Day One vs Diaro

Day One

• People who want one journal across Apple, Android, Windows and the web
• Journals that mix writing with photos, video, audio and drawings
• Writers who want end-to-end encryption without paying

Diaro

• People who want a simple diary organized by folders, tags and places
• Users who prefer synced entries to sit in their own Dropbox account
• Moving in from Day One, Journey or Evernote using the importers

Day One

• The free Basic plan is limited to 1 device and 1 photo per entry; video, audio, drawings and collections need Silver.
• Paid plans are sold as annual subscriptions only; Day One's help guides say monthly plans are not offered.
• AI features are limited to Gold at $74.99 per year and have daily usage limits.
• Silver and Gold subscriptions cannot be shared through Apple Family Sharing.

Diaro

• Sync between devices and Diaro Online runs through your own Dropbox account and is a Pro feature.
• The free version shows ads, and export to PDF, DOCX or TXT needs Pro.
• The App Store version history shows the iOS app was last updated in December 2023 (version 2.0.2).
• The vendor's site lists no prices. The App Store in-app list shows $8.99 for a year of Pro, while the listing's own description says US$5.99 a year.

Day One

Multimedia entries

Entries combine Markdown-formatted text with photos, video, audio recordings, drawings and scanned PDFs. Basic allows 1 photo per entry; Silver and Gold allow 30 media items.

End-to-end encryption and app lock

Every plan, including the free one, lists end-to-end encryption, passcode protection, biometric lock and secure cloud backup.

Prompts, templates and streaks

A daily prompt, a prompt gallery, journal templates, reminders and journal streaks are included on all three plans.

On This Day, calendar and map views

On This Day resurfaces entries from the same date in past years, and entries can also be browsed by calendar, map or media.

Sync across devices

Silver and Gold sync a journal across an unlimited number of devices. Basic backs up from one active device, with web access included.

AI reflection tools

Gold adds Daily Chat for guided reflection, Go Deeper prompts, entry summaries, title suggestions and image generation, each with daily usage limits.

Diaro

Folders, tags and locations

Entries are filed in folders and labeled with tags and places, with automatic geotagging for new entries. There is no limit on entries per day or on attached photos.

Search and filters

Find entries by keyword and narrow them by date, tag, folder or location. A calendar view gives an overview of the days that have entries.

Mood tracker and statistics

Each entry can record a mood, and a statistics screen summarizes entries and moods. An atlas view maps entries, and an on-this-day view resurfaces past ones.

Lock and privacy

The diary can be locked with a PIN, security code or fingerprint. Entries in the mobile apps are stored on the device, and synced content sits in your own Dropbox account.

Dropbox sync and Diaro Online

Pro links a Dropbox account to sync entries between Android and iOS devices and Diaro Online, the browser version at diaroapp.com.

Import and export

Pro exports entries to PDF, DOCX or TXT for printing or sharing. Importers cover Day One, Journey, Evernote, Google Keep and Momento.

Day One

• Basic$0

  Unlimited text entries and journals, 1 photo per entry, end-to-end encryption, prompts and templates, on 1 device.

• Silver$49.99

  per year (no monthly plan is offered)

  30 photos or videos per entry, unlimited devices, audio recording and transcription, drawings, PDF scanning, and Strava, Zapier and IFTTT integrations.

• Gold$74.99

  per year (no monthly plan is offered)

  Everything in Silver, plus Daily Chat, Go Deeper prompts, entry summaries, title suggestions and image generation.

Diaro

• Free$0

  Unlimited diary entries with folders, tags, photos, mood tracking and a PIN lock, shown with ads and kept on one device.

• Diaro Pro 1 Year$8.99

  per year

  Dropbox sync across devices and Diaro Online, export to PDF, DOCX and TXT, no ads and priority support. The listing's description text quotes US$5.99 a year.

• Diaro PRO$39.99

  term not shown on the US App Store listing

  A second in-app purchase named Diaro PRO is listed at $39.99 with no term or description given.

Day One

• Education

  25% off for students for the first 4 years

  Day One's FAQ offers students 25% off paid subscriptions for the first 4 years, after verifying student status with support by student ID or university email.

Diaro

• Other savings

  Included in Google Play Pass on Android

  The Google Play listing says the Android app is part of Google Play Pass, which gives Play Pass subscribers the app free of ads and in-app purchases.