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Updated July 2026 · real, multi-region App Store reviews
Head-to-head

Daylio Journal vs DailyBean

Daylio Journal 4.8★ · Free + IAP 75
Winner Daylio Journal
DailyBean 4.8★ · Free + IAP 45

Daylio Journal is the better choice for users seeking a more robust and reliable journaling experience with fewer paywalls in its free version, while DailyBean struggles with excessive ads and high costs.

Full reviews: Daylio Journal · DailyBean

Daylio Journal offers extensive customization and tracking features, with many users finding the free version sufficient for their needs, despite some issues with paid subscriptions and cross-platform syncing. DailyBean, while aesthetically pleasing, is heavily criticized for its intrusive ads and high paywall for essential features, making the free experience frustrating.

Head to head

Features and Customization edge: Daylio JournalR5R11R20R29
Daylio Journal Daylio Journal is highly praised for its extensive customization, allowing users to track moods, habits, activities, and even add photos and voice recordings R5. Users appreciate the flexibility to make entries as simple or detailed as needed R29. It offers writing prompts and goal setting, which are helpful for many R11R20.
DailyBean DailyBean is noted for its cute interface, customizable themes, and ability to track mood, activities, and even automatically track weather and steps . A unique feature is the ability to add songs to entries . However, many customization options, especially themes, are locked behind high paywalls or require watching numerous ads .
Ease of Use edge: Daylio JournalR8R23R38R67
Daylio Journal Users find Daylio Journal simple, intuitive, and easy to use, even for those with ADHD who find other apps overwhelming R8R23R38. The interface is described as fool-proof R38.
DailyBean DailyBean is generally considered easy to use and navigate, with a simple and interactive layout . However, the constant interruptions from ads and paywalls significantly detract from the user experience R67.
Reliability and Performance tieR1R10R13R15
Daylio Journal Daylio Journal has some significant reliability issues reported by users, including inability to edit previous entries R1, crashing R15, audio recordings being interrupted or deleted R10R13, and problems with iCloud backup/sync R10. Cross-platform subscription transfer and device syncing are also major pain points R21R25R35.
DailyBean DailyBean users report issues with ads interrupting the saving process, leading to lost entries if the app is closed during an ad . Some users also experience slow loading times, app overheating, and errors preventing them from earning in-app currency . Offline functionality is also a requested feature, indicating a reliance on internet connection .
Price and Value edge: Daylio JournalR8R19R20R21
Daylio Journal Daylio Journal offers a functional free version that many users find sufficient for basic mood and habit tracking R8R20R24. However, there are strong complaints about analytics and advanced features being paywalled R19, and issues with unexpected charges after trial cancellations . Lifetime subscriptions purchased on one platform often don't transfer to another R21R25R35.
DailyBean DailyBean is heavily criticized for its aggressive monetization strategy. Many users feel that essential functions, like saving entries or accessing analytics, are locked behind a paywall or require watching an excessive number of ads R61R64R67. The price for premium and in-app purchases (like themes) is considered very high and has increased unexpectedly R63.
Support tieR22R25
Daylio Journal Daylio Journal users report poor customer support, with ignored requests for help restoring purchases and subscriptions R22R25.
DailyBean There is no specific feedback on DailyBean's customer support in the provided reviews, beyond general complaints about pricing and ads.
Pick Daylio Journal if

You want a highly customizable journal and mood tracker with a functional free tier, and you prioritize features like voice notes and detailed habit tracking R5R8. You are willing to manage potential issues with cross-platform subscriptions or occasional bugs R21.

Pick DailyBean if

You are drawn to a cute, aesthetically pleasing interface and unique features like song tracking, and you are willing to either pay for a premium subscription or tolerate frequent ads to use the app .

Evidence note: The evidence for DailyBean's support is thin, with no explicit reviews mentioning interactions with customer service.

Frequently asked

Is Daylio Journal truly free?
Daylio Journal offers a free version that many users find sufficient for basic mood and habit tracking, allowing you to make entries and customize moods and activities R8R20R24. However, advanced features like analytics and some tracking capabilities are paywalled R19.
Does DailyBean require payment to use?
DailyBean is not entirely free; while you can download it for free, many essential functions like saving entries or accessing analytics are locked behind a paywall or require watching frequent ads R61R64R67. The premium subscription and in-app purchases for themes are considered expensive, with annual premium reportedly increasing from $9.99 R63.
Can I transfer my Daylio Journal subscription between Android and iOS?
No, users report that lifetime subscriptions purchased on Android (e.g., via Google Play) do not transfer to iOS, requiring a new purchase on the new platform R21R25R35.

What reviewers actually said

Built only from these 120 real reviews (foreign ones translated). Superscripts jump to the quote here. Apple has no per-review links, so [ref] opens that app's reviews on the App Store.

  1. [R5] Daylio Journal 5/5 · US Best app on my phone: This is the best app and well worth premium. I’ve had it since 2018. It keeps me on track with habits - I track EVERYTHING! From mood to food habits, working out, my cycle, and non habits like not doom scrolling and drinking less - you can track anything. And I love all the added features of journaling, adding pictures, and setting goals. Loveeeee it
  2. [R11] Daylio Journal 5/5 · US I saw how I was changing and growing!: I loved that I could see how I was growing and feeling that day. And the writing prompts were great for helping me brain dump at three am before bed! lol. I have used this app for some time, and loved every minute. It’s not making you stressed to keep up your score. It’s just there when you need it. Always ready to listen. Thank you for reading! ❤️
  3. [R20] Daylio Journal 4/5 · US Amazing app: I can record how I feel for the day, set myself goals, set important days and the free version is super good. I can’t add more than 1 goal though. Highly recommend!
  4. [R29] Daylio Journal 5/5 · US As Simple - or as detailed as YOU NEED: Some days I just pick a happy face. Some days I have the energy for notes and details. Either way, the overall visual data it provides is so helpful. The widget you can put right on your iPhone Home Screen is awesome.
  5. [R8] Daylio Journal 5/5 · US Perfect for my needs!: Super simple and customizable. I have adhd, so many apps can be too overwhelming to look at. The free version is perfect for all I need, and you can customize everything to make it your own. I recommend!
  6. [R23] Daylio Journal 5/5 · US The best, by far: I have always wanted to be steady at journaling. This app is the first one I have used consistently; better than any notebook, planner, mood app or anything else.
  7. [R38] Daylio Journal 5/5 · US So nice, so nice!: I can’t exactly remember how I found this app, but I’m so glad that I did. I honestly love everything about it, from the interface, the customization, to the app being overall fool-proof.
  8. [R67] DailyBean 1/5 · US Too bad about the excessive ads: Ad after every entry. I was ok with this. But an ad for editing a preexisting entry? Excessive. It doesn’t make me want to pay for premium. In fact, I think I’m done using it altogether. Good job.
  9. [R1] Daylio Journal 2/5 · US Suddenly can’t edit previous goal entries: I’ve been using Daylio for years, but now can’t edit some previous goal entries. This has never happened before. Software snafu?
  10. [R10] Daylio Journal 1/5 · US Pls Daylio Read this: I’ve been using Daylio for over 2 years and it contains some of the most important memories of my life. I trusted this app with very personal moments, including audio recordings, photos, and journal entries. Unfortunately, there are serious issues on iPhone that need improvement. When I receive a phone call while recording an audio entry, the recording gets interrupted or cu
  11. [R13] Daylio Journal 1/5 · US Delete all my voice recordings DO NOW DOWNLOAD: Daylio Randomly decided to delete all my voice recordings for the past 237 days . DO NOT DOWNLOAD THIS APP. I have been a loyal user since 2022 and I regret it. Personally memory with my grandma are gone I suffer from memory loss and this was the app I used to remember things and now that’s gone. DO NOT DOWNLOAD
  12. [R15] Daylio Journal 3/5 · US Great for tracking but can be buggy and needs some pattern improvements: It’s a great app for tracking and customizable on multiple levels, which is fun! You can choose categories, colors, emojis, etc. but lately it’s been really buggy- it keeps crashing, especially when you start a new entry and go to select categories and moods. I like the idea of being able to track patterns (especially around
  13. [R19] Daylio Journal 2/5 · US Locks your data: Just found out after 1 month of daily tracking, that I CANNOT SEE MY DATA. My own records are locked behind a paywall. I was enjoying the app and considering Premium, but really disappointed. I was using this data for MEDICAL TRACKING and foolishly trusted Daylio to hold onto it.
  14. [R21] Daylio Journal 3/5 · GB I’m not paying another subscription.: I’ve had Daylio for years, through google play I paid for a lifetime subscription for everything to be released. Now switching over to iPhone I’ve lost out. It’s my same account, I thought it would be on the account not to my google play account 👎 so it’s not as good anymore. I can’t follow all my moods and triggers now.
  15. [R22] Daylio Journal 1/5 · US scam app: I paid for the premium version, but the restore purchase function does not work on my new device, and the developer has ignored multiple support requests. This makes the app feel very dishonest and untrustworthy.
  16. [R25] Daylio Journal 1/5 · US They stopped responding: I have reached out to customer service (via instagram) and they just stopped responding. I have purchased the lifetime membership a few years ago for $5.99. I recently changed phones and cannot restore my subscription for some reason. I provided them with proof of purchase, screenshots with my receipt and Apple ID matching, and I’ve let them know I’ve followed their instru
  17. [R24] Daylio Journal 3/5 · GB My review by Florence: It is helpful with your thoughts and feelings.It is very easy to use and is totally free
  18. [R61] DailyBean 1/5 · US Is not free it don't tell us it's paid: Is not free it don't tell us it's paid
  19. [R63] DailyBean 3/5 · US Was going to start but then…….: I would have loved this app but when I was about to use it for the first time I couldn’t start because you have to pay to start using the app so i wouldn’t recommend also if you would like to know the price it was around 50-60 dollars!!!
  20. [R64] DailyBean 1/5 · US HORRIBLE: YOU HAD TO PAY FOR EVERYTHING AND IT SUCKKKKKKKS
  21. [R35] Daylio Journal 1/5 · GB Total sham: I paid for a lifetime subscription when using android and used for years - recently changed to Apple and this is the only app that doesn’t carry over the subscription. I have several subscriptions that transferred without any issue. Really disappointed in this app and the developers for such a short sighted approach and not considerations for customers changing platforms.

Synthesized from 120 recent App Store reviews · updated July 2026 · View on the App Store