Apple Journal vs Diarly The complete Apple Journal alternative.
For when you want more from your journal.
Apple's Journal is free, built in on your iPhone, and a good place to begin. Switch to Diarly if you have caught the habit and want templates, Markdown, undated notes, your own look, and a journal you can export as Markdown files.
4.7 from 23,000+ ratings across iPhone, iPad and Mac worldwide · Free to start · Imports Apple JournalApple Journal may suit you better if
You want a free journal that is already on your iPhone, iPad and Mac and syncs through iCloud at no cost. You mostly write from Apple's suggestions of photos, workouts and places.
Diarly may suit you better if
You want reusable templates, Markdown, undated notes beside your daily entries, dozens of customizable themes and fonts of your choice, custom backgrounds. You want to write or dictate from your Apple Watch, and to keep a copy of everything as Markdown files.
Apple Journal vs Diarly The two apps, side by side.
| Topic | Apple Journal | Diarly |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free, built into your devices | Free to start. Premium adds sync, encryption and multiple journals. |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad and Mac | iPhone, iPad, Mac and Apple Watch |
| Sync across devices | Free, through iCloud | With Premium, through your own iCloud |
| Multiple journals | Yes | One in the free plan, unlimited with Premium |
| Journaling Suggestions | Yes | Yes |
| Mood | Log your state of mind in an entry. It is saved to Apple Health. | Log a mood on any entry or from Today, see mood Insights over time, find entries by mood, and save each mood to State of Mind with two-way sync with Apple Health. |
| Export | ZIP file or PDF | Markdown for free. PDF, Rich Text and EPUB with Premium. |
| Import from other apps | — | Apple Journal, Day One, Journey, Markdown and many more |
Apple Journal details checked on September 30, 2026 against Apple's Journal User Guide, Apple Support, Apple's guide to journaling for wellbeing and Apple's Journal guide for iPad. Plans and features change, so check there for the latest.
“I have been using Diarly for about a month after many years with Day One, Diarium and, recently, Apple’s own Journal application. … Synchronisation across devices is effortless and always reliable relying on Apple’s iCloud tech and not some third-party server.”
“The app is absolutely fantastic. It’s hands down the best, most polished, and feature complete journaling app out there. Great fan!”
“Diarly has some great features such as: multiple journals, tags, notes, multi-image per entry, templates, encryption, themes, on-this-day reminders etc. I like that it’s not overly complicated and the UI is clean and simple to use.”
What you get in Diarly Room to grow into.
Templates that fill themselves in
Save the questions you want to answer each day. A template can automatically add the weather, today's photos, your calendar and Apple Health details before you start.
A journal and a notebook
Daily entries go on the timeline. Use notes to create lists, drafts, and plans. Diarly offers dated entries and undated notes, so you do not need a separate app.
Your look, your files
Write in Markdown, choose a theme, a font, and a background, and export the whole journal as Markdown files that open in any text editor.
Import from Apple Journal Bring your entries along.
Your Apple Journal stays where it is. You import a copy.
- Export from Journal. Apple's Journal app saves your entries as a ZIP file.
- Import into Diarly. On Mac, choose File → Import. On iPhone and iPad, open Settings and choose Import. Pick Apple Journal and select the export.
- Keep the suggestions. On iPhone, Apple's Journaling Suggestions are one tap away while you write in Diarly.
Questions from Apple Journal users
Can I move my Apple Journal entries to Diarly?
Yes. Export your entries from Apple's Journal app, then choose Import in Diarly and select Apple Journal. Find the full import guide here.
Can I still use Apple's Journaling Suggestions?
Yes. On iPhone, Diarly shows Apple's Journaling Suggestions while you write, so you can start an entry from a photo, a place or a workout. How Journaling Suggestions work in Diarly.
Is Diarly free like Apple Journal?
Diarly is free for one journal on one device, with unlimited entries and photos. Syncing between devices needs Premium, while Apple Journal syncs through iCloud for free. Compare Diarly Free and Premium.
Does Diarly work on Apple Watch?
Yes. Dictate or scribble a quick note from your wrist, and it appears in your journal the next time you open Diarly on your iPhone.
Can I lock my journal in Diarly?
Yes, for free. Set a password in Diarly, then unlock with Face ID or Touch ID. Premium adds optional encryption for your entry text.
Can I get my journal back out of Diarly?
Yes. Export everything as Markdown files at any time, included on the free plan. Premium adds PDF, Rich Text and EPUB exports. Explore export options.
Bring your entries along.
Import your Apple Journal and keep writing where you left off.
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