Clearful vs MoodTools (2026): which should you pick?
As of Nov 12, 2026, Clearful and MoodTools share a 2.8 GPA, both have a free plan, and MoodTools starts cheaper, at $4.99 a month against $5 a month when paid by the year.
Checked Oct 6, 2026 and Nov 12, 2026 · graded Oct 10, 2026 and Nov 12, 2026 by ToolGPA
Clearful grades higher on ease of use and platforms. MoodTools grades higher on value for money. They get the same grade on the free plan and features.
Price, platforms and features side by side. The table says where each price was read and when.
Clearful
Guided journal with 400+ prompts and templates on every device
MoodTools
Free depression self-help app with a CBT thought diary
Which one is for you
Pick Clearful if
- Fits if a blank page stops you and you'd rather answer a prompt
- Works for journaling on your phone, your Mac and in a browser with one account
Look elsewhere if
- Skip it if you want photos in your entries without paying, as they need Pro
- Not for you if you're bringing years of entries from Day One, as there's no bulk import
- Pricey if you pay monthly, at $9.99 against $59.99 for the year
- Tight if you stay free on more than two devices, as free connects only two
- Watch out: the site lists no prices, and the in-app list also shows $14.99 monthly and $89.99 yearly entries
Pick MoodTools if
- Fits if you want a free thought diary and mood log for low mood
- Works for people who want to track PHQ-9 scores over time
Look elsewhere if
- Skip it if you want a general diary, as it is built around depression self-help
- Tight if you want a passcode, backup or export, because Pro adds all three
- Skip it if you want a web or desktop version, since it runs on phones only
- Watch out: Pro is $4.99 a month, and the Google Play prices were not read
- Watch out: the vendor says it is not a replacement for treatment
How we grade them
| 2.8GPAClearfulGood | 2.8GPAMoodToolsGood | |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | CPro is $59.99 a year, which is $5 a month, sitting between the middle and the dear end for journaling here, and $9.99 if you pay monthly. Clearful's own site lists no prices, and the in-app list muddies it further with $14.99 monthly and $89.99 yearly entries. | AThe core app is free, and Pro is $29.99 a year, about $2.50 a month, against $3.33 where the cheaper quarter of journaling apps starts. |
| Free plan and trial | BFree forever, with unlimited text entries, the prompts and templates, streaks, reminders and text or PDF export, and no ads. But it stops at two connected devices, and you can't put a single photo in an entry. Pro has a seven-day trial. | BThe thought diary, activities, PHQ-9 test, safety plan and videos are all free, but export, cloud sync and a passcode are paid. |
| Features | CMore than 400 guided journals, a daily question, a formatting editor with 14+ options and Rediscover, which brings entries back from 1 month to 3 years ago. The gaps are in its own help pages: no bulk import from Day One or CSV, audio journaling still coming soon, English only, and photos need Pro. | CIt does the thought diary and mood-tracking job for low mood fully, but it is a narrower job than a general journal and has no photos or free-form entries on record. |
| Ease of use | A4.7 from about 3,100 App Store ratings. Pick a guided journal or answer the day's question and you're writing. One account keeps your phone, your Mac and your browser in step. | B4.8 from about 310 App Store ratings, under the 1,000 needed for an A. |
| Platforms and integrations | BiPhone, iPad, Mac, Android and a web app, all synced by one account. But no integrations or API are listed, and you can't bulk-import an old journal. The interface is English only. | CiPhone and Android only. There is no web or computer app and no integrations are listed. |
| Best for | guided prompts when you don't know what to write | low-mood self-help with a thought diary |
The GPA is the average of the five grades: an A is 4 points, an F is none. The full reasons are on each tool's page: Clearful and MoodTools. How we grade
Price against what you get
Clearful starts at $5 a month when paid by the year and scores 3.0 out of 4 on features, ease of use and platforms. MoodTools starts at $4.99 a month and scores 2.3.
Clearful scores higher, and starts $0.01 a month higher: the question is whether the extra is worth that to you. Of the other journaling apps on the chart, 2 score higher than Clearful for less, and 16 score higher than MoodTools for less.
Features, ease of use and platforms, averaged
What paid plans start at, a month (each step along is roughly double) →
- The best score at each price
- Has a free plan
- No free plan
Where they differ
- Clearful also covers templates.
- MoodTools also covers mood tracking.
At a glance
| Clearful | MoodTools | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free plan | Free plan |
| Starts at | $9.99 per month, or $59.99 per year (US App Store description) | $4.99 per month (Pro Mode, US App Store) |
| Free plan | Free forever with unlimited text entries, prompts, streaks, reminders and export, on up to two connected devices. Photos, AI Reviews, themes and custom templates need Pro. | All core features are free: thought diary, activities, safety plan, information, PHQ-9 test and videos. |
| Free trial | Seven-day Clearful Pro trial on eligible purchase flows, generally limited to one claim. | None listed |
| Web | ||
| macOS | ||
| iOS | ||
| Android | ||
| Made by | Clearful Journal Inc. | Inquiry Health LLC |
| Price read from | apps.apple.com | apps.apple.com |
| Checked | Oct 6, 2026 | Nov 12, 2026 |
Worth knowing
Clearful
- Photos in entries, AI Reviews, custom templates, themes and locked entries need Clearful Pro, and the free plan connects only two devices.
- There is no bulk import: the help center says no CSV, Day One or one-click migration tool exists.
- The interface is English only, and audio journaling with transcription is still marked as coming soon.
- The vendor's site lists no prices. The App Store description gives $9.99 a month or $59.99 a year, while its in-app list also shows $14.99 and $89.99.
MoodTools
- The vendor says the app is not a replacement for treatment or medical intervention.
- Export, cloud sync and passcode protection need the paid Pro Mode.
- Pro Mode prices were read from the US App Store listing; the Google Play prices were not read.
- It is a depression self-help tool rather than a general-purpose diary.
Key features
Clearful
- Guided journals library
- More than 400 guided journals, prompts and templates cover topics from gratitude to work decisions, with a Discover Daily question each day. Some guided journals are reserved for Pro.
- Flow Editor
- A rich-text editor with 14+ formatting options, including headings, bulleted and numbered lists, checklists, quotes, dividers, links and text styles.
- Rediscover
- Past entries resurface from set points such as 1 month, 6 months, 1 year and 3 years ago, so you can look back at how things have changed.
- AI-Enhanced Reviews
- Weekly, monthly, quarterly, bi-yearly and yearly reviews use AI to summarize themes, moments and patterns from your own entries. AI Reviews are a Pro benefit.
- Privacy controls
- The vendor says entries are encrypted on the device, in transit and at rest. Face ID or Touch ID locks the app, a device manager revokes sign-ins, and Pro adds a lock for single entries.
- Sync across devices
- One account syncs the journal between iPhone, iPad, Mac, Android and the web app. The free plan supports up to two connected devices and Pro removes the limit.
MoodTools
- Thought diary
- Analyze thoughts and spot negative or distorted thinking patterns, based on cognitive therapy.
- Activities
- Pick energizing activities and track mood before and after, based on behavioral activation.
- Depression test
- Take the PHQ-9 questionnaire and track symptom severity over time.
- Safety plan
- Build a suicide safety plan with emergency resources to use in a crisis.
- Information and videos
- Self-help guidelines, links to resources and curated videos such as guided meditations.
- Pro Mode
- Optional subscription that adds export, cloud sync and passcode protection.
Plans
Clearful
Free$0
Unlimited entries, the rich-text editor, prompts and templates, Rediscover, streaks, reminders and text or PDF export, on up to two connected devices.
Clearful Pro (monthly)$9.99
per month
Photos in entries, Pro guided journals, unlimited devices, AI Reviews, personal templates, locked entries, analytics and themes. The in-app list also shows a $14.99 monthly entry.
Clearful Pro (annual)$59.99
per year
The same Pro benefits billed annually. The US App Store in-app purchase list also shows a yearly entry at $89.99.
MoodTools
Free$0
Thought diary, activities, safety plan, PHQ-9 test, information and videos.
Pro Mode Monthly$4.99
per month
Adds export, cloud sync and passcode protection; auto-renewing.
Pro Mode Yearly$29.99
per year
The same Pro Mode features billed yearly; auto-renewing.
Ways to pay less
Clearful
- Annual discount
Annual billing costs about half of monthly
The US App Store description gives Clearful Pro as $9.99 billed monthly or $59.99 billed annually. Twelve monthly payments come to $119.88, so the annual plan saves about 50%.
MoodTools
- Annual discount
Yearly Pro Mode costs less than monthly
The US App Store lists Pro Mode at $4.99 per month or $29.99 per year; twelve monthly payments would total $59.88.
Common questions
Which is cheaper, Clearful or MoodTools?
As of Nov 12, 2026, MoodTools is cheaper to start with: $4.99 a month, against $5 a month when paid by the year for Clearful. Clearful starts at $9.99 per month, or $59.99 per year (US App Store description), and MoodTools starts at $4.99 per month (Pro Mode, US App Store).
Which has a free plan, Clearful or MoodTools?
As of Nov 12, 2026, both Clearful and MoodTools have a free plan.
Which platforms do Clearful and MoodTools run on?
As of Nov 12, 2026, only Clearful lists a web app and a macOS app. Both list iOS and Android apps. A platform missing from a listing is one its maker's pages did not mention.
More comparisons
How this page was made
- The verdict at the top follows a fixed rule. When both tools are in the same category and either is in our top three for it, the verdict follows that ranking: the higher-placed tool is our pick. The top three weigh who each tool suits as well as its grades, so a pick can go against the GPA. Otherwise the page does not pick one and says which grades higher: the higher GPA first; on a tie, the one with a free plan, then the one that starts cheaper in dollars a month, counted the same way for both; if they are still level, what the choice depends on.
- The grades are our own, from each tool’s review or report card. The GPA is their average.
- Prices, plans and platforms come from each tool’s listing. The table above says where each price was read and when.
- The differences and the answers to the questions are worked out from those listings.