39 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.6** | 16.4 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | **iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [REVOLAB Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/575787284) | [ToastPlanet Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1437803152) |

## What reviewers say

### nikki

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/nikki-diary/id921470934)

This app allows you to keep a private diary with rich media. You can add photos, take notes in a chat format, and use it as a planner. Security features include password and biometric locks, with customizable themes to personalize your journaling experience.

**Highlights:** Insert pictures into diary entries, Chat-style memo function, Use as a future date schedule book, Password and biometric app lock, Various fun stamps, Customizable timeline themes (Pinboard, List, Calendar)

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 添付画像を10枚にUP | $2.99 | one-time |
| 広告非表示（広告を外す） | $7.99 | one-time |


### DrawerJournal

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/drawerjournal-private-diary/id1553585038)

This app allows you to easily record daily events and thoughts in a timeline format. You can add text, photos, and audio recordings, and organize entries with tags. It offers a secure, offline space for your private memories.

**Highlights:** Chronological notes with photos and audio, Organize entries with labels/tags, Voice recording for immersive memories, Secure app lock with biometric authentication, Keyword search functionality, Offline data storage

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Apple Watch app, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| DrawerJournal Premium Monthly | $2.99 | per month |
| DrawerJournal Premium Annual | $20.99 | per year |
| DrawerJournal One-Time | $59.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 💻 Intuitive and easy to use
- 🗓️ Convenient timeline-based journaling
- 🔒 Secure with password protection
- 🖼️ Ability to add photos
- 🏷️ Useful tagging and search functionality

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🔁 No cross-device sync or cloud backup
- 🔍 Limited customization options
- 💰 Concerns about aggressive monetization through ads and subscriptions

**Reported bugs**

- Occasional crashes or data loss when editing entries
- Background music playback issues

**Requested features**

- Ability to add videos or audio recordings
- Cloud sync and backup across devices
- More customization options for fonts, colors, and layouts
- Thread-like functionality to connect related entries
- Improved image handling and editing tools


## Frequently asked questions

### Is nikki free?

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

### Is DrawerJournal free?

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

### Which has better reviews, nikki or DrawerJournal?

nikki is rated higher. nikki averages 5.0 out of 5 from 5 ratings, while DrawerJournal averages 4.6 from 74 ratings.

### Do nikki or DrawerJournal have ads?

Both nikki and DrawerJournal show ads.

### Which is updated more often, nikki or DrawerJournal?

nikki ships an update every 2 months, and DrawerJournal every 4 days. Most recently, nikki was updated on June 9, 2026 and DrawerJournal on September 25, 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.*