Dev tools · alternatives · 2026

24 alternatives to AppSoftware Journals

Lightweight notes, journalling and publishing, anywhere

Below are 24 products that do a similar job, ranked by how close each is in meaning and then by launch-day votes. AppSoftware Journals launched in 2020; newer entries below may have overtaken it.

1. 1
   Mini Diary▲144

   Simple and secure journal app

   2019 · minidiary.app · its alternatives →

2. 2
   Journal App▲325

   A beautiful journal app for macOS

   2023 · journal.do · its alternatives →

3. 3
   I made a privacy-focused online journal▲100

   Write every day in your encrypted private journal. Track your mood to follow your level of happiness.

   2019 · gekri.com · its alternatives →

4. 4
   JournalBook – Privacy centric, offline first, personal journal app▲268

   2019 · journalbook.co.uk · its alternatives →

5. 5
   Journal▲183

   Organize all your ideas

   2018 · selfemployed.com · its alternatives →

6. 6
   Written Down▲77

   Your journal everywhere you go

   2017 · tinkerbuilt.com · its alternatives →

7. 7
   Journify▲176

   Audio journaling. Encrypted, easy-to-share voice recordings.

   2020 · globalseednetwork.org · its alternatives →

8. 8
   Loggd▲64

   Privacy-first journaling where only you can read the posts

   2019 · its alternatives →

9. 9
   Online journal that encrypts entries with a cipher▲45

   2015 · bitjournal.io · its alternatives →

10. 10
    Journal 2.0 for Desktop▲179

    Bring your projects to life.

    2020 · selfemployed.com · its alternatives →

11. 11
    Writed▲12

    Chat with your journal. Nothing leaves your browser

    Jul 2026 · writed.app · its alternatives →

12. 12
    An open source alternative to Evernote (Self Hosted)▲241

    An open source, markdown-based, self-hosted note taking webapp. - batnoter/batnoter

    2022 · github.com · its alternatives →

13. 13
    JournalBook▲91

    A truly private, offline-first, personal journal

    2019 · journalbook.co.uk · its alternatives →

14. 14
    Journal 2.0 for iOS▲106

    Bring your projects to life.

    2020 · apps.apple.com · its alternatives →

15. 15
    Daily Journal▲105

    Journaling app where you can publish your thoughts online

    2020 · its alternatives →

16. 16
    Once▲179

    Keep a journal like a real life book.

    2018 · apps.apple.com · its alternatives →

17. 17
    A Handwritten Blogging Platform▲192

    You simply: 1. Connect your device. 2. Create a top-level `handwritten.blog` folder. 3. Every new notebook in that folder becomes a draft on https://handwritten.blog/ I hope this eventually obviates the need to look at the ugly upload interface you have to use to now upload your writing.

    Jul 2026 · handwritten.blog · its alternatives →

18. 18WO
    Writedown - Open Source Markdown Diary▲99

    2023 · writedown.app · its alternatives →

19. 19
    Microsoft Journal▲71

    A delightful freeform notetaking experience by Microsoft

    2022 · apps.microsoft.com · its alternatives →

20. 20
    Paper 4.0▲181

    Arrange sketches and notes in your online journal

    2017 · apps.apple.com · its alternatives →

21. 21
    Minimalist offline journal app with a chat interface▲126

    ZenJournal is a minimalist private journaling app for quick logging, search, and discreet writing. Open, type, done. No prompts, titles, or reminders.

    2021 · thezenjournal.com · its alternatives →

22. 22
    Journal it! - All-in-one Life Organizer▲31

    Personal productivity. Offline-first. E2E encryption.

    Dec 2025 · liveit.me · its alternatives →

23. 23
    Visits Journal▲83

    journal + maps

    2020 · apps.apple.com · its alternatives →

24. 24PB
    Private blogging and journaling with a simulated audience▲48

    Dec 2025 · tempblog-psi.vercel.app · its alternatives →

Ranked by how close each launch is in meaning, then by votes. Prices were read from each product’s own site when checked and can change. Refine with your own description →