Best Journal Apps in 2026
Updated
In short: Rosebud is ranked #1 of 34 as of 4 October 2026, ahead of Stoic and Diarly. The best-ranked option with a free plan is Stoic. The lowest first paid tier on this page is Journey at $0.35/mo.
Journal apps give you a way to record thoughts, events, and media, then return to them later. Compare end-to-end encryption and privacy locks with offline access, search and filters, and export formats. Media attachments, platform coverage, free plans, and starting paid prices can also shape the fit for your writing habits. The ranked entries begin with Journey, Day One, and Diarium, followed by Penzu and Apple Journal. Stoic, Daybook, and Lugelo are also among the options shown. Consider where you plan to write, how you want to protect entries, and whether you may need to find or export them in the future.
34 journal apps ranked on what their makers publish — plans and prices, free tiers, platforms and the facts on their own pages.
#1 Rosebud Top pick · 8.0 Free plan · $9/mo
#2 Stoic Runner-up · 8.0 Free plan · Free
#3 Diarly Also great · 7.7 Free plan · Free
- Free planFree trial AndroidiOSmacOSWebWindows
- Free plan
- Yes
- Paid from
- 12.99 /mo
- Media attachments
- Yes
- Privacy lock
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planFree trialPlatforms$9/mofirst paid tier About RosebudVisit site - Free planFree trial AndroidiOSmacOSWeb
- Free plan
- Yes
- Media attachments
- Yes
- Privacy lock
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planFree trialPlatforms - Free planFree trial AndroidiOSmacOS
- Free plan
- Yes
- Media attachments
- Yes
- Offline access
- Yes
- Privacy lock
- Yes
- End-to-end encryption
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planFree trialPlatforms - Free plan AndroidiOSLinuxmacOSWebWindows
- Free plan
- Yes
- Paid from
- 4.17 /mo
- Media attachments
- Yes
- Offline access
- Yes
- Privacy lock
- Yes
- End-to-end encryption
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planFree trialPlatforms$0.35/mofirst paid tier About JourneyVisit site - Free plan AndroidextensioniOSmacOSWindows
- Free plan
- Yes
- Media attachments
- Yes
- Offline access
- Yes
- Privacy lock
- Yes
- End-to-end encryption
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planFree trialPlatforms$4.17/mofirst paid tier About Day OneVisit site - Free plan AndroidiOSWeb
- Free plan
- Yes
- Media attachments
- Yes
- Offline access
- Yes
- Privacy lock
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planFree trialPlatforms - Free plan AndroidiOSmacOSWindows
- Free plan
- Yes
- Media attachments
- Yes
- Offline access
- Yes
- Privacy lock
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planFree trialPlatforms - Free plan AndroidiOSWeb
- Free plan
- Yes
- Paid from
- 3.49 /mo
- Media attachments
- Yes
- Privacy lock
- Yes
- End-to-end encryption
- No
RecognisedDocumentedFree planFree trialPlatforms$3.33/mofirst paid tier About DaybookVisit site - Free plan AndroidiOS
- Free plan
- Yes
- Media attachments
- Yes
- Offline access
- Yes
- Privacy lock
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planFree trialPlatforms - Free plan WebiOSAndroid
- Free plan
- Yes
- Media attachments
- Yes
- Privacy lock
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planFree trialPlatforms - Free plan AndroidiOS
- Free plan
- Yes
- Media attachments
- Yes
- Offline access
- Yes
- Privacy lock
- Yes
- End-to-end encryption
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planFree trialPlatforms - Free plan iOSmacOS
- Free plan
- Yes
- Media attachments
- Yes
- Privacy lock
- Yes
- End-to-end encryption
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planFree trialPlatforms - Free plan iOS
- Free plan
- Yes
- Media attachments
- Yes
- Privacy lock
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planFree trialPlatforms - Free plan AndroidiOS
- Free plan
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planFree trialPlatforms - macOSiOSAndroid
- Free plan
- Yes
- Media attachments
- Yes
- Privacy lock
- Yes
- End-to-end encryption
- No
RecognisedDocumentedFree planFree trialPlatforms - WebmacOSiOSAndroid
- Free plan
- Yes
- Paid from
- 9.99 /mo
- Media attachments
- Yes
- Privacy lock
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planFree trialPlatforms - AndroidiOS
- Free plan
- Yes
- End-to-end encryption
- No
RecognisedDocumentedFree planFree trialPlatforms - WebmacOSiOSAndroid
- Free plan
- Yes
- Media attachments
- Yes
- End-to-end encryption
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planFree trialPlatforms - WindowsmacOSLinux
- Free plan
- Yes
- Offline access
- Yes
- Privacy lock
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planFree trialPlatforms - WebiOSAndroid
- Free plan
- Yes
- Media attachments
- Yes
- Offline access
- Yes
- Privacy lock
- Yes
- End-to-end encryption
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planFree trialPlatforms - iOS
- Free plan
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planFree trialPlatforms - WindowsLinux
- Free plan
- Yes
- Media attachments
- Yes
- Offline access
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planFree trialPlatforms - iOSAndroidmacOS
- Free plan
- Yes
- Media attachments
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planFree trialPlatforms - Web
- Free plan
- Yes
- Paid from
- 4 /mo
- Media attachments
- Yes
- Privacy lock
- Yes
- End-to-end encryption
- No
RecognisedDocumentedFree planFree trialPlatforms - WebWindowsmacOSLinuxAndroid
- Free plan
- No
- Media attachments
- Yes
- Offline access
- Yes
- Privacy lock
- Yes
- End-to-end encryption
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planFree trialPlatforms
Is your platform on this list?
Numbered spots on this list can be sponsored. They are labelled, and the editorial order and scores never change for payment.
Questions about this list
Which journal app is ranked first on The Geeks Club?
Rosebud is ranked #1 of 34 with a score of 8.0. Stoic is second and Diarly third.
How many of these have a free plan?
14 of the 25 on this page publish a free plan on their own pricing pages.
Which is the cheapest paid option?
On this page, Journey has the lowest first paid tier we found: $0.35/mo.
How is this list ranked?
Ranked on how quickly a newcomer can get going: documentation depth, a free tier or trial, and the platforms it runs on. Paid placements never change a rank.