Best Journaling Note Apps

223+ iOS apps curated and reviewed

4.7 avg rating
20 free apps
Updated May 2026

Out of 223+ journaling note apps on iOS, 20 are free and the rest sit in the paid tier. This page sorts them so you can compare both sides before you commit.

Top Picks for Journaling Note

Daily Journal·Note Book Diary#2

Daily Journal·Note Book Diary by 柳青 王

journaling app with sticker
Strong Contender
📊 Productivity
4.6(66 ratings)
FreeAdsIn-App Purchases
Daily Journal·Note Book Diary screenshot 1
Daily Journal·Note Book Diary screenshot 2
Daily Journal·Note Book Diary screenshot 3
Daily Journal·Note Book Diary screenshot 4
Daily Journal·Note Book Diary screenshot 5

This app allows for creative journaling with a focus on a fresh, nature-inspired aesthetic. Customize entries with stickers, stationery, and a paintbrush tool. Secure your private thoughts with password protection and share your creations easily.

Day One: Daily Journal & Diary#3

Day One: Daily Journal & Diary by Bloom Built Inc

Private Gratitude Journaling
Worth Considering
💪 Health & Fitness
4.8😊(117K ratings)
FreeAdsIn-App Purchases
#76in 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

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

More Journaling Note apps to explore

4
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
5
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
(20K)
freemium
6
Goodnotes: AI Notes, Docs, PDF
Goodnotes: AI Notes, Docs, PDF
Goodnotes: AI Notes, Docs, PDF
Note taking, canvas & work app
Free

Capture ideas, enhance productivity, and unlock insights with advanced AI features. This app offers tools for professionals, students, and creatives, including infinite whiteboards, AI-powered transcription and summarization, and customizable digital notebooks.

AI-powered transcription and summarizationInfinite whiteboard canvasDigital notebooks with customizable templates
📊 Productivity
(431K)
free with in-app purchases
7
DayNote • Guided Journaling
DayNote • Guided Journaling
DayNote • Guided Journaling
Answer Four Questions a Day
Free

This guided journaling app prompts users with four daily questions to encourage reflection on learning, achievements, positive experiences, and areas for improvement. It helps users build a personal knowledge base for growth by recording thoughts and memories over time.

Four daily reflection questionsGuided journaling promptsPersonal growth tracking
💪 Health & Fitness
(9)
freemium
8
5 Minute Journal・Daily Diary
5 Minute Journal・Daily Diary
5 Minute Journal・Daily Diary
Gratitude・Journal・Mood Tracker
Free

This app guides users through a daily gratitude journaling practice using principles of positive psychology. It helps cultivate a more positive outlook by focusing on what's good, with features like guided prompts, reminders, and secure entry protection. The app aims to improve overall well-being and mental health through consistent practice.

Guided journaling promptsDaily gratitude entriesMood tracking
💪 Health & Fitness
(17K)
free with in-app purchases
9
My Diary with password & lock
My Diary with password & lock
My Diary with password & lock
Daily notes & private Journal
Free

This app provides a private space to record thoughts, emotions, and activities. It features mood tracking, photo attachments, and customizable reminders to encourage self-reflection. Secure your entries with password or biometric protection and gain insights into your life patterns.

Write and organize diary entriesVisual mood trackerAdd photos and attachments
🌟 Lifestyle
(467)
free with in-app purchases
10
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
💪 Health & Fitness
(3K)
free with in-app purchases
11
Zenfulnote: Journal & Heal
Zenfulnote: Journal & Heal
Zenfulnote: Journal & Heal
The Shadow Work Journaling App
Free

This app guides users through shadow work journaling to foster self-discovery and emotional healing. It offers tools to track emotional patterns, engage with inner 'shadow characters,' and access guided meditations and journaling prompts for personal growth.

Track triggers and glimmersWork with shadow charactersMeditations and exercises
💪 Health & Fitness
(3K)
free with in-app purchases
12
Microsoft OneNote
Microsoft OneNote
Microsoft OneNote
Capture Notes, Ideas and Memos
Free

Capture thoughts, ideas, and plans in a digital notepad. Organize, search, and secure your notes, memos, and sketches. Sync across devices for access anywhere, anytime. Collaborate with others on shared notepads.

Capture thoughts and ideasDigital sketchbookOrganize and search notes
📊 Productivity
(1M)
free with in-app purchases
13
Zero - A Pure Design Journal And Note
Zero - A Pure Design Journal And Note
Zero - A Pure Design Journal And Note
by 素琼 曹
Free

This app offers a minimalist journaling experience with features like a timeline view, photo wall, and secure password protection. Customize your journal with various themes and font sizes, and set reminders to ensure you never miss an entry. VIP features include photo backup and export options.

Timeline journal viewPhoto wall displayFingerprint & passcode lock
🌟 Lifestyle
(32)
free with in-app purchases
14
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
15
Lemon Diary-journaling app
Lemon Diary-journaling app
Lemon Diary-journaling app
Daily notebook with lock
Free

This app allows you to record your daily life through a digital journal. It offers a variety of decorative materials like stickers and fonts to personalize entries. Secure your private thoughts with password protection and easily share your journal entries.

Exquisite material library (stickers, backgrounds, fonts)Text and picture entriesCalendar browsing
🌟 Lifestyle
(912)
free with in-app purchases
16
Penzu
Penzu
Penzu
Secure Diary & Private Journal
Free

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.

Unlimited journalingCloud sync for freePassword and PIN locks
📊 Productivity
(2.5K)
free with in-app purchases
17
Colored Note
Colored Note
Colored Note
diary and notepad for everyone
Free

Capture your thoughts, ideas, and experiences with a versatile diary and notepad. Add photos, color-code entries, and organize with tags for easy retrieval. Share your notes with friends or keep them private with passcode protection.

Add photos to notesColor-code notes for organizationAssign tags for searching
🌟 Lifestyle
(4.8K)
free
18
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
(5K)
freemium
19
Seasons Journaling
Seasons Journaling
Seasons Journaling
Daily Thought & Mood Diary
Free

This app helps you reflect, grow, and stay grounded through life's changes. Organize thoughts, feelings, and notes in multiple journals with prompts and AI-powered insights. Track moods and habits, customize your journals, and express yourself creatively.

Multiple journal organizationInsightful prompts and AI reflectionsMood and habit tracking
🌟 Lifestyle
(55)
freemium
20
Journal & Mood Tracker - Halo
Journal & Mood Tracker - Halo
Journal & Mood Tracker - Halo
Private Diary for Mindfulness
Free

This app provides a private space for daily journaling to improve mindfulness and self-discovery. It offers guided reflections, helpful prompts, and voice recording to help users understand their thoughts, emotions, and habits. Designed with input from psychologists, it utilizes proven techniques to foster a happier life.

Guided reflections by experts3-step daily check-inVoice-recorded entries
🌟 Lifestyle
(1.1K)
free with in-app purchases