Apple Journal vs Daybook

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.

Daybook is a digital diary for recording thoughts and moments, with tools for hands-free entry, mood tracking, and guided reflection. Voice-to-text lets users capture thoughts without typing. Journal prompts include nightly reflections, mental health check-ins, and gratitude journals. Users can track moods and activities, then review mood analytics; entries can be tagged, categorized, and revisited in a calendar view. Daybook can export entries to PDF with layouts users can adjust for printing or saving, and its AI features can summarize entries, offer insights, and suggest improvements. It is available on Android, iOS, and the web; the About page also lists Alexa and the OpenAI ChatGPT Store as access options. The free plan includes unlimited entries and syncing across multiple devices. Pro costs $3.49 a month and adds mood analytics and word analysis, AI features, guided journals and themes, custom templates, higher-resolution photos, and an advanced printer. Daybook says entries are encrypted in transit to its cloud, where diary information is stored.