Head-to-head · Journal Apps
Apple Journal vs Stoic
Apple Journal leads on 0 checks, Stoic on 0, and 5 are even. Who comes out ahead on the 5 yes/no, price and count checks where we have data for both products. The editor score weighs everything else too.
Our verdict
- Highest scoreApple Journal · 9.0/10
- Free planboth
- Free trialonly Stoic
- Most featuresApple Journal · 4 of 5
Apple Journal scores higher on our rubric for journal apps: 9.0 against 8.7 out of 10; our editors rank them #4 and #7.
Apple Journal is the better fit for apple users wanting a polished free journal. Stoic is the better fit for guided reflection and mood tracking.
- Apple Journal fits best
Apple users wanting a polished free journal
- Stoic fits best
Guided reflection and mood tracking
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Side by side
| Feature | Apple Journal 9.0/10 Visit ↗ | Stoic 8.7/10 Visit ↗ |
|---|---|---|
| At a glance | ||
| Editor score | 9.0 | 8.7 |
| Ranking | #4 in Journal Apps | #7 in Journal Apps |
| Best for | Apple users wanting a polished free journal | Guided reflection and mood tracking |
| Pricing model | Free | Free plan + paid |
| Starting price | Free plan | — |
| Free plan | ✓ | ✓ |
| Free trial | — | 7 days |
| Deployment | Desktop, Mobile | Cloud, Mobile, Desktop |
| Platforms | iOS, macOS | Web, macOS, iOS, Android |
| Support | Phone, Live chat, Docs | Docs |
| Integrations | 5 integrations | 3 integrations |
| Built for | Solo | Solo, Small business, Mid-market |
| Features Apple Journal 4/5 · Stoic 3/5 | ||
| Media attachments | ✓ | ✓ |
| Offline access | Not checked yet | Not checked yet |
| Privacy lock | ✓ | ✓ |
| End-to-end encryption | ✓ (best) | Not checked yet |
| Search and filters | ✓ | ✓ |
| Specs | ||
| Export formats | Multiple | Multiple |
| Platform coverage | Not checked yet | All |
| Our review | ||
| Pros |
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| Cons |
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| Our verdict | Apple Journal is a free personal journaling app for recording everyday experiences and special events. It supports text entries, writing prompts and journaling suggestions, while allowing users to add photos, videos, audio recordings,… Read the review → |
Stoic is a journaling and mental-wellness app for people who want structure around daily reflection. It combines morning and evening reflections with guided journals, daily prompts, mood and habit tracking, meditation, breathing exercises,… Read the review → |
Strengths and trade-offs
Apple Journal — where it wins
- Rich attachments for photos, video, audio, locations, drawings and music
- Search, calendar, Places views, filters and multiple journals
- Passcode, biometric and Mac password locks with iCloud sync
Where it doesn't
- Availability centers on iPhone, iPad and Mac
- Apple ecosystem integrations may limit cross-platform flexibility
- Export is limited to ZIP files and PDFs, plus printing
Stoic — where it wins
- Guided reflections, prompts, meditation, and breathing exercises
- Mood and habit trends with search, filters, tags, and exports
- Passcode, Face ID, and Touch ID protection for journal entries
Where it doesn't
- iOS and Android experiences do not sync with each other
- iCloud sync is limited to Apple devices
- AI features require the Premium + AI plan
- Apple Journal9.0/10 · Free plan
A polished free journal with rich attachments, privacy controls and Apple ecosystem integration.
Visit Apple JournalFull verdict → - Stoic8.7/10 · Free plan · 7-day trial
A guided journal with mood tracking, wellness exercises, and optional AI support.
Visit StoicFull verdict →
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Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
Last updated · How we research and update






