Alternatives · Journaling
Diaro alternatives
Diaro compared with 7 alternatives: Journey, Diarium, Day One, Penzu, Daybook and 2 more.
Diaro has a free plan. Paid plans start at $8.99 per year (US App Store in-app purchase). All 7 alternatives are free or have a free plan.
7 tools · Listings checked up to Oct 6, 2026 · Where the facts come from
At a glance
| Tool | Price | Free plan | Runs on |
|---|---|---|---|
| DiaroThis tool | Free plan · from $8.99/yr | Yes | Web, iOS, Android |
| Journey | Free plan · from $17.99 one-time | Yes | Web, macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS, Android |
| Diarium | Free plan · from $14.99 one-time | Yes | macOS, Windows, iOS, Android |
| Day One | Free plan · from $49.99/yr | Yes | Web, macOS, Windows, iOS, Android, Browser extension |
| Penzu | Free plan · from $19.99/yr | Yes | Web, iOS, Android |
| Daybook | Free plan · from $3.49/mo | Yes | Web, iOS, Android |
| Easy Diary | Free | Free | Android |
| My Diary | Free plan · from $2.99/mo | Yes | iOS, Android |
How each one differs from Diaro
- Free plan · from $17.99 one-time
Journey
Cross-platform diary with maps, mood tracking and guided programs
- Journey starts at $17.99 one-time per platform, or $49.99 per year for Membership. Diaro starts at $8.99 per year (US App Store in-app purchase).
- Only Journey lists macOS, Windows and Linux apps.
- Journey is end-to-end encrypted, according to its own site.
- Journey also covers templates.
Suits: People who want one journal on phone, desktop (including Linux) and web
- Free plan · from $14.99 one-time
Diarium
Private journal with a one-time Pro purchase and your own cloud sync
- Diarium starts at $14.99 one-time purchase per platform. Diaro starts at $8.99 per year (US App Store in-app purchase).
- Only Diarium lists Windows and macOS apps.
- Only Diaro lists a web app.
- Diarium can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- Diarium also covers templates.
Suits: People who want to pay once instead of subscribing
- Free plan · from $49.99/yr
Day One
Encrypted journal for text, photos, audio and video across devices
- Day One starts at $49.99 per year. Diaro starts at $8.99 per year (US App Store in-app purchase).
- Only Day One lists macOS and Windows apps.
- Only Day One lists a browser extension.
- Day One is end-to-end encrypted, according to its own site.
- Day One also covers transcription, Markdown and templates.
Suits: People who want one journal across Apple, Android, Windows and the web
- Free plan · from $19.99/yr
Penzu
Private online journal for the browser, with iOS and Android apps
- Penzu starts at $19.99 per year, or $4.99 per month. Diaro starts at $8.99 per year (US App Store in-app purchase).
- Penzu can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- Penzu also covers long-form writing.
- Diaro also covers mood tracking.
Suits: People who mostly write at a computer in a web browser
- Free plan · from $3.49/mo
Daybook
Cloud-synced diary with guided journals and voice entry
- Daybook starts at $3.49 per month, or $39.99 per year. Diaro starts at $8.99 per year (US App Store in-app purchase).
- Daybook also covers dictation and templates.
Suits: People who want a free journal that syncs between phone and browser
- Free
Easy Diary
Free, open-source diary app for Android with no ads
- Easy Diary is free. Diaro starts at $8.99 per year (US App Store in-app purchase).
- Only Diaro lists a web app.
- Only Diaro lists an iOS app.
- Easy Diary is open source, according to its own site.
- Easy Diary also covers dictation.
Suits: Android users who want a free diary with no ads and no paid tier
- Free plan · from $2.99/mo
My Diary
Locked diary with themes, stickers and a mood calendar
- My Diary starts at $2.99 per month (US App Store in-app purchase). Diaro starts at $8.99 per year (US App Store in-app purchase).
- Only Diaro lists a web app.
- My Diary can be bought with a one-time purchase.
Suits: People who want a decorated diary with themes, stickers and fonts
Limits worth knowing in Diaro
- Sync between devices and Diaro Online runs through your own Dropbox account and is a Pro feature.
- The free version shows ads, and export to PDF, DOCX or TXT needs Pro.
- The App Store version history shows the iOS app was last updated in December 2023 (version 2.0.2).
- The vendor's site lists no prices. The App Store in-app list shows $8.99 for a year of Pro, while the listing's own description says US$5.99 a year.
Common questions
What are the alternatives to Diaro?
The alternatives to Diaro in this directory are Journey, Diarium, Day One, Penzu, Daybook, Easy Diary and My Diary. Each one has a side-by-side comparison with Diaro.
Is there a free alternative to Diaro?
Yes. Easy Diary is free to use. Journey, Diarium, Day One, Penzu, Daybook and My Diary have a free plan alongside paid ones.
Which Diaro alternatives work on Windows?
The Diaro listing does not include a Windows app. Journey, Diarium and Day One list one.
Which Diaro alternatives work on macOS?
The Diaro listing does not include a macOS app. Journey, Diarium and Day One list one.
Is there an open-source alternative to Diaro?
Easy Diary is described as open source on its own site.
When were these prices checked?
Each listing shows its own date. On this page they run from Oct 5, 2026 to Oct 6, 2026. Vendors change prices without notice, so confirm on their site before you buy.