Best free journal apps for iPhone (honest list) | Natus
The best free journal apps for iPhone: Apple Journal is completely free and already installed, How We Feel is free and built by a nonprofit, Daylio and stoic have usable free tiers, and Natus is free for your First Reading, Preview, private journal, and first Sunday letter. The catch to watch across the whole category: free tiers that shrink, and free apps whose entries disappear.
The options
Apple Journal
Best for: free and already on your phone
The only fully free option with zero upsell. The trade-off shows in its reviews: entries disappearing between devices or updates is the most common 1 star complaint, and it is iPhone only.
How We Feel
Best for: naming emotions, completely free
Built by a nonprofit with a Yale affiliation, free with no paywall games. It is an emotion tracker more than a journal, but it is the cleanest free option on this list.
Daylio
Best for: the lightest daily check-in
Mood and activity tracking without writing. The free tier covers the basics; advanced stats and extras are paid.
stoic
Best for: guided morning and evening prompts
A calm structure for reflection with a usable free tier. Some of its best prompts sit behind the paid plan.
Natus(this is us)
Best for: a free journal that reads you back
Free tier includes your First Reading built from your name and birth details, a five-page Preview, the journal itself, and your first Sunday letter. Paid plans add Ask Natus, Daily Notes, Sunday Reading every week, and the full Blueprint. No streaks, no ads, no features held hostage mid-write.
Free means different things
Apple Journal and How We Feel are fully free. Daylio and stoic have real free tiers with paid upgrades. Natus's free tier is a functional journal plus a First Reading, not a countdown to a paywall.
The complaints to watch
Across the category's 1 star reviews, free tiers shrink over time and free apps are the worst offenders for lost entries. Whatever you choose, check the export option on day one, not the day you want to leave.
Common questions
- Is there a completely free journal app?
- Apple Journal and How We Feel are both fully free. Apple Journal is the better writer, How We Feel is the better mood tool. Natus's free tier is a real journal plus the First Reading, not a time-limited trial.
- Which free journal app does not lose entries?
- No app can promise that, which is why regular exports matter. Lost entries are the second biggest complaint in journal app reviews overall. Whatever you pick, export or back up periodically.
- Are free journal apps private?
- It varies more by company than by price. Check whether the app sells or shares writing for advertising. Natus's stance is plain: no ads, and your writing is never sold or used to build an ad profile.