# Goodnight Journal vs Grid Diary

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Goodnight Journal at none against Grid Diary's 4. Goodnight Journal also leads on review sentiment (79% vs 48%) and iOS requirement (16.4 vs 26.0). Grid Diary's advantage is rating (4.6 vs 4.2) and update cadence (every 2 weeks vs every 2 months). On price, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Grid Diary sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. Goodnight Journal asks for nothing beyond the download.

Grid Diary holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 4.2. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Grid Diary has 963 ratings behind it against 19, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 79% of Goodnight Journal's written reviews are positive against 48% of Grid Diary's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

Goodnight Journal ships an update every 2 months, Grid Diary every 2 weeks. Both last shipped on November 6, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Goodnight Journal | Grid Diary |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.2 (19 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/goodnight-journal/id957080373/reviews) | **[4.6 (963 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/grid-diary-journal-planner/id1392523148/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 19 | **963** |
| Positive reviews | **78.6% of reviews** | 48.3% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | **Every 2 weeks** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Subscription |
| Size | 38 MB | 80 MB |
| Requires iOS | **16.4** | 26.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, Mac** |
| Age rating | 12+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Allspectives LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1614441164) | [Sumi Interactive](https://appshunter.io/developer/597077264) |

## What reviewers say

### Goodnight Journal

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/goodnight-journal/id957080373)

This app provides a private space for unlimited journaling, with options to share thoughts publicly and connect with a global community of writers. It also offers features to improve mental well-being through prompts, affirmations, and calming sounds.

**Highlights:** Unlimited private journaling, Public sharing option, Global writer community, Daily journal prompts, Mental health features, Dark mode, Cross-platform availability

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

**In-app purchases:** none


### Grid Diary

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/grid-diary-journal-planner/id1392523148)

This app offers a guided journaling experience to foster personal development and mindfulness. It helps users build positive habits, manage stress, and enhance various aspects of their lives through customizable prompts and unique layouts.

**Highlights:** Prompted journaling with custom questions, Unique grid and mandala layouts, Daily, weekly, monthly, and yearly planning, Supports various journaling methods, Mindfulness and self-care focus, Stress and anxiety alleviation techniques

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly | $4.99 | per month |
| Monthly | $4.99 | per month |
| Annual | $29.99 | per year |
| Annual | $29.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 🌟 Excellent journaling app
- 📚 Customizable templates and prompts
- 🧠 Helps with self-reflection and mental health
- 🗓️ Organized grid layout
- 🔍 Useful search and timeline features

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Sync issues and data loss
- 💰 Expensive subscription model
- 🔒 Lack of account deletion or data export options
- 🤔 Confusing onboarding and upgrade process
- 🕰️ Slow loading times and app freezes

**Reported bugs**

- Entries disappearing or not syncing properly
- Password reset functionality not working
- Subscription issues and inability to access premium features
- Compatibility problems with newer iOS versions

**Requested features**

- Add Apple Pencil support
- Improve sync reliability across devices
- Provide more customization options for layouts and fonts
- Integrate with other productivity apps and calendars
- Implement a one-time purchase option


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Goodnight Journal free?

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

### Is Grid Diary free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Goodnight Journal or Grid Diary?

Grid Diary is rated higher. Goodnight Journal averages 4.2 out of 5 from 19 ratings, while Grid Diary averages 4.6 from 963 ratings.

### Do Goodnight Journal or Grid Diary have ads?

Neither Goodnight Journal nor Grid Diary shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Goodnight Journal or Grid Diary?

Goodnight Journal ships an update every 2 months, and Grid Diary every 2 weeks. Most recently, Goodnight Journal was updated on November 6, 2026 and Grid Diary on November 6, 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.*