Best Journaling App Free Guided

248+ iOS apps curated and reviewed

4.7 avg rating
20 free apps
Updated August 2026

Looking for free journaling app free guided? 20 of our 248+ tracked titles are free to download β€” no subscription, no trial. The rest are premium picks worth paying for.

Compare top Journaling App Free Guided (August 2026)

#AppPriceRatingAdsIn-App PurchasesUpdated
1Notebook - Diary & Journal AppNotebook - Diary & Journal AppFree4.7β˜… (14K)YesYesAug 2026
2Prompted Journal - Shadow WorkPrompted Journal - Shadow WorkFree4.8β˜… (6.9K)NoYesAug 2026
3PenzuPenzuFree4.2β˜… (2.5K)NoYesAug 2026
4everkind: wellness journal appeverkind: wellness journal appFree4.8β˜… (969)NoYesAug 2026
5Quick Journal: just writeQuick Journal: just writeFree4.9β˜… (20)NoNoAug 2026
6Journey - Diary, JournalJourney - Diary, JournalFree4.6β˜… (5.1K)NoYesAug 2026
7WritnWritnFree4.8β˜… (8)YesNoAug 2026
8Reflectly - Journal & AI DiaryReflectly - Journal & AI DiaryFree4.6β˜… (82K)NoYesAug 2026

Top Picks for Journaling App Free Guided

Notebook - Diary & Journal App#1

Notebook - Diary & Journal App by Koji Ito

A diary that flips like a book
Editor's Choice
πŸ“Š Productivity
4.7😊(14K ratings)
FreeAdsIn-App Purchases
Notebook - Diary & Journal App screenshot 1
Notebook - Diary & Journal App screenshot 2
Notebook - Diary & Journal App screenshot 3
Notebook - Diary & Journal App screenshot 4
Notebook - Diary & Journal App screenshot 5

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.

What We Love

  • πŸ‘ Simple and easy to use
  • πŸ”’ Password protection
  • πŸ’‘ Convenient for journaling and note-taking
  • πŸš€ Smooth and responsive

Room to Improve

  • πŸ› Occasional crashes or glitches
  • 🚫 Unable to insert photos or attachments
  • 🚫 Limited formatting options
Prompted Journal - Shadow Work#2

Prompted Journal - Shadow Work by Oatmeal Apps

Private journaling for therapy
Strong Contender
🌟 Lifestyle
4.8😊(6.9K ratings)
FreeIn-App Purchases
Prompted Journal - Shadow Work screenshot 1
Prompted Journal - Shadow Work screenshot 2
Prompted Journal - Shadow Work screenshot 3
Prompted Journal - Shadow Work screenshot 4
Prompted Journal - Shadow Work screenshot 5
Prompted Journal - Shadow Work screenshot 6

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.

What We Love

  • πŸ’– Great for self-reflection
  • πŸ”’ No ads or data collection
  • πŸ‘ Simple and user-friendly interface
  • πŸ€— Helpful and thought-provoking prompts

Room to Improve

  • πŸ› Issues with editing/deleting past entries
  • πŸ” Lack of search/filter functionality
  • πŸ“± Compatibility issues on larger screens
Penzu#3

Penzu by Penzu Inc.

Secure Diary & Private Journal
Worth Considering
πŸ“Š Productivity
4.2😐(2.5K ratings)
FreeIn-App Purchases
Penzu screenshot 1
Penzu screenshot 2
Penzu screenshot 3
Penzu screenshot 4

This app provides a secure and private space for journaling, note-taking, and storing personal thoughts. It offers robust security features like password and PIN locks, encryption, and cloud syncing across devices. Users can also add photos and tags to their entries, making it a comprehensive digital diary.

What We Love

  • πŸš€ Easy to use
  • πŸ”’ Secure and private
  • πŸ“ Convenient journaling on the go
  • πŸ—“οΈ Helpful reminders and date tracking

Room to Improve

  • πŸ› Frequent crashes and bugs
  • πŸ”‘ Password issues and lockout problems
  • πŸ“ Syncing and data loss issues

More Journaling App Free Guided apps to explore

4
everkind: wellness journal app
everkind: wellness journal app
everkind: wellness journal app
Guided AI Diary & Mood Tracker
Free

This AI-powered journal offers a private space for self-reflection and emotional processing. It combines guided journaling with mindful activities and empathetic AI conversations to help users understand themselves better and build healthier habits.

AI-guided journalingReflective conversationsMindful activities
πŸ’ͺ Health & Fitness
(969)
free with in-app purchases
5
Quick Journal: just write
Quick Journal: just write
Quick Journal: just write
Simple, easy and customizable
Free

This app offers a straightforward journaling experience with extensive customization options. Personalize themes, fonts, icons, and layouts to create your ideal digital notebook. Widgets and draft saving features enhance usability for daily reflection.

Customizable themes and fontsApp icon and layout personalizationHome screen widgets
🌟 Lifestyle
(20)
free
6
Journey - Diary, Journal
Journey - Diary, Journal
Journey - Diary, Journal
Daily Motivation & Journal
Free

This app helps you capture memories, express yourself through writing, and track your emotions. It offers tools for creating rich journal entries, collaborative journaling, and secure storage. Enhance your experience with templates, plugins, and reminders for a more mindful and organized life.

Capture memories with photos, videos, and audioRich text editor with formatting optionsMood tracking and emotional fluctuation analysis
🌟 Lifestyle
(5.1K)
freemium
7
Writn
Writn
Writn
Voice Journal, Written Journal
Free

This app transforms your spoken thoughts into written stories and physical books. Easily record voice notes, edit them into polished narratives, and create a printed keepsake of your memories. It's designed for capturing life's moments as they happen.

Voice journalingStory crafting toolsPrinted book creation
🌟 Lifestyle
(8)
free with in-app purchases
8
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
πŸ’ͺ Health & Fitness
(82K)
free with in-app purchases
9
Reflection: AI Journal & Coach
Reflection: AI Journal & Coach
Reflection: AI Journal & Coach
Mental Health Guided Diary
Free

This app combines a beautiful writing experience with AI to help you gain clarity and unlock your potential. It offers personalized guidance, advanced search capabilities, and over 100 guided programs for various aspects of personal growth. You can also use voice-to-text to capture your thoughts effortlessly.

AI-powered personalized guidanceAdvanced journal search and insights100+ guided journaling programs
πŸ’ͺ Health & Fitness
(1.1K)
free with in-app purchases
10
WriteUp - Guided Daily Journal
WriteUp - Guided Daily Journal
WriteUp - Guided Daily Journal
Clarity in five minutes a day
Free

This app offers guided journaling with hundreds of prompts across various themes to help you gain clarity in just five minutes a day. It provides tools for private reflection, progress tracking, and customizable writing goals, fitting easily into your daily routine.

Hundreds of themed writing promptsCustomizable prompt guidesPrivate journaling with passcode
πŸ’ͺ Health & Fitness
(9)
freemium
11
Jurna: Journaling for Growth
Jurna: Journaling for Growth
Jurna: Journaling for Growth
Journals, Notebooks, Wellness
Free

This app helps kids and teens build resilience and healthy habits through guided journaling, creative expression, and daily check-ins. It offers a library of themed journals, a full artboard for creativity, and challenges designed to foster emotional well-being.

Guided journaling exercisesCreative artboard with stickers and photosDaily check-ins and multi-day challenges
🌟 Lifestyle
(7)
freemium
12
Mymory: Journal Companion
Mymory: Journal Companion
Mymory: Journal Companion
Self-Care & Daily Mood Tracker
Free

This app offers a unique journaling experience where users interact with a digital forest. It helps organize thoughts, express emotions, and practice mindfulness through guided rituals and AI-generated captions for photos. Privacy is secured with passcode and biometric authentication.

Interactive tree journalingAnonymous global message exchangeWeekly self-care reports
🌟 Lifestyle
(58)
free with in-app purchases
13
solo. pen journaling companion
solo. pen journaling companion
solo. pen journaling companion
reflection & growth prompts
Free

This app provides over 100 curated prompts to guide users through self-reflection and personal growth. It encourages mindfulness and self-discovery, suitable for daily journaling or moments of introspection.

Curated thought-provoking promptsDaily reflection guidancePersonal growth goal setting
🌟 Lifestyle
(2)
free
14
Reflect - guided daily journal
Reflect - guided daily journal
Reflect - guided daily journal
Self reflection journaling
Free

This app provides a guided journaling experience to help you capture thoughts and feelings, fostering self-awareness and a more positive outlook. It intelligently guides your reflections with structured topics and questions based on proven psychological methods.

Guided reflection topics and questionsDaily check-ins with yourselfLibrary of self-reflection topics
πŸ’ͺ Health & Fitness
(360)
subscription
15
Clearful - Journal & Diary
Clearful - Journal & Diary
Clearful - Journal & Diary
Journaling for Personal Growth
Free

This app provides a secure and private space to explore your thoughts, emotions, and experiences through journaling. It offers tools to express yourself with text, photos, and audio, organize entries with rich formatting, and rediscover past moments. Guided journals and habit-building features support personal growth and mental well-being.

Text, photo, and audio journalingRich text formatting optionsRediscover past journal entries
πŸ’ͺ Health & Fitness
(3K)
free with in-app purchases
16
Journal Party: Journal Prompts
Journal Party: Journal Prompts
Journal Party: Journal Prompts
For Pen & Paper Journalers
Free

This app provides structured guidance and accountability for developing a consistent journaling habit. Choose from over 100 programs with curated prompts, ambient music, and community sessions. Write in your physical journal while the app guides your sessions and tracks your progress.

100+ guided journaling programsCurated prompts with timersAmbient focus music
πŸ’ͺ Health & Fitness
(9)
free with in-app purchases
17
My Diary - Journal with Lock
My Diary - Journal with Lock
My Diary - Journal with Lock
Journaling Diary with password
Free

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.

Password-protected diaryAdd photos and drawingsCustomizable themes and backgrounds
🌟 Lifestyle
(28K)
free with in-app purchases
18
Hobonichi Techo App
Hobonichi Techo App
Hobonichi Techo App
Journal by carrying your phone
Free

This app automatically compiles your phone's data, like photos and locations, into a daily journal. You can add notes, tags, and select daily "covers" to create a personalized life book. Memories can be printed to decorate physical planners.

Automatic daily record compilationSelect daily "Today's Cover"Memo pad with tags
🌟 Lifestyle
(50)
freemium
19
Journal
Journal
Journal
Reflect on life’s moments
Free

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.

Journaling suggestions and promptsRich media attachments (photos, video, audio)Handwriting and sketching support
πŸ’ͺ Health & Fitness
(231K)
free
20
Day One: Daily Journal & Diary
Day One: Daily Journal & Diary
Day One: Daily Journal & Diary
Private Gratitude Journaling
Free

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.

Unlimited text entriesRich text formattingPhoto and video support
πŸ’ͺ Health & Fitness
(118K)
freemium

FAQ about Journaling App Free Guided

What is the best journaling app free guided for iPhone?
Notebook - Diary & Journal App tops our journaling app free guided ranking as of August 2026, with a 4.7-star average from 14K App Store ratings, and it's free to download.
Notebook - Diary & Journal App shows ads and offers in-app purchases, according to its App Store listing as of August 2026.
We track 248+ journaling app free guided on the iOS App Store as of August 2026, ranked by rating, recency, and analysis of real user reviews.
Notebook is a simple and elegant note-taking and diary app designed to make journaling feel natural. It organizes your daily notes on a single page, allowing you to flip through your entries like a real book. The app offers features like iCloud sync, passcode lock, and a realistic page-turning effect.
The app simulates the experience of turning pages in a physical book. Each day's notes are presented on their own page, and you can swipe or tap to navigate between them, rediscovering your memories with a smooth, book-like animation.