Apple Journal is free, already on your iPhone, and genuinely nice to write in. So why do so many people end up searching for an alternative? Usually it is not about features. It is about which phone they will have next year, and who else can open the app.
I build a journal app, so this is not a neutral review. But I will try to be fair about what Apple Journal does well, where it stops, and what to look for if you need something different.
What Apple Journal does well
Apple released Journal in December 2023 with iOS 17.2. It is free, there is nothing to set up, and it uses on-device machine learning to suggest moments to write about, like photos from a place or a workout. Apple says all Journal entries are end-to-end encrypted when stored in iCloud, and you can lock the app with your device passcode, Face ID or Touch ID.
With iOS 26 it got a lot better. Journal came to iPad and Mac, and added multiple journals, drawings and handwriting, a map of where you wrote, better search and recovery of deleted entries. If you live entirely in Apple’s world and like gentle suggestions, it is a very good choice.
Why people look for an Apple Journal alternative
It only runs on Apple devices. Journal works on iPhone, iPad and Mac. There is no Android version and no web version. If you use an Android phone, share a household with one, or might switch in a few years, your journal cannot come with you.
The lock opens with your phone’s passcode. That keeps out a stranger, but not someone who already knows how to unlock your phone, which for a journal is often the exact person you are worried about. We explain the difference in what to look for in a journal app with a lock.
It is tied to your Apple Account and iCloud. Apple’s encryption is strong, and for many people that is enough. Others simply prefer that their journal never leaves the phone at all, with no account behind it.
How to choose an alternative
Check it works on every phone you might use
A journal is a long-term habit. Pick an app that runs on both iPhone and Android if there is any chance you will switch.
Look for a lock that is separate from your phone
A journal PIN that is different from your phone’s passcode keeps out people who can unlock your phone.
Decide where your entries should live
Cloud sync is convenient across devices. Offline storage means nothing is on a server. Both are valid, but know which one you are choosing.
Make sure you can take your writing with you
Look for a backup or export option that saves your whole journal to a file you control.
Read the pricing before you write a hundred entries
Free, one-time purchase or yearly subscription. Find out now, not after your journal is locked in.
Apple Journal vs Yasura
| Apple Journal | Yasura | |
|---|---|---|
| iPhone | Yes | Yes |
| Android | No | Yes |
| iPad and Mac | Yes, since iOS 26 | No |
| Account | Your Apple Account | None |
| Where entries live | On device, synced end-to-end encrypted via iCloud | Only on your phone, 100% offline |
| Lock | Device passcode, Face ID or Touch ID | Its own PIN, plus Face ID or fingerprint |
| Writing suggestions | Yes, from your photos and activity | Prompt pack, no activity suggestions |
| Price | Free | Free, optional one-time unlock |
Yasura does not sync, so there is no iPad or Mac version and backups are your job. It also does not pull in your photos, workouts or locations the way Apple Journal does. If you want your journal on all your Apple devices with automatic suggestions, Apple Journal is the better fit, and it is free.
Where Yasura fits
I build Yasura, so read this part with that in mind. Yasura is a private journal for iPhone and Android. It works 100% offline with no account and no cloud, your journal is encrypted on your device, and it locks with its own PIN plus Face ID or your fingerprint. The free version includes rich text, photos and tags. An optional one-time Lifetime Unlock adds Decoy Mode, which keeps your entries protected if someone else picks up your phone, plus extra themes, PDF export and a daily reminder. It is available in eight languages.
Other good options exist too. If you want sync across many devices, Day One runs on both platforms with a subscription. Diarium works on Windows, Mac, iPhone and Android with a one-time purchase per platform. And a paper notebook works on every phone ever made.
Sources: Apple Newsroom, “Apple launches Journal app” (December 2023); 9to5Mac, “Apple’s Journal app is coming to iPad and Mac with big upgrades”; Wikipedia, “Journal (Apple)”.
Try Yasura
A private journal for iPhone and Android. 100% offline, no account, encrypted on your device, locked with its own PIN. Free to download, no subscription.