7 Best Diary Apps in 2026 (Honest Comparison)

Looking for the perfect diary app? With dozens of options available, choosing the right one can feel overwhelming. We've tested the most popular journaling apps to give you an honest comparison — including our own app, Hello Diary — so you can make an informed decision.

Disclosure: We make Hello Diary, so we obviously believe in our product. But we've written this guide to be genuinely helpful, acknowledging where other apps might be better for certain users. Your journaling practice matters more than which app you choose.

What to Look for in a Diary App

Before diving into specific apps, here's what actually matters when choosing a digital diary:

• Privacy & Security: How is your data protected? Is it encrypted? Does the company read your entries?
• Ease of Use: How quickly can you create an entry? Is the interface intuitive?
• Features: Does it have what you need (prompts, photos, voice, search, export)?
• Cross-Platform: Can you access it on all your devices?
• Pricing: Is it free, subscription, or one-time purchase?
• Longevity: Will this app (and your data) still exist in 10 years?

The 7 Best Diary Apps in 2026

1. Hello Diary

Best for: Voice journaling and maximum privacy

Hello Diary is a voice-first journaling app with a strong focus on privacy. You can speak your thoughts naturally, and they're automatically transcribed. What sets it apart is the privacy-first approach: no AI analyzes your entries, speech recognition happens on-device, and everything is encrypted.

Pros:

• Voice journaling with automatic transcription
• On-device speech recognition (your voice never leaves your phone)
• End-to-end encryption
• No AI analysis of your thoughts
• Beautiful, intuitive interface
• Mood tracking and streaks

Cons:

• Currently Android-only (iOS coming)
• No web version yet
• Newer app, smaller community

Pricing: Free with optional premium features

2. Day One

Best for: Long-term journaling with rich media

Day One has been around since 2011 and is one of the most polished journaling apps available. It excels at combining text, photos, and location data into beautiful entries.

Pros:

• Mature, stable app with 10+ years of development
• Excellent photo integration
• Available on iOS, Mac, Android, and web
• Beautiful printed book option
• End-to-end encryption available

Cons:

• Premium features require subscription ($35/year)
• AI features analyze your writing (privacy concern for some)
• Can feel overwhelming with too many features
• Owned by Automattic (large corporation)

Pricing: Free tier available, Premium $34.99/year

3. Journey

Best for: Cross-platform users who want Google Drive sync

Journey works across essentially every platform and can sync through Google Drive, giving you control over your data storage.

Pros:

• Available everywhere (iOS, Android, Mac, Windows, Linux, Web, Chrome)
• Sync via Google Drive (you own your data)
• Markdown support
• Coach feature with guided prompts

Cons:

• Interface feels dated compared to competitors
• Google Drive sync means data is stored in Google's cloud
• Premium required for full features

Pricing: Free tier, Premium $39.99/year

4. Notion

Best for: People who want journaling integrated with productivity

Notion isn't a dedicated journal app, but many people use it for journaling alongside notes, projects, and life organization.

Pros:

• Incredibly flexible — build your own journaling system
• Database features for tracking patterns
• Free for personal use
• Great for people already using Notion

Cons:

• Not designed for journaling specifically
• Requires setup and maintenance
• No true encryption — Notion can read your data
• Not private by design
• Overkill if you just want to journal

Pricing: Free personal plan, Plus $8/month

5. Daylio

Best for: Mood tracking without writing

Daylio takes a unique approach — it's a "micro-diary" where you log your mood and activities with taps rather than writing. Great for people who find traditional journaling too time-consuming.

Pros:

• Super fast daily check-ins (30 seconds)
• Excellent mood and habit statistics
• No writing required
• Identifies patterns in your mood

Cons:

• Limited for actual journaling/writing
• Not for processing complex thoughts
• Can feel reductive for deep reflection

Pricing: Free with ads, Premium $35.99/year

6. Penzu

Best for: Simple, private online diary

Penzu focuses on providing a simple, secure online diary experience that mimics a traditional paper journal.

Pros:

• Simple, distraction-free writing
• Military-grade encryption
• Web-based (access from any computer)
• Custom journal covers

Cons:

• Mobile apps feel outdated
• Limited features compared to competitors
• Interface hasn't evolved much

Pricing: Free tier, Pro $19.99/year

7. Standard Notes

Best for: Privacy purists and tech-savvy users

Standard Notes is an encrypted notes app that can be used for journaling. It's open-source and puts privacy first.

Pros:

• Open-source and audited
• End-to-end encrypted by default
• Available on all platforms
• 100-year company plan for longevity
• Can self-host

Cons:

• Not designed specifically for journaling
• Less intuitive than dedicated journal apps
• Journal-specific features require premium

Pricing: Free tier, Productivity $90/year

Comparison Table

How to Choose the Right App for You

Choose Hello Diary if:

• You prefer speaking over typing
• Privacy is your top priority
• You want your voice data to stay on your device
• You use Android

Choose Day One if:

• You want a mature, feature-rich app
• You journal with lots of photos
• You want cross-platform access including web
• You don't mind AI analyzing your entries

Choose Journey if:

• You want to sync via Google Drive
• You need access on every platform
• You like guided journaling prompts

Choose Notion if:

• You already use Notion for other things
• You want to build a custom journaling system
• Privacy isn't your main concern

Choose Daylio if:

• You want to track mood without writing
• You only have 30 seconds per day
• You want to see mood patterns over time

Choose Standard Notes if:

• You're technically savvy and privacy-focused
• You want open-source and auditable security
• You prefer minimal, distraction-free tools

The Most Important Thing

Here's the truth: the best diary app is the one you'll actually use. Features don't matter if the app sits unused on your phone.

Try a few options. Most have free tiers. See which one feels right when you open it at the end of a long day. That's your app.

Journaling has changed countless lives. The specific tool matters far less than the practice itself. Pick something, start today, and adjust later if needed.