Best Journaling Software in 2026
Updated
In short: Rosebud is ranked #1 of 37 as of 5 October 2026, ahead of Journey and MoodHaven Journal. The best-ranked option with a free plan is Journey. The lowest first paid tier on this page is tinythoughts at $3/mo.
A journaling app can help you capture reflections, prompts, and media in a format you can revisit. Compared on available platforms, prompt features, and media support, the options may fit different writing routines. Search scope matters when you want to return to older entries; end-to-end encryption and export formats provide ways to weigh privacy and portability. Free plans and paid-from pricing help with budget comparisons. Rosebud, Journey, and MoodHaven Journal are among the apps to explore, with Stoic and Mindsera also included. Consider which devices you write on, how you prefer to find past entries, and whether exporting your journal is important.
37 journaling software ranked on what their makers publish — plans and prices, free tiers, platforms and the facts on their own pages.
37ranked
23free plans on this page
$3/molowest paid tier
5 Oct 2026last checked
Input list Journaling Software 25 channels on this page · 99 of 200 spec lines stated by the makers
Ch Tool Free planPaid fromEnd-to-end encryptionMedia supportPrompt featuresSearch scopeAvailable platformsExport formats Spec sheet Score
01 Rosebud Free planYesPaid from$12.99/moEnd-to-end encryptionnot statedMedia supportnot statedPrompt featuresnot statedSearch scopenot statedAvailable platformsnot statedExport formatsbasic 3/8spec lines stated 8.0
02 Journey Free planYesPaid from$4.17/moEnd-to-end encryptionYesMedia supportnot statedPrompt featuresnot statedSearch scopenot statedAvailable platformsnot statedExport formatsmultiple 4/8spec lines stated 7.9
03 MoodHaven Journal Free planYesPaid fromnot statedEnd-to-end encryptionYesMedia supportnot statedPrompt featuresguidedSearch scopeentryAvailable platformsweb, windows, macos, linux, ios, androidExport formats.moodhaven encrypted backup, plaintext 6/8spec lines stated 7.9
04 Stoic Free planYesPaid fromnot statedEnd-to-end encryptionnot statedMedia supportnot statedPrompt featuresnot statedSearch scopenot statedAvailable platformsnot statedExport formatsmultiple 2/8spec lines stated 7.9
05 Mindsera Free planYesPaid from$10.75/moEnd-to-end encryptionNoMedia supportnot statedPrompt featuresguidedSearch scopeadvancedAvailable platformsweb, ios, androidExport formatsMarkdown, PDF 7/8spec lines stated 7.8
06 Skrive Free planYesPaid fromnot statedEnd-to-end encryptionYesMedia supportnot statedPrompt featuresnot statedSearch scopefull textAvailable platformsmacos, ios, androidExport formatsJSON, plain text 5/8spec lines stated 7.7
07 tinythoughts Free planYesPaid fromnot statedEnd-to-end encryptionYesMedia supportphotos videoPrompt featuresguidedSearch scopeentryAvailable platformsweb, ios, androidExport formatsCSV 7/8spec lines stated 7.7
08 Day One Free planYesPaid fromnot statedEnd-to-end encryptionYesMedia supportnot statedPrompt featuresnot statedSearch scopenot statedAvailable platformsnot statedExport formatsmultiple 3/8spec lines stated 7.5
09 Penzu Free planYesPaid fromnot statedEnd-to-end encryptionnot statedMedia supportnot statedPrompt featuresnot statedSearch scopenot statedAvailable platformsnot statedExport formatsmultiple 2/8spec lines stated 7.5
10 Diarium Free planYesPaid fromnot statedEnd-to-end encryptionnot statedMedia supportnot statedPrompt featuresnot statedSearch scopenot statedAvailable platformsnot statedExport formatsmultiple 2/8spec lines stated 7.4
11 StoryPad Free planYesPaid fromnot statedEnd-to-end encryptionnot statedMedia supportphotos video audioPrompt featuresbasicSearch scopefull textAvailable platformsios, android, macosExport formatsJSON, Markdown, plain text, CSV 6/8spec lines stated 7.4
12 Daybook Free planYesPaid from$3.49/moEnd-to-end encryptionNoMedia supportnot statedPrompt featuresnot statedSearch scopenot statedAvailable platformsnot statedExport formatsbasic 4/8spec lines stated 7.3
13 jrnl Free planYesPaid fromnot statedEnd-to-end encryptionnot statedMedia supportnot statedPrompt featuresnot statedSearch scopenot statedAvailable platformsnot statedExport formatsmultiple 2/8spec lines stated 7.2
14 Islet Free planYesPaid fromnot statedEnd-to-end encryptionYesMedia supportphotos video audioPrompt featuresnot statedSearch scopenot statedAvailable platformsios, android, chrome extensionExport formatsnot stated 4/8spec lines stated 7.1
15 Local Journal Free planYesPaid fromnot statedEnd-to-end encryptionnot statedMedia supportnot statedPrompt featuresnot statedSearch scopenot statedAvailable platformsnot statedExport formatsmultiple 2/8spec lines stated 7.1
16 Apple Journal Free planYesPaid fromnot statedEnd-to-end encryptionYesMedia supportnot statedPrompt featuresnot statedSearch scopenot statedAvailable platformsnot statedExport formatsmultiple 3/8spec lines stated 6.9
17 Penso Notes Free planYesPaid fromnot statedEnd-to-end encryptionYesMedia supportnot statedPrompt featuresnot statedSearch scopenot statedAvailable platformsnot statedExport formatsbasic 3/8spec lines stated 6.9
18 Diaro Free planYesPaid fromnot statedEnd-to-end encryptionnot statedMedia supportnot statedPrompt featuresnot statedSearch scopenot statedAvailable platformsnot statedExport formatsmultiple 2/8spec lines stated 6.8
19 AhhLife Free planYesPaid from$4.99/moEnd-to-end encryptionnot statedMedia supportnot statedPrompt featuresbasicSearch scopenot statedAvailable platformswebExport formatsJSON 5/8spec lines stated 6.7
20 Journiv Free planYesPaid fromnot statedEnd-to-end encryptionNoMedia supportphotos video audioPrompt featuresguidedSearch scopeadvancedAvailable platformsweb, self hostedExport formatsJSON, PDF, HTML, Markdown 7/8spec lines stated 6.7
21 Mirror Free planYesPaid fromnot statedEnd-to-end encryptionnot statedMedia supportphotos video audioPrompt featuresguidedSearch scopenot statedAvailable platformsios, androidExport formatsnot stated 4/8spec lines stated 6.7
22 Reflectly Free planYesPaid fromnot statedEnd-to-end encryptionnot statedMedia supportphotosPrompt featuresguidedSearch scopenot statedAvailable platformsios, androidExport formatsnot stated 4/8spec lines stated 6.7
23 Five Minute Journal Free planYesPaid fromnot statedEnd-to-end encryptionnot statedMedia supportphotos videoPrompt featuresguidedSearch scopenot statedAvailable platformsiOS, AndroidExport formatsPDF, HTML 5/8spec lines stated 6.6
24 Gratitude Free planYesPaid fromnot statedEnd-to-end encryptionnot statedMedia supportnot statedPrompt featuresguidedSearch scopenot statedAvailable platformsios, android, macosExport formatsPDF 4/8spec lines stated 6.6
25 Twif Free planYesPaid fromnot statedEnd-to-end encryptionnot statedMedia supportnot statedPrompt featuresnot statedSearch scopenot statedAvailable platformsios, macosExport formatstext, CSV 3/8spec lines stated 6.6
Compare all 25 in a table
| # | Tool | Score | Free plan | From | Free plan | Paid from | End-to-end encryption | Media support |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rosebud | 8.0 | Free plan | $9/mo | Yes | 12.99 /mo | — | — |
| 2 | Journey | 7.9 | Free plan | $4.17/mo | Yes | 4.17 /mo | Yes | — |
| 3 | MoodHaven Journal | 7.9 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | Yes | — |
| 4 | Stoic | 7.9 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | — | — |
| 5 | Mindsera | 7.8 | Free plan | — | Yes | 10.75 /mo | No | — |
| 6 | Skrive | 7.7 | Free plan | — | Yes | — | Yes | — |
| 7 | tinythoughts | 7.7 | Free plan | $3/mo | Yes | — | Yes | photos_video |
| 8 | Day One | 7.5 | Free plan | $4.17/mo | Yes | — | Yes | — |
| 9 | Penzu | 7.5 | Free plan | — | Yes | — | — | — |
| 10 | Diarium | 7.4 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | — | — |
| 11 | StoryPad | 7.4 | Free plan | $9.99/mo | Yes | — | — | photos_video_audio |
| 12 | Daybook | 7.3 | Free plan | $3.33/mo | Yes | 3.49 /mo | No | — |
| 13 | jrnl | 7.2 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | — | — |
| 14 | Islet | 7.1 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | Yes | photos_video_audio |
| 15 | Local Journal | 7.1 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | — | — |
| 16 | Apple Journal | 6.9 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | Yes | — |
| 17 | Penso Notes | 6.9 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | Yes | — |
| 18 | Diaro | 6.8 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | — | — |
| 19 | AhhLife | 6.7 | Free plan | $4.17/mo | Yes | 4.99 /mo | — | none |
| 20 | Journiv | 6.7 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | No | photos_video_audio |
| 21 | Mirror | 6.7 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | — | photos_video_audio |
| 22 | Reflectly | 6.7 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | — | photos |
| 23 | Five Minute Journal | 6.6 | No | — | Yes | — | — | photos_video |
| 24 | Gratitude | 6.6 | No | — | Yes | — | — | — |
| 25 | Twif | 6.6 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | — | — |
Is your tool on this list?
Numbered spots on this list can be sponsored, and a sponsored row is labelled as paid.
Questions about this list
Which journaling software is ranked first on Specifiction?
Rosebud is ranked #1 of 37 with a score of 8.0. Journey is second and MoodHaven Journal third.
How many of these have a free plan?
23 of the 25 on this page publish a free plan on their own pricing pages.
Which is the cheapest paid option?
On this page, tinythoughts has the lowest first paid tier we found: $3/mo.
How is this list ranked?
Ranked on what each maker publishes, the fullest spec sheet first: how deeply the product is documented, the platforms it runs on, a free tier or trial to test it, and its standing.