The Grid Diary Insider’s Guide
Everything we know about Grid Diary in one document: what it costs, its grades, getting a refund, getting help and what else to look at. Read it here, or keep a copy.
Grid Diary
The Insider’s Guide
Prompt-based diary and planner laid out as a grid of questions
Every plan, grade, refund rule and rival among journaling apps, read from Grid Diary’s own pages.
Made by Sumi Interactive · checked Oct 9, 2026 · toolgpa.com
Contents
- 01WelcomeWhat it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
- 02What it costsEvery plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
- 03What it doesIts main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
- 04Where it standsIts grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
- 05The alternativesThe tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
- 06Quick answersThe questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
- 07About ToolGPAWho made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
ToolGPA put this guide together from Grid Diary’s own pages, its app-store listings and our grades. Every fact in it is on Grid Diary’s page too, where it is kept up to date. Checked Oct 9, 2026.
Part 01 · Overview
Welcome
What it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
2.4
GPA, above 7 of the 35 other journaling apps we grade
Grid Diary is a journaling app from Sumi Interactive that replaces the blank page with a grid of prompts, so each entry is written one question at a time. Daily, weekly, monthly and yearly entries share the same format, and templates turn it into a gratitude journal, goal tracker or planner. Apps are listed for iPhone, iPad, Mac and Android. Many features are free, and one membership subscription unlocks sync between devices, a passcode lock and extra themes.
To get you started, here are 9 things to know about Grid Diary, taken from its own pages and our grades.
Many features are free, but nobody says which, and sync between devices and the passcode lock both need the membership.
- 1
Best for answering prompts in place of a blank page
Grid Diary swaps the blank page for a grid of questions, so you write your diary one small box at a time, daily, weekly, monthly or yearly.
- 2
Paid plans start at $2.50 a month when paid by the year
As its pricing page puts it: $4.99 per month, or $29.99 per year.
- 3
There is a free plan
Many of the app's features are free to use. Sync between all your devices, the passcode lock and more color themes are member-only.
- 4
It runs on 3 platforms
macOS, iOS and Android.
- 5
Grid format with prompts
An entry is a customizable grid of prompted boxes on a single page. Prompts come from a built-in library, or you can write your own.
- 6
Day, week, month and year entries
Separate daily, weekly, monthly and yearly entries let you plan and review at each time scale within the same journal.
- 7
Templates
Customizable templates cover a gratitude journal, a goal tracker, a weekly planner and more, so the app can double as a planner.
- 8
A 2.4 GPA, above 7 of 35
That is against the other journaling apps we grade, on value, the free plan, features, ease of use and platforms.
- 9
Your call
A journal at its plainest is dated entries of text and photos.
Grid Diary at a glance
- Pricing
- Free plan, from $4.99 per month, or $29.99 per year
- Free plan
- Yes
- Free trial
- The US App Store gives 3 days free on the monthly plan and 1 week on the annual plan; the vendor's site says 14 days on annual.
- Runs on
- macOS, iOS, Android
- Made by
- Sumi Interactive, since 2013
- Category
- Journaling Apps
- Our grade
- 2.4 GPA, fair
- Store rating
- 4.6 on the App Store, 963 ratings
The report card
Best for answering prompts in place of a blank page
Grid Diary swaps the blank page for a grid of questions, so you write your diary one small box at a time, daily, weekly, monthly or yearly. Many features are free, but nobody says which, and sync between devices and the passcode lock both need the membership. The site and the App Store quote different prices, and there's no Windows or web version.
| Subject | Grade | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | C | Membership is $4.99 a month on the US App Store, where a quarter of journaling apps come in under $2.99 and the dear quarter starts at $5.75. Ordinary, then. The year at $29.99 is the better buy, and Grid Diary's own site quotes less again, $2.99 monthly and $22.99 annual, which is a muddle. |
| Free plan and trial | C | Many features are free, but nobody draws the line for you, and what's clearly held back is what you'd want: sync between devices, the passcode lock and the extra themes. So free means one device and an unlocked diary, after a 3-day or 1-week trial. |
| Features | C | The basics in an unusual shape: a grid of prompted boxes per entry, daily, weekly, monthly and yearly, templates for gratitude, goals and planning, a Markdown editor, several journals, tags and export to PDF, Markdown and JPG. Photos are the only attachment named, and the lock is members only. |
| Ease of use | B | 4.62 from 963 App Store ratings. You answer one short question a box rather than face an empty page, and templates set the grid up for you. The App Store version wants iOS 26, iPadOS 26 or macOS 26. |
| Platforms and integrations | B | Computer and both phones: iPhone, iPad, Mac and Android, with no Windows app and no web version, so a PC is out. Apple Health is the only connection on record, and sync between devices is members only. |
An A is worth 4 points, a B 3, a C 2, a D 1 and an F nothing. The GPA is the average of the five.
Who Grid Diary is for
- Fits if a blank page stops you and answering prompts gets you going
- Works for weekly, monthly and yearly reviews next to a daily diary
Who it is not for
- Skip it if you want a locked diary for free, as the passcode lock is members only
- Tight if you're staying free on two devices, since sync needs the membership
- Not for you if you're on Windows or want a web version, as neither is offered
- Watch out: the site quotes $2.99 monthly and $22.99 a year, while the App Store lists $4.99 and $29.99
- Watch out: the App Store version needs iOS 26, iPadOS 26 or macOS 26, and trials are 3 days or 1 week
Good to know
Good for
- People who find a blank page hard and prefer answering prompts
- Weekly, monthly and yearly reviews alongside a daily diary
- Building a custom journal or planner from templates
Worth knowing
- Sync between devices, the passcode lock and extra color themes require the paid membership.
- The vendor's site quotes $2.99 monthly and $22.99 annual, while the US App Store lists $4.99 and $29.99.
- Apps are listed for iPhone, iPad, Mac and Android; no Windows app is offered.
- The App Store version requires iOS 26, iPadOS 26 or macOS 26 or later.
Part 02 · Pricing
What it costs
Every plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
$2.50
A month to start, paid by the year. There is a free plan too
Grid Diary has a free plan. Paid plans start at $4.99 per month, or $29.99 per year.
Free
$0
Many of the app's features without a subscription. Sync between devices, the passcode lock and extra color themes are excluded.
Membership
$4.99
per month, or $29.99 per year (US App Store)
One in-app subscription covering all your devices: sync, passcode lock, more color themes and future member-only features.
The free plan
Many of the app's features are free to use. Sync between all your devices, the passcode lock and more color themes are member-only.
Trying it first
The US App Store gives 3 days free on the monthly plan and 1 week on the annual plan; the vendor's site says 14 days on annual.
Read from apps.apple.com on Oct 9, 2026.
Ways to pay less
Annual discount
About 50% less with the annual membership
The US App Store lists the membership at $4.99 monthly or $29.99 annual, which is about 50% less than twelve monthly payments.
Stated on apps.apple.com
What the app costs elsewhere
Each country’s App Store price for “Monthly”, against $4.99 in the United States, in dollars at the day’s rate. The four cheapest and the four dearest of 11.
| Country | Price there | In dollars | Against the US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Turkey | ₺199,99 | $4.07 | 18% less |
| Philippines | ₱ 299.00 | $4.76 | about the same |
| Canada | $6.99 | $4.91 | about the same |
| Brazil | R$ 24,90 | $4.98 | about the same |
| Australia | $7.99 | $5.58 | 12% more |
| South Africa | R99.99 | $6.05 | 21% more |
| United Kingdom | £4.99 | $6.60 | 32% more |
| Germany | 5,99 € | $6.71 | 35% more |
Part 03 · Features
What it does
Its main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
3
Places it runs: macOS, iOS and Android
Prompt-based diary and planner laid out as a grid of questions. Here is what it does, as its own site describes it, and what it covers: Markdown, daily notes, templates, habit tracking.
Photos are the only attachment named, and the lock is members only.
- Grid format with prompts
- An entry is a customizable grid of prompted boxes on a single page. Prompts come from a built-in library, or you can write your own.
- Day, week, month and year entries
- Separate daily, weekly, monthly and yearly entries let you plan and review at each time scale within the same journal.
- Templates
- Customizable templates cover a gratitude journal, a goal tracker, a weekly planner and more, so the app can double as a planner.
- Mandala layout
- A 9-grid layout inspired by the mandala keeps a fixed center cell, which the vendor compares to journaling as a mind map.
- Markdown editor and attachments
- The editor supports Markdown with rich preview, inline images and to-dos, and photos can be attached to entries.
- Multiple journals, tags and export
- Keep dedicated journals for areas such as family, work and travel, organize entries with tags, and export in PDF, Markdown, JPG and other formats.
Where it runs
- macOS
- iOS
- Android
What it works with
- Apple Health
Grid Diary is made by Sumi Interactive, and has been around since 2013.
Part 04 · Standing
Where it stands
Its grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
7/35
Other journaling apps it is graded above
Grid Diary's GPA of 2.4 is higher than 7 of the 35 other journaling apps we grade, and level with 7.
It stands best on platforms and integrations (B, above 22 of 35) and worst on features (C, above 0).
Its paid plans start at $2.50 a month when paid by the year, against a middle price of $3.66 for the category: 4 of the 21 others that charge start lower.
On features, ease of use and platforms it scores 2.7 out of 4. 2 tools score higher and cost less.
Each grade against the category
Every bar is all 36 journaling apps we grade, cut by the letter each got. Grid Diary’s own letter is outlined.
- CValue for moneyAbove 4 of 35
- CFree plan and trialAbove 2 of 35
- CFeaturesAbove 0 of 35
- BEase of useAbove 3 of 35
- BPlatforms and integrationsAbove 22 of 35
Price against what you get
Each dot is one of 29 journaling apps. Further left costs less; higher up scores better on features, ease of use and platforms. Grid Diary is the marked dot.
What paid plans start at, a month (each step along is roughly double) →
Keep it, or make your own?
Whether this is something you could build for yourself with an AI app builder, and what you would give up.
Your call
A journal at its plainest is dated entries of text and photos.
You could make the core of Grid Diary for yourself: daily notes, templates, Markdown and habit tracking. What you would give up is listed below. Whether that is worth the price is your call. At $29.99 a year it costs less than the weekend it would take to replace, which is the argument for keeping it.
What you could make
- Daily notes, templates, Markdown and habit tracking: an app builder makes these well.
What you could not
- Apps for macOS, iOS and Android that stay in step with each other.
- Sharing with other people, which means accounts and invitations.
What this rests on. Grid Diary’s listing: what it does, where it runs, what it plugs into and what it costs. It is a judgement about the kind of software this is. We have not built a replacement for it, and making your own means looking after it too. How we decide, and every tool’s verdict.
Part 05 · Alternatives
The alternatives
The tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
Day One, Journey, Five Minute Journal, Daylio and Diarium
The 5 tools Grid Diary is most often weighed against, with where each one differs from it.
- 3.2GPA
Day One
Free plan · from $49.99/yr
Encrypted journal for text, photos, audio and video across devices.
- Only Day One lists a web app.
- Only Day One lists a Windows app.
- Only Day One lists a browser extension.
- 2.8GPA
Journey
Free plan · from $17.99 one-time
Cross-platform diary with maps, mood tracking and guided programs.
- Only Journey lists a web app.
- Only Journey lists Windows and Linux apps.
- Journey is end-to-end encrypted, according to its own site.
- 2.6GPA
Five Minute Journal
Free plan · from $4.99/mo
Guided gratitude journal with short morning and evening prompts.
- Only Grid Diary lists a macOS app.
- Five Minute Journal can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- Grid Diary also covers Markdown, templates and habit tracking.
- 2.4GPA
Daylio
Free plan · from $4.99
Mood tracker and micro-diary you fill in with a couple of taps.
- Only Grid Diary lists a macOS app.
- Grid Diary also covers Markdown.
- Daylio also covers goals and mood tracking.
- 3.2GPA
Diarium
Free plan · from $14.99 one-time
Private journal with a one-time Pro purchase and your own cloud sync.
- Only Diarium lists a Windows app.
- Diarium can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- Grid Diary also covers Markdown and habit tracking.
Part 06 · Questions
Quick answers
The questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
15
Questions, each answered in a line or two
The short version of everything above, for when you only need the answer. Each one is told in full in its part of the guide.
Is Grid Diary free?
Grid Diary has a free plan. Many of the app's features are free to use.
How much does Grid Diary cost?
Grid Diary lists 2 plans. Free: $0.
What platforms does Grid Diary work on?
Grid Diary is available on macOS, iOS and Android.
Does Grid Diary offer any discounts?
Grid Diary publicly lists the following: About 50% less with the annual membership.
How is Grid Diary rated?
Grid Diary's iPhone and iPad app averages 4.6 out of 5 from 963 ratings on the App Store in the United States, as read on Oct 5, 2026.
Does Grid Diary have a Windows app?
No Windows app was listed when its pages were read on Oct 9, 2026. Grid Diary is listed for macOS, iOS and Android.
Does Grid Diary have a Linux app?
No Linux app was listed when its pages were read on Oct 9, 2026. Grid Diary is listed for macOS, iOS and Android.
Is Grid Diary open source?
Grid Diary is not described as open source on its own site, as read on Oct 9, 2026.
What does Grid Diary integrate with?
Grid Diary's listing names Apple Health. A listing names up to eight integrations, so it may connect to more.
Does Grid Diary have a free trial?
Yes. The US App Store gives 3 days free on the monthly plan and 1 week on the annual plan; the vendor's site says 14 days on annual.
Who makes Grid Diary?
Grid Diary is made by Sumi Interactive. It dates from 2013.
What are the alternatives to Grid Diary?
The closest alternatives to Grid Diary in our directory are Day One, Journey, Five Minute Journal, Daylio and Diarium.
How does Grid Diary compare with other journaling apps?
Grid Diary's GPA of 2.4 is higher than 7 of the 35 other journaling apps we grade, and level with 7.
Is Grid Diary good value for money?
ToolGPA grades Grid Diary C for value for money. Its paid plans start at $2.50 a month when paid by the year, against a middle price of $3.66 for the category: 4 of the 21 others that charge start lower.
Could I make my own version of Grid Diary?
A journal at its plainest is dated entries of text and photos. You could make the core of Grid Diary for yourself: daily notes, templates, Markdown and habit tracking.
Where this guide comes from
The prices, plans, platforms and features were read from Grid Diary’s own pages on Oct 9, 2026, and the grades were given on Oct 10, 2026. Graded from this listing, whose facts were read from Grid Diary's own pages on 9 October 2026, and its App Store rating. Also tested with a demo account on 2026-01-20.
Every tool we list gets five grades, A to F, each with its reason, and a GPA that averages them. How each is decided is at toolgpa.com/grades. This guide is ToolGPA’s own work; it is not made, paid for or approved by Sumi Interactive. Prices change, so check griddiaryapp.com before you buy.
Part 07 · About
About ToolGPA
Who made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
3,189
Tools graded, in 94 categories
ToolGPA grades software the way a school report grades a pupil: five subjects, a letter for each with the reason written beside it, and a GPA that averages them. Prices, plans and platforms are read from each maker’s own pages and dated, so you always know how fresh a figure is.
Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. Every tool on the site has a guide like this one, free to download and pass on. It all lives at toolgpa.com.
3,189
tools graded
94
categories
426
price changes on record
579
apps priced in 12 countries
What else is on toolgpa.com
- Grid Diary, kept up to dateEverything in this guide, with prices and grades as they are todaytoolgpa.com/tools/grid-diary
- How grades are givenThe rules behind every letter and every GPAtoolgpa.com/grades
- Value chartsWhat each tool costs against what it scores, for every categorytoolgpa.com/charts
- CompareAny two tools side by side, plan by plantoolgpa.com/compare
- Price changesEvery price rise and cut on record, each with its sourcetoolgpa.com/price-changes
- Prices by countryWhat apps cost on the App Store in 12 countriestoolgpa.com/prices-by-country
- Pay lessEvery public discount: yearly billing, students, nonprofitstoolgpa.com/save
- Keep or makeWhich tools are worth paying for, and which you could build yourselftoolgpa.com/keep-or-make
Scan for the live page
Prices and grades as they are today
Quoting this guide?
Please name ToolGPA and link to the live page, so readers can check the figures for themselves:
ToolGPA, "Grid Diary: The Insider's Guide", checked Oct 9, 2026. https://toolgpa.com/tools/grid-diary
Know someone choosing between journaling apps?
Send them this guide: toolgpa.com/tools/grid-diary/guide
ToolGPA elsewhere: youtube.com/@toolgpa
See our other guides
The best-graded journaling apps after Grid Diary, each with an Insider's Guide of its own.
- Journaling Apps Insider's GuideEvery one of the 36 journaling apps we grade, compared
- Apple Journal Insider's GuideApple's free journaling app for iPhone, iPad and Mac3.2 GPA
- Day One Insider's GuideEncrypted journal for text, photos, audio and video across devices3.2 GPA
- Diarium Insider's GuidePrivate journal with a one-time Pro purchase and your own cloud sync3.2 GPA
Choosing software? Every tool graded, every price dated.
Compare tools at toolgpa.com ›Everything in this guide is ToolGPA’s own summary of what Grid Diary’s pages, its app-store listings and public reviews said on the dates shown. Grades are our judgement under the rules at toolgpa.com/grades. Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. Grid Diary is a trademark of its owner, and this guide is not made, paid for or approved by Sumi Interactive. Prices and plans change: check griddiaryapp.com before you buy.