Alternatives · Journaling
Grid Diary alternatives
Grid Diary compared with 8 alternatives: Day One, Journey, Five Minute Journal, Daylio, Diarium and 3 more.
Grid Diary has a free plan. Paid plans start at $4.99 per month, or $29.99 per year. All 8 alternatives are free or have a free plan.
8 tools · Listings checked up to Oct 6, 2026 · Where the facts come from
At a glance
| Tool | Price | Free plan | Runs on |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grid DiaryThis tool | Free plan · from $4.99/mo | Yes | macOS, 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 |
| Five Minute Journal | Free plan · from $4.99/mo | Yes | iOS, Android |
| Daylio | Free plan · from $4.99 | Yes | iOS, Android |
| Diarium | Free plan · from $14.99 one-time | Yes | macOS, Windows, iOS, Android |
| Gratitude | Free plan · from $4.99/mo | Yes | iOS, Android |
| Journalistic | Free | Free | Web |
| Zinnia | Free plan · from $39.99/yr | Yes | macOS, iOS |
How each one differs from Grid Diary
- 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. Grid Diary starts at $4.99 per month, or $29.99 per year.
- Only Day One lists a web app.
- Only Day One lists a Windows app.
- 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. Grid Diary starts at $4.99 per month, or $29.99 per year.
- Only Journey lists a web app.
- Only Journey lists Windows and Linux apps.
- Journey is end-to-end encrypted, according to its own site.
- Journey also covers mood tracking.
Suits: People who want one journal on phone, desktop (including Linux) and web
- Free plan · from $4.99/mo
Five Minute Journal
Guided gratitude journal with short morning and evening prompts
- Five Minute Journal starts at $4.99 to $9.99 per month (US App Store in-app purchase list). Grid Diary starts at $4.99 per month, or $29.99 per year.
- Only Grid Diary lists a macOS app.
- Five Minute Journal can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- Five Minute Journal also covers mood tracking.
- Grid Diary also covers Markdown, templates and habit tracking.
Suits: People who want a short guided gratitude routine each morning and evening
- Free plan · from $4.99
Daylio
Mood tracker and micro-diary you fill in with a couple of taps
- Daylio starts at $4.99 (lowest US App Store in-app purchase; billing period not shown). Grid Diary starts at $4.99 per month, or $29.99 per year.
- Only Grid Diary lists a macOS app.
- Daylio also covers goals and mood tracking.
- Grid Diary also covers Markdown.
Suits: People who want to log a mood in a couple of taps instead of writing
- 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. Grid Diary starts at $4.99 per month, or $29.99 per year.
- Only Diarium lists a Windows app.
- Diarium can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- Diarium also covers mood tracking.
- Grid Diary also covers Markdown and habit tracking.
Suits: People who want to pay once instead of subscribing
- 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). Grid Diary starts at $4.99 per month, or $29.99 per year.
- Only Grid Diary lists a macOS app.
- Grid Diary also covers Markdown, templates and habit tracking.
Suits: People building a daily gratitude habit with prompts and reminders
- Free
Journalistic
Micro journaling web app built around short bulleted entries
- Journalistic is free. Grid Diary starts at $4.99 per month, or $29.99 per year.
- Only Journalistic lists a web app.
- Only Grid Diary lists macOS, iOS and Android apps.
- Journalistic also covers notes and goals.
- Grid Diary also covers Markdown, templates and habit tracking.
Suits: People who want a few bullet points a day instead of long entries
- Free plan · from $39.99/yr
Zinnia
Handwritten digital journal and planner for iPad, iPhone and Mac
- Zinnia starts at $39.99 per year, $9.99 per month or $3.99 per week (US App Store). Grid Diary starts at $4.99 per month, or $29.99 per year.
- Only Grid Diary lists an Android app.
- Zinnia also covers calendar.
- Grid Diary also covers Markdown and habit tracking.
Suits: Bullet journal fans who want paper-style pages on an iPad
Limits worth knowing in Grid Diary
- Sync between devices, the passcode lock and extra color themes require the paid membership.
- The vendor's site quotes $2.99 monthly and $22.99 annual, while the US App Store lists $4.99 and $29.99.
- Apps are listed for iPhone, iPad, Mac and Android; no Windows app is offered.
- The App Store version requires iOS 26, iPadOS 26 or macOS 26 or later.
Common questions
What are the alternatives to Grid Diary?
The alternatives to Grid Diary in this directory are Day One, Journey, Five Minute Journal, Daylio, Diarium, Gratitude, Journalistic and Zinnia. Each one has a side-by-side comparison with Grid Diary.
Is there a free alternative to Grid Diary?
Yes. Journalistic is free to use. Day One, Journey, Five Minute Journal, Daylio, Diarium, Gratitude and Zinnia have a free plan alongside paid ones.
Which Grid Diary alternatives work on Windows?
The Grid Diary listing does not include a Windows app. Day One, Journey and Diarium list one.
Which Grid Diary alternatives work on Linux?
The Grid Diary listing does not include a Linux app. Journey lists 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.