Best Thought Diary Journal Apps

227+ iOS apps curated and reviewed

4.6 avg rating
20 free apps
Updated May 2026

Day One is the household name in thought diary journal, but it's far from the only option. We track 227+ alternatives and competitors on iOS — many free, many higher-rated than you'd expect.

Compare top Thought Diary Journal Apps (May 2026)

#AppPriceRatingAdsIn-App PurchasesUpdated
1Day One: Daily Journal & DiaryDay One: Daily Journal & DiaryFree4.8★ (117K)NoYesJul 2026
2Untold - Voice JournalUntold - Voice JournalFree4.9★ (2.1K)NoYesJul 2026
3My Diary - Journal with LockMy Diary - Journal with LockFree4.7★ (28K)YesYesJul 2026
4CBT Thought Diary AppCBT Thought Diary AppFree4.9★ (11)NoYesJul 2026
5Clarity: CBT Self Help JournalClarity: CBT Self Help JournalFree4.8★ (29K)YesYesJul 2026
6My Wonderful Days JournalMy Wonderful Days JournalFree4.8★ (7.3K)NoYesJul 2026
7Secret Diary with Lock - MuseSecret Diary with Lock - MuseFree4.7★ (535)YesYesJul 2026
8My Daily Diary - Mood JournalMy Daily Diary - Mood JournalFree4.7★ (10K)YesYesJul 2026

Top Picks for Thought Diary Journal

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
#85in 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
Untold - Voice Journal#2

Untold - Voice Journal by Thoughts ACC, Inc.

Secure, Personalized Journal
Strong Contender
💪 Health & Fitness
4.9😊(2.1K ratings)
FreeIn-App Purchases
Untold - Voice Journal screenshot 1
Untold - Voice Journal screenshot 2
Untold - Voice Journal screenshot 3
Untold - Voice Journal screenshot 4
Untold - Voice Journal screenshot 5
Untold - Voice Journal screenshot 6

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.

What We Love

  • 🚀 Excellent voice transcription accuracy
  • 🤖 Insightful AI-generated prompts and analysis
  • 👍 Intuitive and user-friendly interface
  • 💡 Innovative use of AI for journaling and self-reflection

Room to Improve

  • 🐛 Occasional issues with audio transcription and processing
  • 🤔 Some users find the AI-generated responses and insights confusing or overwhelming
  • 🔒 Concerns about data privacy and security
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 Thought Diary Journal apps to explore

4
CBT Thought Diary App
CBT Thought Diary App
CBT Thought Diary App
Journal Therapy for Self-Help
Free

This app helps you track and transform your thoughts and emotions using the ABC model of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. Log your experiences, gain insights into patterns, and challenge negativity for improved mental well-being. Securely store your data and export progress for personal review or sharing with professionals.

ABC model thought loggingHistorical emotional insightsPDF progress export
💪 Health & Fitness
(11)
freemium
5
Clarity: CBT Self Help Journal
Clarity: CBT Self Help Journal
Clarity: CBT Self Help Journal
Mood Tracker, Therapy, ADHD
Free

This app helps manage stress, anxiety, and low mood through AI-infused journaling, mood tracking, and guided exercises. It offers tools to reframe negative thoughts, build resilience, and foster personal growth with science-backed techniques.

AI-infused journaling and chatbotMood, emotion, and activity trackingGuided journals for self-awareness
🏥 Medical
(29K)
free with in-app purchases
6
My Wonderful Days Journal
My Wonderful Days Journal
My Wonderful Days Journal
Private Daily Journal / Diary
Free

This app allows you to easily record your daily experiences and feelings. It supports adding photos, videos, and stickers to your entries, with features like passcode protection and text formatting for a personalized journaling experience.

Private daily journalingAdd photos and videosPasscode protection
🌟 Lifestyle
(7.3K)
free with in-app purchases
7
Secret Diary with Lock - Muse
Secret Diary with Lock - Muse
Secret Diary with Lock - Muse
Journal, Mood, Audio, Video
Free

This app allows you to capture and preserve life's moments with rich detail. Protect your thoughts with biometric or passcode locks, personalize your entries with various media, and sync across devices. It's designed to make journaling an enjoyable and secure experience.

Password, Face, and Fingerprint LockMultiple Customizable JournalsAdd Photos, Audio, Geolocation, Mood, Weather
🌟 Lifestyle
(535)
free with in-app purchases
8
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
9
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
10
Rosebud: AI Journal & Diary
Rosebud: AI Journal & Diary
Rosebud: AI Journal & Diary
Daily Self-Care & Habits
Free

This AI-powered companion offers a guided journaling experience to enhance self-care and emotional wellness. It provides personalized prompts, feedback, and insights based on your entries, helping you manage stress and gain clarity.

Interactive daily diary with real-time guidanceGuided journals with evidence-based frameworksVoice journaling in 20 languages
💪 Health & Fitness
(3.2K)
free with in-app purchases
11
Quick Diary
Quick Diary
Quick Diary
by TopOfStack Software Limited
Free

This free application combines quick notes, sticky notes, and diary entries into a single, convenient tool. Easily save, edit, delete, search, and share your written thoughts and daily life moments.

Quick note takingSticky note functionalityDiary entries
📊 Productivity
(14)
free with in-app purchases
12
Memos - Digital Journal Diary
Memos - Digital Journal Diary
Memos - Digital Journal Diary
Private Journal - Photo,Video
Free

Document your life, track goals, and monitor your mood with this versatile journaling app. Enhance well-being, creativity, and productivity through daily reflection. Secure your entries with password protection and sync across devices.

Add photos, videos, and audio recordingsTrack mood, goals, and activitiesCreate to-do lists and business plans
💪 Health & Fitness
(6.5K)
free with in-app purchases
13
Perspective, a mindful journal
Perspective, a mindful journal
Perspective, a mindful journal
Daily reflection, mood tracker
Free

This app provides a safe space for daily reflection and self-discovery. It helps you capture thoughts, moods, and interests to gain insights, make better decisions, and manage anxiety. Rediscover yourself and improve your mental well-being through guided journaling.

Daily reflection promptsMood trackingCapture thoughts and interests
💪 Health & Fitness
(1.6K)
free
14
Glimpse - Voice Journal
Glimpse - Voice Journal
Glimpse - Voice Journal
A journal that writes back
Free

This app transforms spoken thoughts into written journal entries using AI. It offers features like AI-powered summaries, personalized insights, and conversational interactions with your journal. Enhance your reflections with visual elements and customizable themes.

Effortless voice journalingAI-powered summariesPersonalized insights
🌟 Lifestyle
(337)
free with in-app purchases
15
Diary, Journal, Notes - Diaro
Diary, Journal, Notes - Diaro
Diary, Journal, Notes - Diaro
Your Personal & Secure Diary
Free

Record daily activities, thoughts, and memories securely. Organize entries with tags, locations, and folders. Sync across devices and export your data easily. Features include mood tracking, photo attachments, and a calendar view.

Secure PIN and fingerprint lockCustomizable themes and 30+ languagesPowerful search and filtering
🌟 Lifestyle
(4.3K)
freemium
16
Diary - Journal with password
Diary - Journal with password
Diary - Journal with password
Beautiful diary with password
Free

This app provides a secure and beautiful space to record your thoughts, plans, and life moments. Protect your entries with a password and enjoy a customizable interface with features like image support and PDF export.

Password protection with PINAdd/edit/remove imagesSearch functionality
🌟 Lifestyle
(1.6K)
free with in-app purchases
17
Purple Diary: Journal & Lock
Purple Diary: Journal & Lock
Purple Diary: Journal & Lock
Daily Mood Tracker & Planner
Free

This app allows you to document your life through writing, adding photos, and tracking your daily mood. You can customize its appearance, organize entries with tags, and secure your private thoughts with a password lock. It's designed to be an intuitive digital journal for personal reflection and memory keeping.

Daily journaling with text and photosMood tracking for emotional awarenessCustomizable themes and appearance
🌟 Lifestyle
(73)
free with in-app purchases
18
Momento: Private Journal Diary
Momento: Private Journal Diary
Momento: Private Journal Diary
Easily capture life's memories
Free

This app helps you privately capture and organize life's memories using notes, photos, and videos. It automatically imports your digital history from social networks and apps, creating a beautiful, searchable journal of your life story.

Capture notes, photos, and videosImport digital history from social mediaPowerful search and explore functionality
🌟 Lifestyle
(870)
freemium
19
LazyDiary-Daily Diary Journal
LazyDiary-Daily Diary Journal
LazyDiary-Daily Diary Journal
A diary you can keep.
Free

This app simplifies daily journaling by allowing users to record thoughts like notes, line by line. It integrates with your calendar to suggest topics and sends daily reminders to help build a consistent habit. A clean, secure interface with password and biometric unlock ensures privacy.

Note-style recordingCalendar integration for promptsDaily notification reminders
🌟 Lifestyle
(8)
ad-supported
20
Card Diary - Journal, Diary
Card Diary - Journal, Diary
Card Diary - Journal, Diary
Simple Journal & Daily Journal
Free

This app offers a simple and beautiful way to journal your daily experiences. Easily record thoughts, emotions, and memories with text or photos, making each day feel meaningful. Customize your entries with backgrounds, fonts, and tags.

Decorate cards with photos or colorsRecord multiple diaries per dayCalendar view
🌟 Lifestyle
(1.3K)
free with in-app purchases

FAQ about Thought Diary Journal

What are the best thought diary journal apps for iPhone?
Day One: Daily Journal & Diary tops our thought diary journal apps ranking as of May 2026, with a 4.8-star average from 117K App Store ratings, and it's free to download.
Yes — 20 of the top thought diary journal apps we rank are free to download, including Day One: Daily Journal & Diary and Untold - Voice Journal.
Day One: Daily Journal & Diary has no ads and offers in-app purchases, according to its App Store listing as of May 2026.
We track 227+ thought diary journal apps on the iOS App Store as of May 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.