Alternatives · Journaling
Five Minute Journal alternatives
Five Minute Journal compared with 7 alternatives: Stoic, Gratitude, Reflectly, Day One, Journey and 2 more.
Five Minute Journal has a free plan. Paid plans start at $4.99 to $9.99 per month (US App Store in-app purchase list). 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Five Minute JournalThis tool | Free plan · from $4.99/mo | Yes | iOS, Android |
| Stoic | Free plan · from $6.99 | Yes | Web, macOS, iOS, Android |
| Gratitude | Free plan · from $4.99/mo | Yes | iOS, Android |
| Reflectly | Free plan · from $4.99 | Yes | iOS, Android |
| Day One | Free plan · from $49.99/yr | Yes | Web, macOS, Windows, iOS, Android, Browser extension |
| Journey | Free plan · from $17.99 one-time | Yes | Web, macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS, Android |
| Clearful | Free plan · from $9.99/mo | Yes | Web, macOS, iOS, Android |
| Grid Diary | Free plan · from $4.99/mo | Yes | macOS, iOS, Android |
How each one differs from Five Minute Journal
- Free plan · from $6.99
Stoic
Guided journal with morning and evening reflections and mood tracking
- Stoic starts at $6.99 (lowest US App Store in-app purchase; billing period not shown). Five Minute Journal starts at $4.99 to $9.99 per month (US App Store in-app purchase list).
- Only Stoic lists a web app.
- Only Stoic lists a macOS app.
- Five Minute Journal can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- Stoic also covers templates and habit tracking.
Suits: People who want a structured morning and evening journaling routine
- Free plan · from $4.99/mo
Gratitude
Gratitude journal with affirmations and vision boards
- Gratitude starts at $4.99 per month, or $29.99 per year (US App Store in-app purchases). Five Minute Journal starts at $4.99 to $9.99 per month (US App Store in-app purchase list).
- Five Minute Journal can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- Five Minute Journal also covers mood tracking.
Suits: People building a daily gratitude habit with prompts and reminders
- Free plan · from $4.99
Reflectly
AI-guided journal and mood tracker for iPhone, iPad and Android
- Reflectly starts at $4.99 (lowest US App Store in-app purchase; billing period not shown). Five Minute Journal starts at $4.99 to $9.99 per month (US App Store in-app purchase list).
- Five Minute Journal can be bought with a one-time purchase.
Suits: People new to journaling who want questions to answer, not a blank page
- 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. Five Minute Journal starts at $4.99 to $9.99 per month (US App Store in-app purchase list).
- Only Day One lists a web app.
- 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.
Suits: People who want one journal across Apple, Android, Windows and the web
- 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. Five Minute Journal starts at $4.99 to $9.99 per month (US App Store in-app purchase list).
- Only Journey lists a web app.
- Only Journey lists macOS, Windows and Linux apps.
- Journey is end-to-end encrypted, according to its own site.
- Five Minute Journal can be bought with a one-time purchase.
Suits: People who want one journal on phone, desktop (including Linux) and web
- Free plan · from $9.99/mo
Clearful
Guided journal with 400+ prompts and templates on every device
- Clearful starts at $9.99 per month, or $59.99 per year (US App Store description). Five Minute Journal starts at $4.99 to $9.99 per month (US App Store in-app purchase list).
- Only Clearful lists a web app.
- Only Clearful lists a macOS app.
- Five Minute Journal can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- Clearful also covers templates.
Suits: People who want prompts and guided templates instead of a blank page
- Free plan · from $4.99/mo
Grid Diary
Prompt-based diary and planner laid out as a grid of questions
- Grid Diary starts at $4.99 per month, or $29.99 per year. Five Minute Journal starts at $4.99 to $9.99 per month (US App Store in-app purchase list).
- Only Grid Diary lists a macOS app.
- Five Minute Journal can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- Grid Diary also covers Markdown, templates and habit tracking.
- Five Minute Journal also covers mood tracking.
Suits: People who find a blank page hard and prefer answering prompts
Limits worth knowing in Five Minute Journal
- Listed for iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch and Android; no web or desktop version is offered.
- Photos and video, custom questions, the notes section, the mood tracker and the widget need Premium.
- The vendor's site shows no prices; the US App Store lists several monthly and annual price points, some marked for existing users.
- The App Store listing covers four languages: English, French, German and Spanish.
Common questions
What are the alternatives to Five Minute Journal?
The alternatives to Five Minute Journal in this directory are Stoic, Gratitude, Reflectly, Day One, Journey, Clearful and Grid Diary. Each one has a side-by-side comparison with Five Minute Journal.
Is there a free alternative to Five Minute Journal?
Yes. Stoic, Gratitude, Reflectly, Day One, Journey, Clearful and Grid Diary have a free plan alongside paid ones.
Which Five Minute Journal alternatives work on Windows?
The Five Minute Journal listing does not include a Windows app. Day One and Journey list one.
Which Five Minute Journal alternatives work on macOS?
The Five Minute Journal listing does not include a macOS app. Stoic, Day One, Journey, Clearful and Grid Diary list one.
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.