Best Free Journaling App

242+ iOS apps curated and reviewed

4.8 avg rating
20 free apps
Updated July 2026

From beginner-friendly picks to power-user tools, our free journaling app list covers 242+ iPhone apps updated through July 2026. Compare ratings, prices, and screenshots in one place.

Compare top Free Journaling App (July 2026)

#AppPriceRatingAdsIn-App PurchasesUpdated
1Day One: Daily Journal & DiaryDay One: Daily Journal & DiaryFree4.8★ (117K)NoYesJul 2026
2JournalJournalFree4.8★ (231K)NoNoJul 2026
3My Diary - Journal with LockMy Diary - Journal with LockFree4.7★ (28K)YesYesJul 2026
4Planner & Journal - ZinniaPlanner & Journal - ZinniaFree4.6★ (54K)YesYesJul 2026
5Notebook - Diary & Journal AppNotebook - Diary & Journal AppFree4.7★ (14K)YesYesJul 2026
6Prompted Journal - Shadow WorkPrompted Journal - Shadow WorkFree4.8★ (6.9K)NoYesJul 2026
7Diarly 다이어리: 기분 기록과 나만의 일기Diarly 다이어리: 기분 기록과 나만의 일기Free4.7★ (1.4K)NoYesJul 2026
8DailyBean - простой дневникDailyBean - простой дневникFree4.8★ (70K)YesYesJul 2026

Top Picks for Free Journaling App

Day One: Daily Journal & Diary#1

Day One: Daily Journal & Diary by Bloom Built Inc

Личный дневник благодарности
Editor's Choice
💪 Health & Fitness
4.8😊(117K ratings)
FreeIn-App Purchases
#91in Health & Fitness
Day One: Daily Journal & Diary screenshot 1
Day One: Daily Journal & Diary screenshot 2
Day One: Daily Journal & Diary screenshot 3
Day One: Daily Journal & Diary screenshot 4
Day One: Daily Journal & Diary screenshot 5
Day One: Daily Journal & Diary screenshot 6

Record your life with a private digital journal. Securely save text, photos, audio, and video. Features include reminders, prompts, and automatic data import to help you stay consistent and reminisce.

What We Love

  • 💻 Excellent journaling app
  • 🗓️ Ability to create multiple journals
  • 🎨 Customizable journal templates
  • 🔍 Powerful search and filtering

Room to Improve

  • 🔒 Subscription model for premium features
  • 🗓️ Issues with syncing and data loss
  • 🖌️ Limited customization options
Journal#2

Journal by Apple Inc.

Reflect on life’s moments
Strong Contender
💪 Health & Fitness
4.8😊(231K ratings)
Free
Journal screenshot 1
Journal screenshot 2
Journal screenshot 3
Journal screenshot 4
Journal screenshot 5
Journal screenshot 6

Capture and reflect on life's moments with rich media like photos, videos, and audio. Intelligent suggestions and prompts help you start writing, while multiple journals and goal tracking support a consistent practice. Sync across devices for seamless access.

What We Love

  • 🚀 Journaling made easy
  • 🔒 Private and secure
  • 👍 Organized and intuitive
  • 👍 Helpful suggestions and prompts

Room to Improve

  • 🐛 Cursor jumps around while typing
  • 🐛 Occasional crashes and freezes
  • 🔍 Lack of search and filtering options
My Diary - Journal with Lock#3

My Diary - Journal with Lock by BetterApp Tech Co., Limited

Journaling Diary with password
Worth Considering
🌟 Lifestyle
4.7😊(28K ratings)
FreeAdsIn-App Purchases
My Diary - Journal with Lock screenshot 1
My Diary - Journal with Lock screenshot 2
My Diary - Journal with Lock screenshot 3
My Diary - Journal with Lock screenshot 4
My Diary - Journal with Lock screenshot 5
My Diary - Journal with Lock screenshot 6

This app offers a secure and personalized digital journal for recording daily thoughts, memories, and emotions. Enhance entries with photos, themes, and mood tracking. It's designed to support mental well-being by providing a private space for self-reflection and emotional processing.

What We Love

  • 🔒 Secure with password, fingerprint, and security question options
  • 📝 Easy to write and express thoughts
  • 🎨 Customizable with themes, stickers, and photos
  • 🗓️ Helpful for tracking moods and daily activities

Room to Improve

  • 💰 Many features locked behind premium paywall
  • 🔍 Limited free theme and sticker options
  • 🐛 Issues with formatting, text editing, and photo placement

More Free Journaling App apps to explore

4
Planner & Journal - Zinnia
Planner & Journal - Zinnia
Planner & Journal - Zinnia
Notebook & Creative Diary
Free

This app offers a creative digital journaling and planning experience with a vast library of stickers, templates, and tools. It supports natural handwriting, doodling, and integrates with digital calendars for enhanced productivity and self-care tracking. New content and features are added monthly.

Customizable digital studioMonthly content additionsCalendar and habit trackers
🌟 Lifestyle
(54K)
free with in-app purchases
5
Notebook - Diary & Journal App
Notebook - Diary & Journal App
Notebook - Diary & Journal App
A diary that flips like a book
Free

This app offers a natural journaling experience by organizing daily notes on a single page, allowing you to flip through your entries like a physical book. It prioritizes simplicity, security with passcode locks, and seamless iCloud synchronization for easy access across devices.

Realistic page-turning effectOne page per day organizationiCloud sync and backup
📊 Productivity
(14K)
free with in-app purchases
6
Prompted Journal - Shadow Work
Prompted Journal - Shadow Work
Prompted Journal - Shadow Work
Private journaling for therapy
Free

This app provides a guided journaling experience with over 190 prompts and "Dive Deeper" questions to encourage self-reflection and personal growth. It helps users establish a consistent self-care routine through daily reminders and offers privacy with no data storage required.

190+ journal prompts"Dive Deeper" questionsDaily reminders
🌟 Lifestyle
(6.9K)
free with in-app purchases
7
Diarly 다이어리: 기분 기록과 나만의 일기
Diarly 다이어리: 기분 기록과 나만의 일기
Diarly 다이어리: 기분 기록과 나만의 일기
사진과 음성, 메모로 남기는 나만의 비밀 노트
Free

This app helps you start and maintain a journaling habit with daily prompts, mood tracking, and the ability to add photos and other media. It also allows for creating topic-based notes and seamlessly integrates with other apps and services for a comprehensive personal record.

Daily prompts with enriched data (weather, location, health)Mood tracking and pattern analysisTopic-based note creation
💪 Health & Fitness
(1.4K)
freemium
8
DailyBean - простой дневник
DailyBean - простой дневник
DailyBean - простой дневник
Просто Нажимай на Иконки !
Free

This app provides a simple and enjoyable way to log daily experiences and moods. Customize your journal with themes and icons, and gain insights into your patterns with analysis reports. Easily integrate health data and special moments.

Record in secondsFully customizable icons and blocksDecorate with themes
🌟 Lifestyle
(70K)
free with in-app purchases
9
Diary With Password
Diary With Password
Diary With Password
No Ads Journal Diary Notebook
Free

This app provides a private digital space to record daily thoughts, emotions, and life events. It offers robust security features like password and biometric locks, alongside tools for organizing, searching, and exporting your entries. Enjoy a customizable and ad-free journaling experience.

Password and biometric securityDaily entry loggingFull text search
📊 Productivity
(26K)
free with in-app purchases
10
Ink: Daily Journaling Prompts
Ink: Daily Journaling Prompts
Ink: Daily Journaling Prompts
Your Private Diary & Timer
Free

This app encourages a pen-and-paper journaling habit with a minimalist, offline companion. It provides daily prompts, timers for sessions, mood tracking, and photo additions. All notes are saved locally for privacy.

Offline journaling companionDaily journaling ideas & promptsMulti-prompt journaling journeys
🌟 Lifestyle
(8)
freemium
11
Untold - Voice Journal
Untold - Voice Journal
Untold - Voice Journal
Secure, Personalized Journal
Free

This app provides a secure and private space for users to record their thoughts and experiences through voice. It utilizes AI-powered speech-to-text and generates personalized content based on journal entries, offering a unique way to reflect and understand oneself.

Encrypted voice journalingSpeech-to-text AIPersonalized content generation
💪 Health & Fitness
(2.1K)
free
12
Reflectly - Journal & AI Diary
Reflectly - Journal & AI Diary
Reflectly - Journal & AI Diary
Self-Care Mood Tracker & CBT
Free

This AI-powered journaling app helps you track your mood, process thoughts, and improve mental well-being. It offers personalized prompts and insights based on your entries to encourage self-care and mindfulness.

AI-powered journalingMood tracking and analysisPersonalized prompts and insights
💪 Health & Fitness
(82K)
free with in-app purchases
13
Pages: Create Documents
Pages: Create Documents
Pages: Create Documents
Documents that stand apart
Free

Create visually appealing documents with a wide range of templates and editing tools. Enhance your work with multimedia, track changes, and collaborate seamlessly. Offers advanced features for writing, design, and presentation.

Apple-designed templatesAdd images, video, audioTrack changes and comments
📊 Productivity
(542K)
free
14
Gratitude: Self-Care Journal
Gratitude: Self-Care Journal
Gratitude: Self-Care Journal
Affirmations and Vision Board
Free

This self-care app helps improve mental health with a private gratitude journal, positive affirmations, and vision boards. It offers daily motivation, prompts, and the ability to record voice entries and add photos to your journal.

Gratitude journal with photo and voice entryHundreds of positive affirmationsCreate multiple vision boards
💪 Health & Fitness
(45K)
free with in-app purchases
15
My Daily Diary - Mood Journal
My Daily Diary - Mood Journal
My Daily Diary - Mood Journal
Mood Tracker & Daily Journal
Free

This app allows you to document your thoughts, feelings, and important moments. It offers extensive customization options, including stickers, voice notes, and images, to enhance your entries. Track your moods over time to gain emotional insights and ensure your private journal remains secure with password protection.

Capture thoughts and feelingsCustomize entries with stickers, voice notes, and imagesTrack moods with each journal entry
🌟 Lifestyle
(10K)
free with in-app purchases
16
Дневник и Трекер Настроения
Дневник и Трекер Настроения
Дневник и Трекер Настроения
Мой личный дневник с паролем
Free

This app serves as a private digital journal to record daily experiences, emotions, and memories. Secure your entries with password, fingerprint, or face ID, and enhance them with photos. Track your moods and use built-in reminders to cultivate a consistent journaling habit.

Password, fingerprint, and face ID securityAdd photos to journal entriesMood and emotion tracking
🌟 Lifestyle
(5.4K)
free with in-app purchases
17
Mininote - Cute note and diary
Mininote - Cute note and diary
Mininote - Cute note and diary
Daily Notes and Journalings
Free

This app serves as a portable electronic notebook and mood tracking diary, allowing users to record daily thoughts and emotions. It offers powerful note editing, custom emoticons, and a calendar view for mood overviews. Security features like password protection and iCloud backup are included.

Mood diary recordingCustom emoticon drawingPowerful note editing
🌟 Lifestyle
(21K)
freemium
18
Daylio Journal - Mood Tracker
Daylio Journal - Mood Tracker
Daylio Journal - Mood Tracker
Private Diary, Health, Habits
Free

This app helps you track your moods and activities to understand your well-being. It offers a private micro-diary experience without requiring extensive typing, allowing you to identify happiness triggers and build positive habits.

Mood tracking with icons and emojisActivity loggingPrivate journaling without typing
🌟 Lifestyle
(60K)
free with in-app purchases
19
Diarium Journal: Private Diary
Diarium Journal: Private Diary
Diarium Journal: Private Diary
Secure notes for life & travel
Free

Capture and organize your life's moments with a feature-rich journaling app. Securely store memories, attach media, and receive daily prompts. Enjoy cross-platform syncing and robust export options for a comprehensive digital diary.

Cloud Sync across devicesDaily writing remindersAttach photos, audio, and files
🌟 Lifestyle
(1.9K)
freemium
20
stoic. journal & mental health
stoic. journal & mental health
stoic. journal & mental health
AI journaling, Gratitude diary
Free

This app guides users through daily preparation and reflection to improve mental well-being. It offers journaling prompts, habit tracking, mood monitoring, and various mental health tools like meditation and breathing exercises. Users can also journal via voice notes or pictures.

Morning preparation & evening reflectionGuided journaling with promptsMood and habit tracking
💪 Health & Fitness
(35K)
freemium

FAQ about Free Journaling App

What is the best free journaling app for iPhone?
Day One: Daily Journal & Diary tops our free journaling app ranking as of July 2026, with a 4.8-star average from 117K App Store ratings, and it's free to download.
Day One: Daily Journal & Diary has no ads and offers in-app purchases, according to its App Store listing as of July 2026.
We track 242+ free journaling app on the iOS App Store as of July 2026, ranked by rating, recency, and analysis of real user reviews.
Day One is a digital journaling app designed to help you record your life as you live it. It allows you to securely save text, photos, audio, and video entries. The app focuses on privacy, ease of use, and features that encourage consistent journaling and reminiscing.
Key features include unlimited text entries, rich text formatting with markdown, support for unlimited photos and videos, voice recording with transcription, daily journal prompts, streaks and calendar views for consistency, and automatic import of data like weather and location. It also offers end-to-end encryption for privacy.