Best Penzu Alternatives in 2026

Updated October 2026

20 apps from journaling software ranked against Penzu on the same published basis.

Penzu alternatives compared

#	App	Score	Free plan	From	Runs on
1	Day One	9.7	Free plan	$4.17/mo	Android, Browser, iOS, Mac, Windows
2	Journey	9.7	Free plan	$4.17/mo	Android, iOS, Linux, Mac, Web, Windows
3	Diarium	9.5	Free plan	Free	Android, iOS, Mac, Windows
4	Apple Journal	9.5	Free plan	Free	iOS, Mac
5	MoodHaven Journal	9.5	Free plan	Free	Android, iOS, Linux, Mac, Web, Windows
6	Stoic	9.4	Free plan	Free	Android, iOS, Mac, Web
8	Daybook	9.2	Free plan	$3.33/mo	Android, iOS, Web
9	Mindsera	9.2	Free plan	—	Android, iOS, Web
10	StoryPad	9.0	Free plan	$9.99/mo	Android, iOS, Mac
11	Islet	8.8	Free plan	Free	Android, iOS
12	Penso Notes	8.6	Free plan	Free	Android, iOS
13	Rosebud	8.6	Free plan	$9/mo	Android, iOS, Mac, Web, Windows
14	Daylio	8.4	No	—	Android, iOS
15	Mirror	8.3	Free plan	Free	Android, iOS
16	Skrive	8.3	Free plan	—	Android, iOS, Mac
17	Diaro	8.2	Free plan	Free	Web, iOS, Android
18	Grid Diary	8.1	No	—	Mac, iOS, Android
19	Momento	8.0	Free plan	Free	iOS
20	Reflectly	8.0	Free plan	Free	Android, iOS
21	Local Journal	7.9	Free plan	Free	Android, iOS

Make your app an alternative to Penzu

The sponsored alternative slot on this page is labelled Sponsored.

What is the best alternative to Penzu?

Day One, number 1 in journaling software with a score of 9.7 out of 10. The others here: Journey, Diarium, Apple Journal and 16 more.

What is the best free alternative to Penzu?

Day One is the best-ranked alternative with a free plan. 18 of the 20 alternatives here publish a free plan on their own pricing pages.

Is there an open-source alternative to Penzu?

Yes: Islet.

How are these alternatives ranked?

Ranked mobile-first: a phone app alongside the web or desktop product, a free tier and the depth of its documentation.