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

Daylio Journal vs Journal

Daylio Journal 4.8★ · Free + IAP 75
Winner Daylio Journal
Journal 4.8★ · Free + IAP 50

Daylio Journal is the better choice for comprehensive mood and habit tracking with extensive customization, while Journal (Apple) is a basic, free option for simple text entries within the Apple ecosystem, but suffers from significant data loss and sync issues.

Full reviews: Daylio Journal · Journal

Daylio Journal offers robust mood and habit tracking, deep customization, and long-term data insights, though it has some recent bug reports and a contentious subscription model. Journal (Apple) provides a simple, integrated journaling experience with prompts, but users frequently report critical issues like lost entries, poor sync, and limited features.

Head to head

Features & Customization edge: Daylio JournalR5R11R30R34
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 R5R34. Users appreciate the ability to create custom emotions and activities R34. It offers features like goal setting, writing prompts, and detailed reports that help users see patterns over time R5R11.
Journal Journal (Apple) offers basic journaling with automatic suggestions from photos, locations, and activities . It supports text, photos, and audio recordings, but users find the photo and recording placement inflexible . There's a desire for more advanced features like sleep tracking, menstruation tracking, better integration with other apps (calendar, reminders), and more robust organization options like folders R30.
Ease of Use & Interface edge: Daylio JournalR8R29R38R47
Daylio Journal Daylio Journal is described as super simple and intuitive, with a customizable interface that is not overwhelming, especially for users with ADHD R8R29R38. Users find it easy to make daily entries and appreciate the widget for quick access R29.
Journal Journal (Apple) has a clean and intuitive interface, and its integration with the Apple ecosystem is noted as seamless . However, some users find the process of adding entries cumbersome due to pop-ups . There are also complaints about the lack of an undo button and issues with text formatting .
Reliability & Data Integrity edge: Daylio JournalR1R10R13R14
Daylio Journal Daylio Journal users generally trust the app with their personal data and memories, with many using it for years R10R14. However, recent reviews highlight significant issues, including the inability to edit previous entries R1, crashing , audio recordings being interrupted or deleted R10R13, and problems with iCloud backup/sync R10.
Journal Journal (Apple) suffers from severe reliability issues, with numerous reports of entries, especially handwritten notes, being deleted or not saving R61R67R70. Synchronization between devices is described as imperfect, leading to duplicated or incorrect entries and date screw-ups R90R108R119. The app also crashes when creating numbered lists .
Price & Value tieR3R7R8R19
Daylio Journal Daylio Journal is a 'Free + IAP' app, but many users feel that essential features, particularly analytics and long-term data access, are locked behind a paid subscription R3R7R19R33. Some long-term users who paid for a lifetime subscription on Android are frustrated that it doesn't transfer to iOS R21R35. However, some users find the free version sufficient for their basic needs R8.
Journal Journal (Apple) is a free, native Apple app. While it offers basic functionality for free, its value is diminished by the significant reliability issues and missing advanced features R90. Users appreciate it as a free option, but often compare it unfavorably to more robust paid alternatives like Day One R90.
Support tieR22R25R31R43
Daylio Journal Several Daylio Journal users report negative experiences with customer support, specifically regarding issues with restoring lifetime subscriptions on new devices R22R25. Some users mention being charged after canceling trials, with difficulty resolving these issues R31R43.
Journal There are no direct reviews about customer support for Journal (Apple). However, the widespread and critical issues like data loss and sync problems, which appear to be persistent, suggest a lack of effective resolution from the developer's side R67R94.
Pick Daylio Journal if

you need a highly customizable app for detailed mood, habit, and activity tracking with visual data insights, and are willing to pay for a premium subscription for full functionality R5R34.

Pick Journal if

you are an Apple user looking for a completely free, basic journaling app deeply integrated into the Apple ecosystem, primarily for simple text entries and automatic suggestions, and are prepared to deal with potential data loss and sync issues .

Evidence note: The evidence for Daylio Journal's support is limited to a few negative reviews about subscription issues. For Journal (Apple), the lack of direct support reviews means the assessment is based on the prevalence of unresolved bugs reported by users.

Frequently asked

Is Daylio Journal truly free?
Daylio Journal offers a free version that allows basic mood and activity entries, but many advanced features like analytics, long-term data access, and full customization are locked behind a paid subscription R3R7R19R33.
Does Apple's Journal app save entries reliably?
Many users report significant issues with Apple's Journal app not saving entries, especially handwritten notes, or deleting previously saved content, leading to substantial data loss R61R67R70R94.
Can I transfer my Daylio Journal subscription between devices or platforms?
Some users have reported issues transferring lifetime subscriptions purchased on Android to iOS devices, indicating that platform-specific purchases may not carry over R21R35.
Does Apple's Journal app sync across all Apple devices?
Users have reported that synchronization of content between iPhone and iPad is imperfect, leading to issues like duplicated entries and incorrect dates R90R108R119.

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. [R30] Daylio Journal 3/5 · GB Missing some functions: I am testing this app and Dailybean. I like that in Daylio you can record voice notes but I wish there was a way to track sleep, menstruation and steps.
  4. [R34] Daylio Journal 5/5 · US Live laugh love Daylio: This is an amazing app. I love being able to add my own emotions and customize each mood to relate to me and how I experience emotions. I also love being able to write as much as I want without a limit so I can vent as much or as little as I want. Being able to add images is also a really nice feature so I can connect my feeling to images from that day if I want to. As some
  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. [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.
  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. [R47] Daylio Journal 5/5 · US Beautiful: So aesthetic so cute so fun so good speechless it’s too good
  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. [R14] Daylio Journal 5/5 · US Been using Daylio for years now: Been using this for yearsssss through highschool to graduating college !! Love looking back at patterns and stuff
  13. [R3] Daylio Journal 3/5 · US too many upsells: for an app you could just vibe code nowadays. I would need some uniquely valuable killer feature to pay for a glorified spreadsheet app like this.
  14. [R7] Daylio Journal 1/5 · US Not "in-app purchases": I really wish app descriptions were required to be honest about their costs - this is NOT an app with "in-app purchases" available, it's an app that requires a PAID SUBSCRIPTION to use after five days.
  15. [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.
  16. [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.
  17. [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
  18. [R31] Daylio Journal 1/5 · US Charging when I don’t have a Subscription: I cancelled my subscription before the trial ended, and they still charged me 😡
  19. [R43] Daylio Journal 1/5 · GB BAD: THIS IS SUPPPSED TO BE A MENTAL HEALTH APP- Cancelled app in trial still charged for a year: I tried the app for about 20mins before deciding I probably wouldn’t use it. I cancelled the subscription. I noticed a couple of weeks later a full years payment had been taken. I don’t have any proof of my cancel as inside the app or inside apple subscriptions there is no way to prove the date you do
  20. [R33] Daylio Journal 1/5 · US Expensive Subscription Model: I like how if a review mentions the overpriced subscription model, the developer just responds with ‘um actually, you don’t have to pay’, completely ignoring the fact the majority of their app is, in fact, paywalled. You can make entries for free, and that’s it. Any kind of analytics or tracking is blocked, so if you’re trying to use this app to track and find patter
  21. [R61] Journal 1/5 · US Deleted: All photos and most texts suddenly deleted, and I couldn't recover them! · translated
  22. [R67] Journal 1/5 · US Keeps Deleting My Entries.: Spent the last 40 minutes writing in the journal app and after I saved and closed the entry, it deleted almost everything I wrote. I went back and looked at previous entries and they too have disappeared. The intent was to help with my frustrations and get them out in writing, now I’m even more angry than when I started. Going to have to look for a new journaling app, b
  23. [R70] Journal 1/5 · US Basics just bit right.: Things to love but a couple of fails on basics: No autosave. Have to hit a checkmark or your entry is lost. I lost a big entry. Inexcusable. Also no way to set a page colour. It seems it can only follow system ui mode. Dark or light so black or white page. No good.
  24. [R94] Journal 1/5 · US Deletes handwriting constantly: The handwriting feature bugs constantly and deletes the majority of all my handwritten entries. There is no known solution and apparently Apple doesn’t care that their native journaling app deletes journal entries !! Extremely disappointing.
  25. [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.
  26. [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.
  27. [R90] Journal 3/5 · GB Needs improving: It’s great as a free app, but to compare to Day One its handling of streaks is frustratingly unreliable and won’t allow you to manually resolve. Image handling is basic. Synchronisation of content between iPhone and iPad is decidedly imperfect. For Apple these should not be hard things to fix, hopefully next OS update will be a big advance in these basic features.
  28. [R108] Journal 3/5 · GB Accessibility across devices: Why can’t this app be available on, and sync with a user’s other Apple devices?
  29. [R119] Journal 1/5 · GB Screws up your dates: Used this during a 4 month trip around the world on both my phone and tablet. It would completely screwup dates when entries were synced between the two devices. Would end up with entries created on the 23rd and 24th after syncing both being on the 23rd. Or it would show the same entries twice on the same day, but when you deleted one of the duplicate entries it deleted both

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