Best Journaling App Free Thoughts

229+ iOS apps curated and reviewed

4.8 avg rating
20 free apps
Updated May 2026

If you already know Prompted Journal, this is the deeper bench. 229+ journaling app free thoughts apps for iPhone, all reviewed and ranked by user rating, recency, and download trend as of May 2026.

Top Picks for Journaling App Free Thoughts

Prompted Journal - Shadow Work#1

Prompted Journal - Shadow Work by Oatmeal Apps

Private journaling for therapy
Editor's Choice
🌟 Lifestyle
4.8😊(6.9K ratings)
FreeIn-App Purchases
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"Enhance self-care and personal growth with our daily journal app that features 190 diverse prompts, "Dive Deeper" questions, and customizable entries. Prioritize your well-being with just five minutes a day. Start your journey with us today!"

What We Love

  • 💖 Great for self-reflection
  • 🔒 No ads or data collection
  • 👍 Simple and user-friendly interface
  • 🤗 Helpful and thought-provoking prompts

Room to Improve

  • 🐛 Issues with editing/deleting past entries
  • 🔍 Lack of search/filter functionality
  • 📱 Compatibility issues on larger screens
Day One: Daily Journal & Diary#2

Day One: Daily Journal & Diary by Bloom Built Inc

Private Gratitude Journaling
Strong Contender
💪 Health & Fitness
4.7😊(2.8K ratings)
FreeAdsIn-App Purchases
#93in Health & Fitness
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A highly acclaimed journaling app that offers a completely private digital space with secure features to record life moments through text, photos, and more. With a decade of updates, it boasts an intuitive design, unlimited entries, and robust privacy measures like end-to-end encryption and secure backups. Start forming a journaling habit effortlessly with this award-winning application.

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
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😊(27K ratings)
FreeAdsIn-App Purchases
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"My Diary - Journal with Lock" is a free online diary with lock that lets you record daily journals, thoughts, mood trackers, and private moments with customizable features like themes, moods, and password protection. Journal for mental health benefits and gain control of your emotions in a personalized writing experience. Start journaling now for improved well-being!

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 Journaling App Free Thoughts apps to explore

4
Clarity: CBT Self Help Journal
Clarity: CBT Self Help Journal
Clarity: CBT Self Help Journal
Mood Tracker, Therapy, ADHD
Free

Clarity is an all-in-one mental health app offering CBT-based tools to manage stress, anxiety, and low mood. It helps reframe negative thoughts, tracks mood, and provides AI-powered therapy support for personal growth. Start your journey to improved mental well-being today!

🏥 Medical
(29K)
5
CBT Thought Diary App
CBT Thought Diary App
CBT Thought Diary App
Journal Therapy for Self-Help
Free

Track and transform your thoughts with a journal therapy app using Cognitive Behavioral Therapy methods. Record thoughts easily, gain insights, and promote positive thinking for improved mental health. Embark on your journey to better well-being today!

💪 Health & Fitness
(11)
6
CocoonWeaver: Audio Journal
CocoonWeaver: Audio Journal
CocoonWeaver: Audio Journal
Creative voice and audio notes
Free

Capture and store your thoughts, ideas, and memories effortlessly with a creative voice-activated audio-memo app designed to boost self-connection, creativity, and mental well-being. Ideal for busy or creative minds seeking to manage stress, anxiety, and overwhelm while enhancing self-reflection and productivity.

🌟 Lifestyle
(314)
7
Perspective, a mindful journal
Perspective, a mindful journal
Perspective, a mindful journal
Daily reflection, mood tracker
Free
💪 Health & Fitness
(1.6K)
8
Daily Journal: Diary with Lock
Daily Journal: Diary with Lock
Daily Journal: Diary with Lock
Your Private Secret Journaling
Free

A secure digital diary app for private note-taking, journaling, and organizing thoughts with password protection features. Keep your daily memories safe and organized.

🌟 Lifestyle
(5.2K)
9
Ink: Daily Journaling Prompts
Ink: Daily Journaling Prompts
Ink: Daily Journaling Prompts
Your Private Diary & Timer
Free
🌟 Lifestyle
(3)
10
Grateful: A Gratitude Journal
Grateful: A Gratitude Journal
Grateful: A Gratitude Journal
Focus on what truly matters
Free

Capture life's blessings easily with daily prompts and gratitude journaling using this app. Reflect on positive moments, browse past entries, and customize your journal. Try it out for free or upgrade for premium features.

🌟 Lifestyle
(3K)
11
HighNotes
HighNotes
HighNotes
Minimalist MicroJournaling App
Free

This minimalist micro-journaling app encourages frequent, bite-sized note-taking to help build a regular journaling habit, allowing users to easily record and reflect on meaningful moments. By jotting down thoughts and attaching photos, users can enhance their memory, comprehension, and emotional well-being, while improving communication skills.

🌟 Lifestyle
(48)
12
Waffle: Shared Journal
Waffle: Shared Journal
Waffle: Shared Journal
Family, Couple, Relationships
Free

A collaborative journal app that combines elements of questioning, therapy, and expressing gratitude. Start sharing your thoughts and experiences with others today.

🌟 Lifestyle
(7.6K)
13
Rosebud: AI Journal & Diary
Rosebud: AI Journal & Diary
Rosebud: AI Journal & Diary
Daily Self-Care & Habits
Free

Create a personalized AI journal that helps users reflect on their day, set goals, track habits, and improve productivity. Start journaling with Rosebud to enhance self-awareness and achieve personal growth.

💪 Health & Fitness
(3K)
14
Microsoft OneNote
Microsoft OneNote
Microsoft OneNote
Capture Notes, Ideas and Memos
Free

Capture notes, ideas, and memos effortlessly with this digital notepad app. Organize, search, and secure your notes, sync across devices, and collaborate easily. Simplify your life and download the app today.

📊 Productivity
(1M)
15
Untold - Voice Journal
Untold - Voice Journal
Untold - Voice Journal
Secure, Personalized Journal
Free

Create your personalized story with Untold, a secure voice journaling app where you are the main character. Start now and share your unfolding story in an encrypted space all to yourself.

💪 Health & Fitness
(1.9K)
16
Minders - Journaling and More
Minders - Journaling and More
Minders - Journaling and More
Capture Every Moment
Free

Capture every moment with a unique journaling system that combines note-taking, bookmarking, and image storage in a social media-like interface. Jot down thoughts, store links and images, and schedule reminders to revisit inspiring quotes and lessons, all privately stored in your iCloud.

🌟 Lifestyle
(9)
17
Seasons Journaling
Seasons Journaling
Seasons Journaling
Daily Thought & Mood Diary
Free

This daily thought and mood diary guides you through life's seasons, helping you reflect, grow, and stay grounded with a simple and organized approach. It offers multiple journals, insightful prompts, AI-powered reflections, mood tracking, and customizable designs to make journaling a self-care essential.

🌟 Lifestyle
(55)
18
Mindsera: Daily AI Journaling
Mindsera: Daily AI Journaling
Mindsera: Daily AI Journaling
Reflect, CBT & Self-Care Diary
Free

Improve your mental health, mindset, and cognitive skills with a smart diary that reflects with you, boosts your emotional intelligence, and helps you unlock hidden patterns. Start journaling today and discover a thoughtful companion that offers personalized insights, customizable tone, and innovative group reflection tools.

💪 Health & Fitness
(221)
19
Halo: Daily Journaling App
Halo: Daily Journaling App
Halo: Daily Journaling App
Private Diary for Mindfulness
Free

A private self-care journal app that offers guided reflections and expert-designed prompts to help you nurture healthy habits, calm your mind, and gain clarity. Easily journal on-the-go with privacy features like encryption and passcode lock for total security. Start your self-discovery journey today!

🌟 Lifestyle
(1.1K)
20
Thera AI Mental Health Journal
Thera AI Mental Health Journal
Thera AI Mental Health Journal
CBT thought diary & gratitude
Free

This mental health application serves as a personal tracker and diary, offering tools such as a mood journal, gratitude app, and fears journal to help users develop emotional intelligence, manage anxiety, and promote self-development. By utilizing features like a fingerprint lock for confidentiality and a daily emotion tracker, users can work towards becoming mentally strong and self-confident.

💪 Health & Fitness
(146)