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Head-to-head · Journal Apps

Diarium vs Penzu

  • Updated Oct 2026
  • Both researched from official sources
  • 5 checks side by side
Higher score Diarium #2 in Journal Apps 9.2/10 Free plan · 7-day trial Free planFree trial✓ 4 of 5 features Visit Diarium
Penzu #10 in Journal Apps 8.4/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 4 of 5 features Visit Penzu

Diarium leads on 0 checks, Penzu 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 scoreDiarium · 9.2/10
  • Free planboth
  • Free trialonly Diarium

Diarium scores higher on our rubric for journal apps: 9.2 against 8.4 out of 10; our editors rank them #2 and #10.

Diarium is the better fit for feature-rich journaling across major platforms. Penzu is the better fit for simple private journaling with web access.

  • Diarium fits best

    Feature-rich journaling across major platforms

  • Penzu fits best

    Simple private journaling with web access

Advertiser disclosure: iTechGuides is reader-supported. Vendors can pay for top positions in our rankings and for a place on other products' pages, and we may earn a commission when you click some links. Bought places stand at the number bought; this page and our disclosure say so. Paying vendors may get a fuller, more detailed review from our editors, and that review can change their score. How we rank.

Side by side

Feature Diarium 9.2/10 Visit ↗ Penzu 8.4/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score 9.2 8.4
Ranking #2 in Journal Apps #10 in Journal Apps
Best for Feature-rich journaling across major platforms Simple private journaling with web access
Pricing model Free plan + paid Free plan + paid
Starting price — —
Free plan ✓ ✓
Free trial 7 days —
Deployment Desktop, Mobile Cloud, Mobile
Platforms Windows, macOS, iOS, Android Web, iOS, Android
Support Email, Docs Email, Docs
Built for Solo, Small business Solo, Small business
Features Diarium 4/5 · Penzu 4/5
Media attachments ✓ ✓
Offline access ✓ ✓
Privacy lock ✓ ✓
End-to-end encryption Not checked yet Not checked yet
Search and filters ✓ ✓
Specs
Export formats Multiple Multiple
Platform coverage All All
Our review
Pros
  • Supports Windows, macOS, iOS and Android
  • Offers rich media, mood, location and travel journaling
  • Exports to Word, HTML, JSON and plain text
  • Unlimited entries on the free Basic plan
  • Web, iOS, and Android access with reminders and search
  • Privacy controls, tagging, photos, sharing, and PDF export
Cons
  • Pro pricing varies by platform and region
  • Advanced features are limited on the Free plan
  • Not open source
  • Advanced customization, export, and recovery require paid plans
  • The product focuses on journaling rather than broader integrations
  • Encryption locking is documented, but not end-to-end encryption
Our verdict

Diarium is a personal journal and diary app for recording notes, reflections, photos, videos, audio, locations, moods and travel memories. It supports Windows, macOS, iOS and Android, making it suitable for people who want one journaling…

Read the review →

Penzu is a cloud-based diary and personal journaling service for recording thoughts, daily experiences, dreams, milestones, and other private writing. It combines a web interface with iOS and Android apps, making it suitable for people who…

Read the review →
  1. DiariumJournal Apps 9.2Free plan · 7-day trial
  2. PenzuJournal Apps 8.4Free plan

Strengths and trade-offs

  • Diarium — where it wins

    • Supports Windows, macOS, iOS and Android
    • Offers rich media, mood, location and travel journaling
    • Exports to Word, HTML, JSON and plain text

    Where it doesn't

    • Pro pricing varies by platform and region
    • Advanced features are limited on the Free plan
    • Not open source
  • Penzu — where it wins

    • Unlimited entries on the free Basic plan
    • Web, iOS, and Android access with reminders and search
    • Privacy controls, tagging, photos, sharing, and PDF export

    Where it doesn't

    • Advanced customization, export, and recovery require paid plans
    • The product focuses on journaling rather than broader integrations
    • Encryption locking is documented, but not end-to-end encryption
  • Diarium9.2/10 · Free plan · 7-day trial

    Diarium combines rich journaling, contextual views, offline access and flexible storage options.

    Visit DiariumFull verdict →
  • Penzu8.4/10 · Free plan

    A focused journaling app with unlimited entries, privacy controls, and web access.

    Visit PenzuFull verdict →

More comparisons

Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026

Last updated · How we research and update