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SPECIFICTION
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Apple Journal

apple.com

Free plan macOSiOS
Visit apple.com
Spec score 8.4 #6 of 35 in Journal Apps

What it is

Apple Journal is a free journaling app for recording everyday moments and special events. Entries can combine text, photos, videos, audio, places, drawings, and a logged state of mind. On-device intelligence groups outings, workouts, photos, and media into suggestions, while reflection prompts and scheduled notifications support regular writing. You can create multiple journals, search and sort entries, browse a calendar, and view entries by location. Writing tools include formatting, inline attachments, drawings, and audio recording with transcription; Apple says transcription in English excludes Singapore and India locales. State-of-mind entries can be saved to Health, and writing time can become Mindful Minutes. Suggestions are processed on device, with sharing controlled by the user. Device passcodes encrypt entries; iCloud entries receive end-to-end encryption with default two-factor authentication and a passcode. iCloud sync covers iPhone, iPad, and Mac, but Journal entries are not included in iCloud backups.

Spec sheet

Purpose
Journal helps people reflect on everyday moments and special events through journaling.Read 3 Oct 2026 · apple.com
Platforms
Apple’s App Store listing names iPhone and iPad, and Apple Support documents Journal for Mac; entries can sync among these devices with iCloud.Read 3 Oct 2026 · apps.apple.com
Free plan
YesRead 20 Sep 2026 · apple.com
Headquarters
Cupertino, California, United StatesRead 28 Sep 2026 · apple.com
Founded
1977Read 28 Sep 2026 · apple.com
Maker
The Journal app’s developer is Apple.Read 3 Oct 2026 · apps.apple.com
App integrations
Users can add content from apps such as News, Music, and Safari to a journal entry.Read 3 Oct 2026 · apps.apple.com
Developer API
Apple provides a Journaling Suggestions API for third-party journaling apps to offer personalized suggestions.Read 3 Oct 2026 · apple.com
End-to-end encryption
YesRead 20 Sep 2026 · apple.com
Entry security
With a device passcode, Journal entries are encrypted, and with default two-factor authentication and a passcode, entries stored in iCloud are end-to-end encrypted.Read 3 Oct 2026 · apple.com
Export formats
multipleRead 20 Sep 2026 · apple.com
Organization and search
Users can create multiple journals, search and sort entries, browse a calendar, and view entries by location in Places.Read 3 Oct 2026 · apps.apple.com
Personalized suggestions
On-device intelligence groups moments such as outings, photos, workouts, and media to suggest entry ideas.Read 3 Oct 2026 · apps.apple.com
Privacy controls
Suggestions are processed on device, and users choose which suggested moments to share with journaling apps.Read 3 Oct 2026 · apple.com
Prompts and reminders
The app offers reflection prompts and lets users schedule journaling notifications.Read 3 Oct 2026 · apps.apple.com
Rich entries
Entries can include text, photos, videos, audio recordings, places, drawings, and a logged state of mind.Read 3 Oct 2026 · apps.apple.com
Sync and backup limit
Entries sync across iPhone, iPad, and Mac through iCloud when enabled, but Apple says Journal entries are not included in iCloud backups.Read 3 Oct 2026 · support.apple.com
Wellbeing integration
Users can log their state of mind in Journal and save it to Health, and writing time can be saved as Mindful Minutes.Read 3 Oct 2026 · apps.apple.com
Writing tools
The app supports text formatting, inline attachments, drawings, and audio recording with transcription; Apple says audio transcription is available in English except Singapore and India locales.Read 3 Oct 2026 · support.apple.com

Plans and prices

Free Free Free app · iPhone, iPad · certain features available only in select languages and regions Read 3 Oct 2026 · apps.apple.com

Every Apple Journal plan and price →

Strong points and limits

Strong points

  • Free plan
  • Supports photos, video, audio, and drawings
  • On-device personalized suggestions
  • Search, sorting, calendar, and location views
  • End-to-end encryption available

Limits

  • iCloud backups exclude Journal entries
  • Transcription language coverage has locale limits
  • Sync requires iCloud to be enabled

Who it suits

Apple Journal suits people who want multimedia journaling with prompts, search, location views, and wellbeing links. It is listed for iOS and macOS.

Verdict

Apple Journal combines rich entries, suggestions, organization, and privacy controls in a free app. Check the iCloud backup limitation and transcription locale details before relying on it.

Where Specifiction places it

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