Choosing the right diary app can make the difference between a journaling habit that sticks and one that fizzles out. We've tested the most popular options to give you an honest comparison.
What We Looked For
We evaluated each app on these key criteria:
- Privacy & Security — How is your data protected?
- Features — Voice, multimedia, prompts, search, sync
- User Experience — Is it pleasant to use daily?
- Pricing — Free tier, subscription costs, value for money
- Platform Support — iOS, Android, Web, Desktop
1. Hello Diary
Hello Diary is a privacy-first journal app built for people who take their security seriously. It's the only app on this list with true zero-knowledge encryption and fully on-device voice transcription.
Pros
- ✅ Zero-knowledge encryption — Even the company can't read your entries
- ✅ On-device voice transcription — Your voice never leaves your phone
- ✅ No AI analysis — Your thoughts aren't training data
- ✅ Task management built-in
- ✅ Journaling streaks for motivation
- ✅ Offline-first with encrypted cloud sync
Cons
- ❌ Android only (iOS coming soon)
- ❌ No web interface yet
- ❌ Smaller company, fewer integrations
Pricing
Free tier available. Premium: $4.99/month or $49.99/year
Best For
Privacy-conscious users, voice journalers, anyone who wants their diary truly private.
2. Day One
Day One is often considered the gold standard for digital journaling, known for its beautiful interface and rich feature set. It's been around since 2011 and has a loyal following.
Pros
- ✅ Beautiful, polished design
- ✅ Rich multimedia support (photos, videos, audio, location)
- ✅ "On This Day" memories feature
- ✅ Available on iOS, Mac, Android
- ✅ End-to-end encryption available
- ✅ PDF/book export
Cons
- ❌ Expensive ($34.99/year)
- ❌ Owned by Automattic (WordPress parent company) — data privacy concerns
- ❌ Free tier is very limited
- ❌ Some users report sync issues
Pricing
Limited free tier. Premium: $34.99/year
Best For
Users who prioritize design and don't mind the price. Apple ecosystem users.
3. Journey
Journey is a versatile journaling app available on virtually every platform. It offers a good balance of features and accessibility.
Pros
- ✅ Available everywhere (iOS, Android, Web, Mac, Windows, Linux, Chrome OS)
- ✅ Google Drive/Dropbox sync
- ✅ Generous free tier
- ✅ Templates and prompts
- ✅ Multimedia support
Cons
- ❌ Design isn't as polished as Day One
- ❌ Privacy relies on Google/Dropbox
- ❌ No true end-to-end encryption
Pricing
Good free tier. Premium: $29.99/year
Best For
Users who need cross-platform access and aren't privacy-focused.
4. Daylio
Daylio takes a unique approach — it's a "micro-diary" focused on mood and activity tracking with minimal writing required.
Pros
- ✅ Very quick entries (tap, don't type)
- ✅ Beautiful mood statistics and charts
- ✅ Customizable activities
- ✅ Great for habit tracking
- ✅ Works offline
Cons
- ❌ Not for long-form journaling
- ❌ Limited text entries in free version
- ❌ No voice journaling
Pricing
Free with ads. Premium: $35.99/year or $59.99 lifetime
Best For
People who want to track moods without writing much. Habit builders.
5. Reflectly
Reflectly uses AI to provide personalized journaling prompts and insights. It's designed to be conversational and guided.
Pros
- ✅ AI-generated personalized prompts
- ✅ Beautiful, calming interface
- ✅ Guided journaling for beginners
- ✅ Mood tracking with insights
Cons
- ❌ Privacy concern: AI analyzes your entries
- ❌ Very expensive ($59.99/year)
- ❌ Free trial is very limited
- ❌ Can feel restrictive for experienced journalers
Pricing
Limited free trial. Premium: $59.99/year
Best For
Beginners who want guidance. Those comfortable with AI analyzing their thoughts.
Comparison Table
| App | Privacy | Voice | Platforms | Price/Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hello Diary | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ✅ On-device | Android | $49.99 |
| Day One | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ✅ Cloud | iOS, Mac, Android | $34.99 |
| Journey | ⭐⭐⭐ | ✅ Cloud | All platforms | $29.99 |
| Daylio | ⭐⭐⭐ | ❌ | iOS, Android | $35.99 |
| Reflectly | ⭐⭐ | ❌ | iOS, Android | $59.99 |
Our Recommendation
The "best" diary app depends entirely on your priorities:
- If privacy is paramount, choose Hello Diary. It's the only option with zero-knowledge encryption and on-device voice processing.
- If design and polish matter most, choose Day One. It's beautiful and feature-rich.
- If you need every platform, choose Journey. It works everywhere.
- If you prefer mood tracking over writing, choose Daylio. It's quick and visual.
Why We Built Hello Diary
We created Hello Diary because we believed privacy and voice journaling shouldn't be mutually exclusive. Most apps that offer voice features send your audio to the cloud. We built on-device transcription so your voice never leaves your phone. If you care about keeping your thoughts truly private, we think you'll love what we've built. Learn more →