Alternatives · Journaling
Penzu alternatives
Penzu compared with 8 alternatives: Journey, Day One, Diaro, 750 Words, Journalistic and 3 more.
Penzu has a free plan. Paid plans start at $19.99 per year, or $4.99 per month. 7 of the 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| PenzuThis tool | Free plan · from $19.99/yr | Yes | Web, iOS, Android |
| Journey | Free plan · from $17.99 one-time | Yes | Web, macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS, Android |
| Day One | Free plan · from $49.99/yr | Yes | Web, macOS, Windows, iOS, Android, Browser extension |
| Diaro | Free plan · from $8.99/yr | Yes | Web, iOS, Android |
| 750 Words | Paid | No | Web |
| Journalistic | Free | Free | Web |
| Dabble Me | Free plan · from $4/mo | Yes | Web |
| DailyTxT | Free | Free | Web |
| Daybook | Free plan · from $3.49/mo | Yes | Web, iOS, Android |
How each one differs from Penzu
- 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. Penzu starts at $19.99 per year, or $4.99 per month.
- Only Journey lists macOS, Windows and Linux apps.
- Journey is end-to-end encrypted, according to its own site.
- Penzu can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- Journey also covers templates and mood tracking.
Suits: People who want one journal on phone, desktop (including Linux) and web
- 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. Penzu starts at $19.99 per year, or $4.99 per month.
- 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.
- Penzu can be bought with a one-time purchase.
Suits: People who want one journal across Apple, Android, Windows and the web
- Free plan · from $8.99/yr
Diaro
Diary and notes app that syncs through your own Dropbox
- Diaro starts at $8.99 per year (US App Store in-app purchase). Penzu starts at $19.99 per year, or $4.99 per month.
- Penzu can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- Diaro also covers mood tracking.
- Penzu also covers long-form writing.
Suits: People who want a simple diary organized by folders, tags and places
- Paid
750 Words
Private daily writing site built around a 750-word goal
- Penzu has a free plan. 750 Words does not.
- Only Penzu lists iOS and Android apps.
- Penzu can be bought with a one-time purchase.
Suits: People building a habit of free writing every day
- Free
Journalistic
Micro journaling web app built around short bulleted entries
- Journalistic is free. Penzu starts at $19.99 per year, or $4.99 per month.
- Only Penzu lists iOS and Android apps.
- Penzu can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- Journalistic also covers notes and goals.
- Penzu also covers long-form writing.
Suits: People who want a few bullet points a day instead of long entries
- 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. Penzu starts at $19.99 per year, or $4.99 per month.
- Only Penzu lists iOS and Android apps.
- Dabble Me is open source, according to its own site.
- Penzu can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- Penzu also covers long-form writing.
Suits: People who would sooner reply to an email than open a journaling app
- Free
DailyTxT
Self-hosted encrypted diary web app that runs in Docker
- DailyTxT is free. Penzu starts at $19.99 per year, or $4.99 per month.
- Only Penzu lists iOS and Android apps.
- DailyTxT is open source and self-hostable, according to its own site.
- Penzu can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- DailyTxT also covers Markdown and templates.
Suits: Self-hosters who want a private diary on their own server
- 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. Penzu starts at $19.99 per year, or $4.99 per month.
- Penzu can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- Daybook also covers dictation, templates and mood tracking.
- Penzu also covers long-form writing.
Suits: People who want a free journal that syncs between phone and browser
Limits worth knowing in Penzu
- There is no desktop app: on a computer Penzu runs in a web browser, with apps for iOS and Android only.
- Encryption locking, entry tagging, PDF export and writing prompts require Penzu Pro.
- Versions with entry recovery and the fullscreen zen-mode are limited to Pro+.
- The App Store listing shows English as the only supported language.
Common questions
What are the alternatives to Penzu?
The alternatives to Penzu in this directory are Journey, Day One, Diaro, 750 Words, Journalistic, Dabble Me, DailyTxT and Daybook. Each one has a side-by-side comparison with Penzu.
Is there a free alternative to Penzu?
Yes. Journalistic and DailyTxT are free to use. Journey, Day One, Diaro, Dabble Me and Daybook have a free plan alongside paid ones.
Which Penzu alternatives work on Windows?
The Penzu listing does not include a Windows app. Journey and Day One list one.
Which Penzu alternatives work on macOS?
The Penzu listing does not include a macOS app. Journey and Day One list one.
Is there an open-source alternative to Penzu?
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.