Alternatives · Journaling
Zinnia alternatives
Zinnia compared with 5 alternatives: Grid Diary, Day One, Apple Journal, Journey and Diarly.
Zinnia has a free plan. Paid plans start at $39.99 per year, $9.99 per month or $3.99 per week (US App Store). All 5 alternatives are free or have a free plan.
5 tools · Listings checked up to Oct 6, 2026 · Where the facts come from
At a glance
| Tool | Price | Free plan | Runs on |
|---|---|---|---|
| ZinniaThis tool | Free plan · from $39.99/yr | Yes | macOS, iOS |
| Grid Diary | 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 |
| Apple Journal | Free | Free | macOS, iOS |
| Journey | Free plan · from $17.99 one-time | Yes | Web, macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS, Android |
| Diarly | Free plan · from $2.99/mo | Yes | macOS, iOS |
How each one differs from Zinnia
- 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. Zinnia starts at $39.99 per year, $9.99 per month or $3.99 per week (US App Store).
- Only Grid Diary lists an Android app.
- Grid Diary also covers Markdown and habit tracking.
- Zinnia also covers calendar.
Suits: People who find a blank page hard and prefer answering prompts
- 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. Zinnia starts at $39.99 per year, $9.99 per month or $3.99 per week (US App Store).
- Only Day One lists a web app.
- Only Day One lists Windows and Android 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
Apple Journal
Apple's free journaling app for iPhone, iPad and Mac
- Apple Journal is free. Zinnia starts at $39.99 per year, $9.99 per month or $3.99 per week (US App Store).
- Apple Journal is end-to-end encrypted, according to its own site.
- Apple Journal also covers transcription and mood tracking.
- Zinnia also covers templates and calendar.
Suits: iPhone, iPad and Mac owners who want a journal at no cost
- 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. Zinnia starts at $39.99 per year, $9.99 per month or $3.99 per week (US App Store).
- Only Journey lists a web app.
- Only Journey lists Windows, Linux and Android 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 $2.99/mo
Diarly
Private Markdown journal for Mac, iPhone, iPad and Apple Watch
- Diarly starts at $2.99 per month, or $24.99 per year (US App Store in-app purchases). Zinnia starts at $39.99 per year, $9.99 per month or $3.99 per week (US App Store).
- Diarly is end-to-end encrypted, according to its own site.
- Diarly also covers Markdown and mood tracking.
- Zinnia also covers calendar.
Suits: Apple users who want a journal stored on their devices and their own iCloud
Limits worth knowing in Zinnia
- Apple only: the vendor lists iPad, iPhone and Mac, with no Android, Windows or web version.
- The free version has limited content; full access is a subscription, and no one-time purchase is listed.
- Vendor prices disagree: the in-app purchase list shows $9.99 a month and $39.99 a year, while the App Store description says $8.99 and $34.99.
- The vendor's own site shows only per-week figures ($3.99, $2.23 and $0.76 a week) instead of the amounts billed.
Common questions
What are the alternatives to Zinnia?
The alternatives to Zinnia in this directory are Grid Diary, Day One, Apple Journal, Journey and Diarly. Each one has a side-by-side comparison with Zinnia.
Is there a free alternative to Zinnia?
Yes. Apple Journal is free to use. Grid Diary, Day One, Journey and Diarly have a free plan alongside paid ones.
Which Zinnia alternatives work on Windows?
The Zinnia listing does not include a Windows app. Day One and Journey list one.
Which Zinnia alternatives work on Linux?
The Zinnia 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.