Best Writing Journal Apps

240+ iOS apps curated and reviewed

4.7 avg rating
20 free apps
Updated May 2026

Every iPhone needs a few good writing journal apps. We benchmark 240+ of them on App Store rating, freshness, and pricing, then surface the standouts so you don't have to scroll the App Store yourself.

Compare top Writing Journal Apps (May 2026)

#AppPriceRatingAdsIn-App PurchasesUpdated
1Notebook - Diary & Journal AppNotebook - Diary & Journal AppFree4.7★ (14K)YesYesAug 2026
2My Diary - Journal with LockMy Diary - Journal with LockFree4.7★ (28K)YesYesAug 2026
3Paper: Writing App, NotesPaper: Writing App, NotesFree4.7★ (1.7K)NoYesAug 2026
4Diary With PasswordDiary With PasswordFree4.7★ (27K)NoYesAug 2026
5Planner & Journal - ZinniaPlanner & Journal - ZinniaFree4.6★ (55K)YesYesAug 2026
6JournalJournalFree4.8★ (231K)NoNoAug 2026
7Day One: Daily Journal & DiaryDay One: Daily Journal & DiaryFree4.8★ (118K)NoYesAug 2026
8Journey - Diary, JournalJourney - Diary, JournalFree4.6★ (5.1K)NoYesAug 2026

Top Picks for Writing Journal

Notebook - Diary & Journal App#1

Notebook - Diary & Journal App by Koji Ito

A diary that flips like a book
Editor's Choice
📊 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

  • 👍 Simple and easy to use
  • 🔒 Password protection
  • 💡 Convenient for journaling and note-taking
  • 🚀 Smooth and responsive

Room to Improve

  • 🐛 Occasional crashes or glitches
  • 🚫 Unable to insert photos or attachments
  • 🚫 Limited formatting options
My Diary - Journal with Lock#2

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

Journaling Diary with password
Strong Contender
🌟 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
Paper: Writing App, Notes#3

Paper: Writing App, Notes by Mihhail Lapushkin

Write a book novel poem script
Worth Considering
📊 Productivity
4.7😊(1.7K ratings)
FreeIn-App Purchases
Paper: Writing App, Notes screenshot 1
Paper: Writing App, Notes screenshot 2
Paper: Writing App, Notes screenshot 3
Paper: Writing App, Notes screenshot 4
Paper: Writing App, Notes screenshot 5
Paper: Writing App, Notes screenshot 6

This app offers a clean and configurable writing environment for various creative projects. It supports Markdown and plain text, syncs with iCloud, and integrates with other tools. Users can publish drafts to popular blogging platforms and export documents in multiple formats.

What We Love

  • 💗 Fantastic app
  • 🎀 Great tool for writers
  • 👍 Clean writing app
  • 🤩 Awesome app

Room to Improve

  • 🐛 Glitchy and unreliable
  • 💰 Paywalled features
  • 🐛 Lost files and documents

More Writing Journal apps to explore

4
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
(27K)
free with in-app purchases
5
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
(55K)
free with in-app purchases
6
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
💪 Health & Fitness
(231K)
free
7
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
💪 Health & Fitness
(118K)
freemium
8
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
9
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
10
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
11
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
12
CollaNote: Notes & PDF Markup
CollaNote: Notes & PDF Markup
CollaNote: Notes & PDF Markup
25+ Pens to Take Better Notes
Free

This app offers a comprehensive note-taking experience with advanced tools for digital planning, PDF markup, and flashcard creation. It features a wide array of pens, handwriting stabilization, and AI-powered assistance for enhanced productivity and creativity. Organize, secure, and share your notes seamlessly across devices.

25+ pens and brushesPDF, PPT, DOC markupFlashcard creation
📊 Productivity
(13K)
free with in-app purchases
13
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
14
Goodnotes: AI Notes, Docs, PDF
Goodnotes: AI Notes, Docs, PDF
Goodnotes: AI Notes, Docs, PDF
Note taking, Planner & Journal
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
(438K)
free with in-app purchases
15
n+otes
n+otes
n+otes
Quick, easy note, private lock
Free

Capture thoughts and ideas instantly with a simple interface. Secure your notes with a private lock feature. Optional subscription removes ads and supports development.

Quick note-takingPrivate note lockAd-free experience (subscription)
📊 Productivity
(44K)
free with in-app purchases
16
UpNote - notes, diary, journal
UpNote - notes, diary, journal
UpNote - notes, diary, journal
Beautiful. Simple. Easy to use
Free

This app provides a clean and beautiful interface for writing and organizing notes, journals, and to-do lists. It offers rich formatting options, an intuitive organization system, and instant syncing across devices, with offline capabilities. Premium features include enhanced security and export options.

Rich text editor with formatting toolsIntuitive organizing system (notebooks, pins, links)Secure note locking with Touch/Face ID
📊 Productivity
(1K)
freemium
17
Moleskine Journal
Moleskine Journal
Moleskine Journal
Record your life
Free

This app helps you capture life's moments by allowing you to add various media to written entries, adding depth to your memories. It's designed to transform your journaling routine into a daily ritual that inspires consistency and mindfulness.

Text journal entriesCustom and suggested promptsHabit tracker
💪 Health & Fitness
(2.6K)
free with in-app purchases
18
Writing Space: Books & Scripts
Writing Space: Books & Scripts
Writing Space: Books & Scripts
App for writers on the go.
Free

This app is a distraction-free word processor designed for writers. It offers customizable themes, rich formatting, and progress tracking to help users finish projects faster. Share or publish your work online with ease.

Distraction-free writing modeCustomizable themes and templatesRich text formatting options
📊 Productivity
(1.5K)
free with in-app purchases
19
Secret Diary With Passcode
Secret Diary With Passcode
Secret Diary With Passcode
Secret diary
Free

This app provides a secure and user-friendly platform to record your daily life, emotions, and secrets. It offers features like password protection, mood selection, and photo attachments to help you preserve your memories privately.

Password protectionAdd photos to entriesSelect moods for entries
🌟 Lifestyle
(8.1K)
free with in-app purchases
20
Tesseract - Emotional Journal
Tesseract - Emotional Journal
Tesseract - Emotional Journal
Write in a Black Hole
Free

This app offers a unique emotional journaling experience inspired by interstellar travel. It allows users to record memories in an immersive 3D interface, transforming diary entries into cosmic coordinates. Features include voice dictation, AI prompts, and secure iCloud syncing.

Immersive 3D Tesseract interfaceVoice dictation journalingAI-powered journaling prompts
🌟 Lifestyle
(108)
free with in-app purchases

FAQ about Writing Journal

What are the best writing journal apps for iPhone?
Notebook - Diary & Journal App tops our writing journal apps ranking as of May 2026, with a 4.7-star average from 14K App Store ratings, and it's free to download.
Yes — 20 of the top writing journal apps we rank are free to download, including Notebook - Diary & Journal App and My Diary - Journal with Lock.
Notebook - Diary & Journal App shows ads and offers in-app purchases, according to its App Store listing as of May 2026.
We track 240+ writing journal apps on the iOS App Store as of May 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.

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