Accessible free dedicated journal/diary for iOS

By Sabrina, 24 June, 2018

Forum
iOS and iPadOS

Hello.
I would like a very simple diary or journal app.
It has to be in landscape mode because I am using an iPad and multitasking via slide over or split view.
I don’t need a lot of features and I just want to write down my thoughts and stuff.
I just need the date and a text field for the diary and wonder if there is a good simple diary?
I do NOT have a computer and so it has to be in iOs.

Options

Comments

By Val Sedai on Monday, June 25, 2018 - 22:02

I'm not sure if you're looking for free or paid. I personally use Day One. You have to pay for it, and it does have a few more bells and whistles that you might not want such as location, reminders to journal, facebook integration, etc, but it's worth it, and you don't have to use those features if you don't wish.

Hope this helps.

By peter on Monday, June 25, 2018 - 22:02

The iOS Notes app works pretty well for this purpose. I have used it for years to write daily journals when travelings using a bluetooth keyboard with my iPhone. Then I can easily copy and paste to send the daily notes to my friends back home. Sometimes I will paste the results into the Word app so that my wife can then insert photos she has taken.

By peter on Monday, June 25, 2018 - 22:02

--Pete

By Gerardo on Monday, June 25, 2018 - 22:02

I did a Search here on the Applevis site, and double-tapped where it said “One Note” which took me to the App Store for the “One Note Notes” app listed as free with In-App purchases? What do you get with the free one (hoping this is the one the #1 entry was talking about) versus with the In-App purchase?

By René Jaun on Monday, June 25, 2018 - 22:02

No, the first entry was talking about the Day One app, as discussed here: https://www.applevis.com/apps/ios/lifestyle/day-one-journal
I would recommend Day One as well. I’ve been using it as a journal for a few years now.
It‘s true that it does way more than the Original Poster requested.
However, it is still possible to use it just for simple journaling.
Also, the app‘s basic features are now free. There is a premium subscription available, but as far as I know, you can still use the app pretty well without subscribing.

By Sabrina on Monday, June 25, 2018 - 22:02

I have been using the native nots´es app and it is very good.
However, I cannot use it in split view or slideover. If I have the notes app and then add another app in slideover it works, but it doesn’t work in split view and does not work if I open it from another app.
I have tried to find a solution for this, but I cannot seem to get it to work.
It is sad, because I have over 800 diary entries I will still use it, thanks for the idea, though I wish I could fix that issue. It is like the text field disappears.
I am using a bluetooth keyboard case on my iPad wich makes it easier to type. But for some reason, I can sometimes see the edit text field but when I double tap on that it goes away.

By Jennifer Kent on Wednesday, July 25, 2018 - 22:02

Hello, Not to put anyone down or anything but one suggestion I have is contacting apple and describing what features you want added to the notes feature of IOS that way they know what there customers are looking for. I am sure, you are not the only one wanting those features and if you have an edit box disappearing issue they need to know about it. You can contact the accessibility department and they can assist you. I have that issue in the app store and other apps sometimes. but I use an iphone verses an Ipad so I do not use split view or anything. Like I said give apple the feedback so they can update things. Lord knows some basic IOS apps haven't seen an update for ages.

By Sabrina on Saturday, August 25, 2018 - 22:02

I found one. It is called Personal Diary Journal app or something. It is awesome and fully accessible with VoiceOver. It even tells weather and mood.

By Ben Swiggett on Saturday, August 25, 2018 - 22:02

You can use Drafts 5 for this. You can type a note and then save it anywhere you like.

By Sabrina on Friday, September 25, 2020 - 22:02

I gave day one a try and this is incredible. I subscribed for a year. This is the best diary I have ever seen. Location, tags, weather, heallth... lots of stuff.

By Adi on Sunday, October 25, 2020 - 22:02

In reply to by Sabrina

Hi,
This is by far the best journal entry app I have ever experienced. Infact just now my trial period is over and I have taken the one year subscription. However I am unable to add bullets or lists to my journal entries. I double tap on the bullet option but it does not seem to work.