Ever since Apple announced the Journal app as a new feature in iOS 17, fans have been waiting patiently. Unfortunately, iOS 17 doesn’t have a Journal app at this time. Looks like you’ll have to wait a few months to get your hands on this app. But that doesn’t mean you can’t start journaling on your iPhone or iPad. There are several third-party journal apps that serve this purpose. If you’re not sure which one to choose, we’re here to help. In this article, we have discussed the 7 best journaling app alternatives available today. Let’s get started!
1. Diary of the first day
Released in 2011, Day One Journal remains one of the most highly recommended and loved journaling apps for iPhone and iPad in 2023. It’s also been named Apple’s app of the year multiple times, and there’s a reason why.of Easy and refreshing interface blended with elegant personal space Create multiple diaries for every aspect of your life and color code them for easy organization. This app has everything users expect from a digital journal. You can format your journal entries with rich text options, add photos, import Instagram posts, include handwritten notes and drawings, and even record audio.
This iOS 17 journal app alternative will help you form a journaling habit and stay in shape. Streaks and calendar views encourage ongoing momentum. Programmable reminders and customizable templates Helps eliminate lighter cramps. And for those days when you don’t know what to write, Day One offers immersive and personalized suggestions, making it a great alternative to the iOS 17 journal app. The Day One Journal app for iPad is free to download and allows unlimited text entry. However, the paid version comes with some additional features, allowing you to add unlimited photos and videos, keep an unlimited number of diaries, and sync your writing across multiple devices.
Overall, if you’re looking for an easy-to-use and reliable journal app for your iPad or iPhone, Day One Journal is worth checking out.
| Strong Points | Cons |
|---|---|
| User friendly interface | You cannot add photos in the free version |
| provide personalized suggestions | |
| End-to-end encryption and automated backups | |
| Cross-platform compatibility |
download (Free, starting at $5.99/month)
2. Mood notes
Let’s face it. Most of us aren’t in the habit of tracking our mental health and well-being. Tracking your mood is just as important as remembering your memories, as a bad mood can affect your life. Introducing a great mood tracker and journaling app for iOS users that helps you improve your mood, thinking habits, and relive your life experiences.a minimalistic and colorful interface welcomes you, choose your avatar and asks how you are feeling.You can choose from Enter your details manually or scan your mood. You can also add more details. This will help you think, reflect, and understand the causes of your mood.
If you’re feeling negative, the Moodnotes app can help unravel the trap and give me a hint To avoid this in the future. Over time, the app will help you increase self-awareness, reduce anxiety, and develop healthier thinking habits. In addition to tracking your mood, this journal alternative for iPad also has a separate section to record your thoughts and feelings. However, that feature is locked in the premium version. If you don’t mind purchasing the paid version, Moodnotes is one of the best diary apps for iPhone that helps you record your thoughts and moods.
| Strong Points | Cons |
|---|---|
| Also focus on overall mental health | The free version only allows you to record your mood, not your thoughts |
| Also focuses on overall mental health | |
| iCloud backup and sync support |
download (Free, starting at $9.99/month)
3. Dayrio Journal
Love the idea of keeping a diary, but don’t know how to write long texts? Daylio is the best journal app alternative for iOS. Express yourself using visuals. It’s a versatile micro-journaling app for iPhone and iPad that lets you track everything you need.That is you Fitness, food, emotions, sleep, hobbies, productivity or gratitude diary. Create a log to know how you’re feeling with just a few taps. The app will ask you to select your mood and add the activities you’re doing that day. Recorded moods and activities are counted as entries and collected in statistics and calendars. Just like a traditional diary, you can also add notes and decorate with photos.
In addition to this, you can enjoy all the standard features of a journaling app, such as exporting entries, setting reminders, and creating goals. Fun and informative graphs allow you to visualize daily patterns and express variations over time. Daylio Journal does not offer a traditional journaling experience. Rather, it’s a microjournaling app designed specifically for non-writers. Or someone with a very busy schedule. In summary, if you’re not a writer, Daylio Journal is an alternative to Apple’s Journal app.
| Strong Points | Cons |
|---|---|
| Perfect for non-writers | Don’t expect an authentic journaling experience |
| Feature-rich and versatile | |
| Supports dark mode |
download (Free, starting at $4.99/month)
4. Reflect
Reflectly is one of the most popular journaling apps to help improve your mood, mental health, and productivity. This app uses mindfulness, positive psychology, and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) to Practice gratitude, reduce stress, and maintain a good lifestyle. If you want to enjoy a little self-date, this iOS 17 journal app alternative can also support your self-love journey. It motivates you to invest time in self-care and look within yourself. You can choose a nickname and your favorite color theme. The app then asks how you’re doing. You can use the slider to toggle between Really Terrible and Super Awesome. Then you need to choose between activities that make you feel that way. Next, add a title, include some notes, and complete the check-in.
Even if you are a beginner, there is no need to panic. This journal app alternative for iPhone is Personalized prompts and reminders Fight anxiety and build a focused lifestyle. Reflectly also works as a great mood tracker. AI-generated questions and prompts Carefully selected based on past answers. That’s not all. You’ll also get daily motivation and inspiration to stay on track.
| Strong Points | Cons |
|---|---|
| Easy to use and move | Sometimes the app is too simple and you may find it boring |
| We will help you build your lifestyle | |
| Also works as a mood tracker | |
| Provide personalized motivation and prompts |
download (Free, starting at $4.99/month)
5. 5 minute diary
If you’re new to journaling, recording your thoughts and feelings every day can be a daunting task. Also, you may not have enough time to write long texts. However, if he can spare just 5 minutes a day for himself, this is the perfect alternative to a journal app for iOS that you should try out right now. The 5 minute journal app includes: Ready-to-answer questions and writing prompts.
The app will ask you to choose your mood for today. Once selected, he must write down three things that made him feel that way. Also,Add photos, do daily affirmations and set goals what you want to achieve. This journaling app for iPad also has the following features: Daily Quotes and Weekly Assignments To inspire you. All entries are displayed in a beautiful timeline, so you can always look back and relive your memories. Simply put, if you don’t have time to journal, this iOS 17 journal app alternative will make your life a lot easier.
| Strong Points | Cons |
|---|---|
| Perfect for beginners and busy people | The interface may not impress everyone |
| Dark mode support | |
| Password protection feature | |
| Provides daily inspiration and weekly challenges |
download (Free, starting at $4.99/month)
6. Zinnia
For users who like all things minimalist yet creative, Zinnia Planner and Journal will be the go-to alternative to Apple’s Journal app. Zinnia brings back the essence and nostalgia of traditional paper notebooks in the most expressive and creative way. Choose from a variety of fonts, stickers, templates, and other elements to personalized digital diary And express your creativity. In addition to that, you can explore an amazing collection packed with different features. inspiring design Written by prominent creators in the journaling community.
You can record your day, special moments, goals, and priorities and schedule them with ease and style. With this app, you can export your content to PDF or share it directly to Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, and other social networks.with Apple Pencil support and iCloud syncZinnia has secured the top spot as a replacement for Apple’s Journal app for iPad in 2023.
| Strong Points | Cons |
|---|---|
| Creative and fresh interface | Monthly subscriptions are expensive for what they offer |
| Apple Pencil and iCloud sync support | |
| Can be used for sketching, creating designs, etc. | |
| The app is loaded with some of the most inspirational templates |
download (Free, starting at $9.99/month)
7. Diary
Introducing a simple yet powerful free journaling app that offers unlimited text entry, powerful editing, and more. Get the features you need at no additional charge. The diary provides Elegant and focused design With no distractions, you can focus on your thoughts. Customize your journaling experience with a variety of fonts, editing tools, formatting options, and automatic light/dark themes. You can set goals, add photos, annotate and mark up photos, and do everything you can do in other diary apps.
Next, Dialy supports integration with the following features: Apple Health, Calendar, and Shortcuts apps, is a great alternative to Apple’s Journal app. One of Diarly’s standout features is: Easy transition This allows you to easily migrate existing entries from your old diary app. All basic functions are available for free. Choose the premium version to get cross-device sync, unlimited journals, advanced exporters, built-in AI assistant, and other features.
| Strong Points | Cons |
|---|---|
| Free version provides all important features | Offers annual subscription model only |
| Easy migration | |
| Seamless integration with Apple Health app |
download (Free, $19.99/year)
These are the best journaling apps for iPhone and iPad that you can use until Apple’s official journal app is released in iOS 17. Let us know which journaling apps you plan on using. Additionally, if you can think of any other journal apps that we may have missed, please comment below.
