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Apple Journal
Apple Journal · Cupertino, California, United States · founded 1977
What it is
Apple Journal is a free app for reflecting on everyday moments and special events through journaling. Entries can bring together text, photos, videos, audio recordings, places, drawings, and a logged state of mind. On-device intelligence groups moments such as outings, workouts, photos, and media to suggest entry ideas. Reflection prompts and scheduled notifications are also available. Users can create multiple journals, search and sort entries, browse a calendar, and see entries by location. Writing tools include formatting, inline attachments, drawings, and audio recording with transcription; Apple says transcription is available in English except in Singapore and India locales. Users can save a logged state of mind to Health and writing time as Mindful Minutes, and can add content from apps such as News, Music, and Safari. Suggestions are processed on device, and users choose which suggested moments to share with journaling apps. With a device passcode, entries are encrypted; iCloud entries are end-to-end encrypted when default two-factor authentication and a passcode are enabled. With iCloud sync on, entries sync across iPhone, iPad, and Mac, but are not included in iCloud backups.
For and against
For
- Entries support text, photos, video, and audio
- Offers search, sorting, calendar, and location views
- Suggestions are processed on device
- Entries can be end-to-end encrypted in iCloud
Against
- Entries are not included in iCloud backups
- Audio transcription excludes Singapore and India English locales
- iCloud sync must be enabled
The verdict
Apple Journal combines multimedia entries, organization tools, and on-device suggestions in a free app. Consider its iCloud backup limitation and the conditions for end-to-end encryption when choosing how to use it.
Who it suits
Journal suits people who want to record varied media and browse or search their entries over time. It is listed for iOS and macOS, with iCloud syncing available when enabled.
Plans and prices
Free
Free app · iPhone, iPad · certain features available only in select languages and regions
Read 3 Oct 2026 · apps.apple.com
On the record
- App integrations
- Users can add content from apps such as News, Music, and Safari to a journal entry.apps.apple.com · read 3 Oct 2026
- Developer API
- Apple provides a Journaling Suggestions API for third-party journaling apps to offer personalized suggestions.apple.com · read 3 Oct 2026
- End-to-end encryption
- Yesapple.com · read 20 Sep 2026
- Entry security
- With a device passcode, Journal entries are encrypted, and with default two-factor authentication and a passcode, entries stored in iCloud are end-to-end encrypted.apple.com · read 3 Oct 2026
- Export formats
- multipleapple.com · read 20 Sep 2026
- Maker
- The Journal app’s developer is Apple.apps.apple.com · read 3 Oct 2026
- Organization and search
- Users can create multiple journals, search and sort entries, browse a calendar, and view entries by location in Places.apps.apple.com · read 3 Oct 2026
- Personalized suggestions
- On-device intelligence groups moments such as outings, photos, workouts, and media to suggest entry ideas.apps.apple.com · read 3 Oct 2026
- Privacy controls
- Suggestions are processed on device, and users choose which suggested moments to share with journaling apps.apple.com · read 3 Oct 2026
- Prompts and reminders
- The app offers reflection prompts and lets users schedule journaling notifications.apps.apple.com · read 3 Oct 2026
- Purpose
- Journal helps people reflect on everyday moments and special events through journaling.apple.com · read 3 Oct 2026
- Rich entries
- Entries can include text, photos, videos, audio recordings, places, drawings, and a logged state of mind.apps.apple.com · read 3 Oct 2026
- Sync and backup limit
- Entries sync across iPhone, iPad, and Mac through iCloud when enabled, but Apple says Journal entries are not included in iCloud backups.support.apple.com · read 3 Oct 2026
- Wellbeing integration
- Users can log their state of mind in Journal and save it to Health, and writing time can be saved as Mindful Minutes.apps.apple.com · read 3 Oct 2026
- Writing tools
- The app supports text formatting, inline attachments, drawings, and audio recording with transcription; Apple says audio transcription is available in English except Singapore and India locales.support.apple.com · read 3 Oct 2026
