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Apple Journal

Apple's free journaling app for iPhone, iPad and Mac

FreeJournalingChecked Oct 5, 20264.8 on the App Store
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What is Apple Journal?

Journal is Apple's free journaling app for iPhone, iPad and Mac. Entries combine formatted text with photos, videos, drawings, map locations and voice recordings that are transcribed automatically, and journaling suggestions built on the device offer recent moments and prompts to write about. Entries can be split across multiple journals, locked with a passcode, Touch ID or Face ID, and synced between devices through iCloud.

Apple Journal is free to use. See every plan

Good for

  • iPhone, iPad and Mac owners who want a journal at no cost
  • People who like prompts drawn from their photos, workouts and outings
  • Logging state of mind to the Health app alongside written entries

Worth knowing

  • Listed only for iPhone, iPad and Mac; no Android, Windows or web version is offered.
  • Apple says audio transcription is available in English only, excluding the Singapore and India locales.
  • End-to-end encryption of entries stored in iCloud requires two-factor authentication and a device passcode.
  • On Mac, journal entries are not included in iCloud backups; Apple points to Time Machine for a backup copy.

Key features

Journaling suggestions
Suggested moments group outings, photos, workouts and media into starting points for an entry, alongside writing and reflection prompts. Suggestions are created with on-device processing.
Text, media and voice entries
Entries hold formatted text, photos, videos, drawings and map locations. Voice recordings made in the app are transcribed automatically.
Multiple journals and Places
Separate journals can each have a custom name and icon. The Places view shows entries on a map by location, and entries can be searched, filtered and bookmarked.
Insights and reminders
Insights shows the current writing streak, the days journaled and other statistics. Scheduled and streak notifications remind you when it is time to write.
State of mind logging
A state of mind can be logged from within Journal and saved to the Health app, and writing time is saved to Health as Mindful Minutes.
Lock, sync and export
The journal can be locked with a passcode, Touch ID or Face ID. Entries sync through iCloud and can be printed or exported to PDF, singly or by date range.

Apple Journal pricing

Starts at
Free
Free plan
The app is listed as free on the US App Store with no in-app purchases shown. Syncing between devices runs through iCloud with an Apple Account.
Free trial
None listed
Free$0Every feature of the app on iPhone, iPad and Mac, including multiple journals, journaling suggestions, Insights and iCloud sync.

Read from apps.apple.com on Oct 5, 2026. Prices change, so confirm with Apple Journal before you buy.

Pricing in detail

What people say about Apple Journal

4.8

out of 5 for the iPhone and iPad app

  1. 5 stars86%
  2. 4 stars9%
  3. 3 stars3%
  4. 2 stars<1%
  5. 1 star1%

328,824 ratings on the App Store in the United States, read Oct 7, 2026. It rates the app, not everything the product does. See the listing

Often praised

  • Reviewers like how plain and uncluttered it is, describing an app they can open and simply write in. App Store reviews
  • Adding photos, voice recordings, music or the app's own suggestions to an entry is a feature several reviewers pick out. App Store reviews

Often criticised

  • Several reviewers find it too bare next to other journaling and writing apps, with text formatting, search and tags among the things they miss. App Store reviews
  • Reviewers run into limits on what can be attached to an entry, such as an existing voice memo, a file or photos taken on another camera. App Store reviews

Based on 10 App Store reviews from February 2024 to September 2026, eight of them four or five stars. Hacker News had only a few passing mentions, read Oct 7, 2026. These are themes summarised in our words, not our own verdict. Follow the links to read what was said.

Apple Journal reviews, and where to read more

Works with

Apple Journal alternatives

All Apple Journal alternatives comparedAll journaling apps

Common questions

Is Apple Journal free?

Yes. Apple Journal is free to use. The app is listed as free on the US App Store with no in-app purchases shown. Syncing between devices runs through iCloud with an Apple Account.

How much does Apple Journal cost?

Apple Journal lists one plan. Free: $0. Prices were read from apps.apple.com on Oct 5, 2026.

What platforms does Apple Journal work on?

Apple Journal is available on iOS and macOS.

How is Apple Journal rated?

Apple Journal's iPhone and iPad app averages 4.8 out of 5 from 328,824 ratings on the App Store in the United States, as read on Oct 7, 2026. That is the store's rating of the app, not a score from us.

Is Apple Journal any good?

We have not tested Apple Journal, so this is what reviewers say. Often praised: Reviewers like how plain and uncluttered it is, describing an app they can open and simply write in. Often criticised: Several reviewers find it too bare next to other journaling and writing apps, with text formatting, search and tags among the things they miss. The reviews page has every theme with its sources.

Does Apple Journal have an Android app?

No Android app was listed when its pages were read on Oct 5, 2026. Apple Journal is listed for iOS and macOS.

Does Apple Journal have a Windows app?

No Windows app was listed when its pages were read on Oct 5, 2026. Apple Journal is listed for iOS and macOS.

Is Apple Journal open source?

Apple Journal is not described as open source on its own site, as read on Oct 5, 2026.

Is Apple Journal end-to-end encrypted?

Apple Journal describes itself as end-to-end encrypted on its own site. Nobody here has audited that.

What does Apple Journal integrate with?

Apple Journal's listing names Apple Health, iCloud, Apple Music and Safari. A listing names up to eight integrations, so it may connect to more.

Who makes Apple Journal?

Apple Journal is made by Apple.

What are the alternatives to Apple Journal?

The closest alternatives to Apple Journal in our directory are Day One, Diarly, Journey and Diarium. Each one has a side-by-side comparison with Apple Journal.

Sources for this page

The prices, plans, platforms and features above were read from these pages on Oct 5, 2026. What people say is linked where it appears.