Best Writing Journal App

230+ iOS apps curated and reviewed

4.7 avg rating
19 free apps
Updated June 2026

If you already know Journal, this is the deeper bench. 230+ writing journal app apps for iPhone, all reviewed and ranked by user rating, recency, and download trend as of June 2026.

Top Picks for Writing Journal App

Journal#1

Journal by Apple Inc.

Reflect on life’s moments
Editor's Choice
💪 Health & Fitness
4.8😊(231K ratings)
Free
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Capture and reflect on life's moments effortlessly with an app that offers intelligent journaling suggestions based on your activities. Securely store and cherish memories through photos, videos, and recordings while receiving prompts to maintain a consistent journaling habit. Start preserving your memories today.

What We Love

  • 🚀 Journaling made easy
  • 🔒 Private and secure
  • 👍 Organized and intuitive
  • 👍 Helpful suggestions and prompts

Room to Improve

  • 🐛 Cursor jumps around while typing
  • 🐛 Occasional crashes and freezes
  • 🔍 Lack of search and filtering options
Notebook - Diary & Journal App#2

Notebook - Diary & Journal App by Koji Ito

A diary that flips like a book
Strong Contender
📊 Productivity
4.7😊(14K ratings)
FreeAdsIn-App Purchases
Notebook - Diary & Journal App screenshot 1
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A digital journaling app that lets you effortlessly record your thoughts, ideas, and experiences while also offering features like organization, customization, and easy sharing. Journal your life with ease and convenience.

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#3

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

Journaling Diary with password
Worth Considering
🌟 Lifestyle
4.6😊(4.6K 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 Writing Journal App apps to explore

4
UpNote - notes, diary, journal
UpNote - notes, diary, journal
UpNote - notes, diary, journal
Beautiful. Simple. Easy to use
Free

"UpNote is a beautifully designed app for notes, diary, and journal. Easily organize and secure your notes with elegant themes, rich formatting tools, and seamless syncing across devices. Upgrade to Premium for enhanced features and try UpNote now to streamline your note-taking experience."

📊 Productivity
(1K)
5
Chronicle - A Personal Journal / Writing Diary
Chronicle - A Personal Journal / Writing Diary
Chronicle - A Personal Journal / Writing Diary
by Steven Romej
$2.99
🌟 Lifestyle
(866)
6
Werdsmith: Writing App
Werdsmith: Writing App
Werdsmith: Writing App
Write poetry, scripts, books
Free

Write effortlessly with Werdsmith - the ultimate writing app for poetry, scripts, and books. Capture ideas, set goals, create writing rituals, get feedback, and publish seamlessly across all your Apple devices. Join a global community of writers and unleash your creativity today!

📊 Productivity
(7.7K)
7
Penzu
Penzu
Penzu
Secure Diary & Private Journal
Free

Capture your thoughts and memories securely with a private digital diary. Organize your entries, set reminders, and reflect on your experiences. Start journaling today for a personalized way to keep track of your life.

📊 Productivity
(2.5K)
8
Quick Journal: just write
Quick Journal: just write
Quick Journal: just write
Simple, easy and customizable
Free

Capture your thoughts easily and efficiently with this highly customizable journaling app. Personalize themes, fonts, and layouts and access your entries quickly with home screen widgets. Start journaling today!

🌟 Lifestyle
(20)
9
Prompted Journal - Shadow Work
Prompted Journal - Shadow Work
Prompted Journal - Shadow Work
Private journaling for therapy
Free

"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!"

🌟 Lifestyle
(6.9K)
10
Journal X: My Diary with Lock
Journal X: My Diary with Lock
Journal X: My Diary with Lock
Personal Locked Journaling
Free

Create your own story with Journal X: My Diary with Lock! Personalize your locked journal with daily photos, stickers, and multiple journals. Stay organized, synced, and inspired with reminders. Start your journaling journey today!

🌟 Lifestyle
(1.8K)
11
Journey - Diary, Journal
Journey - Diary, Journal
Journey - Diary, Journal
Daily Motivation & Journal
Free

Track your daily thoughts and experiences with a digital diary and journal app that provides daily motivation. Reflect on your journey and keep a record of your progress. Start journaling today!

🌟 Lifestyle
(5K)
12
Diary With Password
Diary With Password
Diary With Password
No Ads Journal Diary Notebook
Free

Track life's progress, log daily thoughts, and protect your secrets with a password in this electronic diary app. Enjoy features like time stamps, reminders, night mode, and export options to PDF or text files. Organize entries with search and choose from different font sizes and types for a personalized journaling experience.

📊 Productivity
(26K)
13
Clearful - Journal & Diary
Clearful - Journal & Diary
Clearful - Journal & Diary
Journaling for Personal Growth
Free

A digital journaling app that helps users reflect on their thoughts and emotions. Write, organize, and track your daily entries with ease. Start journaling today for improved mental well-being.

💪 Health & Fitness
(3K)
14
Goodnotes: AI Notes, Docs, PDF
Goodnotes: AI Notes, Docs, PDF
Goodnotes: AI Notes, Docs, PDF
Note taking, canvas & work app
Free

Revolutionize your note-taking experience with an all-in-one digital notebook app that combines handwriting, typing, images, and AI capabilities for smarter notes. From students acing exams to professionals boosting productivity, Goodnotes 6 offers unlimited digital notebooks with seamless synchronization and innovative features. Try Goodnotes today for a year of unlimited, backed up, and searchable digital notes.

📊 Productivity
(430K)
15
Notability: AI Notes & PDF app
Notability: AI Notes & PDF app
Notability: AI Notes & PDF app
Write, type, annotate, draw
Free

Take your note-taking beyond paper with this versatile app that offers a powerful yet simple experience. Download for free to discover why it's an Apple Editor's Choice!

📊 Productivity
(450K)
16
Memos - Digital Journal Diary
Memos - Digital Journal Diary
Memos - Digital Journal Diary
Private Journal - Photo,Video
Free

Get organized and record your thoughts efficiently with this AI-powered digital daily journal. Write privately, organize entries, set reminders, and reflect on your personal journey. Download now to start journaling effectively.

💪 Health & Fitness
(6.5K)
17
Day One: Daily Journal & Diary
Day One: Daily Journal & Diary
Day One: Daily Journal & Diary
Private Gratitude Journaling
Free

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.

💪 Health & Fitness
(117K)
18
Paper: Writing App, Notes
Paper: Writing App, Notes
Paper: Writing App, Notes
Write a book novel poem script
Free
📊 Productivity
(1.6K)
19
Daily Prompt: Writing Prompts
Daily Prompt: Writing Prompts
Daily Prompt: Writing Prompts
Creative story & poetry ideas
Free

Improve your writing skills daily with Writing Prompts - Daily. Access prompts, get feedback, and join a supportive writing community. Start your writing journey today!

📚 Education
(2.2K)
20
CollaNote: Notes & PDF Markup
CollaNote: Notes & PDF Markup
CollaNote: Notes & PDF Markup
25+ Pens to Take Better Notes
Free

CollaNote is a collaborative note-taking app that allows users to create, edit, and share notes with others in real-time. Stay organized and boost productivity with this user-friendly tool. Start collaborating today!

📊 Productivity
(13K)