Apple Journal vs Inlet

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.

Inlet is a private, AI-driven journaling assistant for recording and recalling personal experiences. It offers short daily prompts, and voice entries become editable text before saving. Entries can include photos or videos up to 30 seconds. Inlet can turn notes into diary entries using only what the user wrote, without adding events or feelings. Memory tools include quizzes based on a user’s entries and a living summary of what matters to them. Users can set aims and keep notes; both are marked beta on the welcome page. Groups can see when members are active, while entries are shared only when the author tags people and chooses to share. Inlet says data is stored in an encrypted database, photos in secure object storage, and app secrets separately. The service is available on web and iOS, with Android in open testing. Its free plan costs nothing and includes writing, prompts, aims, and day summaries.