Alternatives · Journaling
Journalistic alternatives
Journalistic compared with 6 alternatives: Grid Diary, Penzu, Dabble Me, 750 Words, Day One and 1 more.
Journalistic is free to use. 5 of the 6 alternatives are free or have a free plan.
6 tools · Listings checked up to Oct 6, 2026 · Where the facts come from
At a glance
| Tool | Price | Free plan | Runs on |
|---|---|---|---|
| JournalisticThis tool | Free | Free | Web |
| Grid Diary | Free plan · from $4.99/mo | Yes | macOS, iOS, Android |
| Penzu | Free plan · from $19.99/yr | Yes | Web, iOS, Android |
| Dabble Me | Free plan · from $4/mo | Yes | Web |
| 750 Words | Paid | No | Web |
| Day One | Free plan · from $49.99/yr | Yes | Web, macOS, Windows, iOS, Android, Browser extension |
| DailyTxT | Free | Free | Web |
How each one differs from Journalistic
- 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. Journalistic is free.
- Only Grid Diary lists macOS, iOS and Android apps.
- Only Journalistic lists a web app.
- Grid Diary also covers Markdown, templates and habit tracking.
- Journalistic also covers notes and goals.
Suits: People who find a blank page hard and prefer answering prompts
- 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. Journalistic is free.
- Only Penzu lists iOS and Android apps.
- Penzu can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- Penzu also covers long-form writing.
- Journalistic also covers notes and goals.
Suits: People who mostly write at a computer in a web browser
- Free plan · from $4/mo
Dabble Me
Private journal you keep by replying to email prompts
- Dabble Me starts at $4 per month, or $40 per year. Journalistic is free.
- Dabble Me is open source, according to its own site.
- Journalistic also covers notes and goals.
Suits: People who would sooner reply to an email than open a journaling app
- Paid
750 Words
Private daily writing site built around a 750-word goal
- Journalistic has a free plan. 750 Words does not.
- 750 Words also covers long-form writing.
- Journalistic also covers notes and goals.
Suits: People building a habit of free writing every day
- 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. Journalistic is free.
- Only Day One lists macOS, Windows, iOS and Android 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
DailyTxT
Self-hosted encrypted diary web app that runs in Docker
- DailyTxT is free. Journalistic is free.
- DailyTxT is open source and self-hostable, according to its own site.
- DailyTxT also covers Markdown and templates.
- Journalistic also covers notes and goals.
Suits: Self-hosters who want a private diary on their own server
Limits worth knowing in Journalistic
- A Pro plan at $4.90 a month is announced but not on sale; the docs say Focus, Insights and other Pro features will leave free accounts when it launches.
- There is no App Store app, and the Google Play listing the site links to was not found when checked; phones install it from the browser.
- Nothing can be imported, not even Journalistic's own exports; Day One and Journey imports are on the roadmap.
- End-to-end encryption is planned but not available, and the site's news page has no post after January 2024.
Common questions
What are the alternatives to Journalistic?
The alternatives to Journalistic in this directory are Grid Diary, Penzu, Dabble Me, 750 Words, Day One and DailyTxT. Each one has a side-by-side comparison with Journalistic.
Is there a free alternative to Journalistic?
Yes. DailyTxT is free to use. Grid Diary, Penzu, Dabble Me and Day One have a free plan alongside paid ones.
Which Journalistic alternatives work on Windows?
The Journalistic listing does not include a Windows app. Day One lists one.
Which Journalistic alternatives work on macOS?
The Journalistic listing does not include a macOS app. Grid Diary and Day One list one.
Is there an open-source alternative to Journalistic?
Dabble Me and DailyTxT are described as open source on their own sites.
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.