Diarium

Diarium is a private journal app for recording written entries alongside photos, video, audio and location. It is best for people who want a flexible archive across mobile and desktop, with the option to keep syncing in their own cloud storage.

Its strongest case is the combination of varied entry formats, useful ways to revisit memories and local storage by default. The trade-off is that cloud sync and several other Pro features require a platform-specific purchase.

Overview

Entries can mix rich-text writing with media, locations and tags, and users can create multiple entries per day. Timestamps and templates add structure without limiting the journal to one format. Unlimited attachments suit media-heavy record keeping, but that feature is part of Pro rather than an assumption of the free tier.

The journal database stays on the device by default, and an account is not required. A password, PIN or biometrics can protect access. Optional feeds use official APIs over encrypted HTTPS; OAuth credentials are kept in device secure storage, and Diarium says connected services do not publish data on the user's behalf. Its privacy policy also says Firebase and Mixpanel may collect usage information such as IP address, screens viewed, timestamps, usage duration and operating system. Local-first storage is a meaningful privacy choice, but it does not mean the app collects no analytics.

Key features

Diarium gives users several routes back into an expanding journal: calendar, timeline, map, gallery and attachment views, as well as search and “On this day” notifications. That range makes it practical to browse by date, place or media rather than relying only on chronological scrolling. Tags add another way to organize entries.

Context can come from weather, the system calendar, camera roll, Facebook, GitHub, Untappd, Last.fm, Trakt, Microsoft To Do, Strava, Apple Health, Health Connect and Google Timeline. This breadth is useful for people who want a journal to include context from other services; it also means the app can connect to services beyond the journal itself. Optional feeds use encrypted HTTPS and device-secured OAuth credentials.

For people moving an existing archive, Diarium supports imports from Day One, Diaro, Journey, Daylio, Diarly, Daybook and Evernote. Export to Word, plain text, HTML or JSON gives users several ways to retain or work with their entries outside the app. Offline access is supported.

Pricing

Diarium is freemium, with a free plan at no cost and a 7-day trial. The free plan covers basic journaling and limited Pro features, making it a sensible way to try the writing and browsing workflow before paying. It does not include the full Pro feature set.

Pro adds cloud sync, unlimited attachments per entry, Word export, widgets, integrations and custom fonts. Its price is custom pricing: current prices appear in the app, and on Windows in the Microsoft Store. Diarium Pro is a one-time purchase per platform, so the purchase is not a single license across every device. Cloud Sync requires Pro on the platform being used; Windows is the exception in purchase structure, since its paid app already includes Pro. Readers who need to sync between platforms should account for those platform-specific requirements rather than assume one purchase unlocks sync everywhere.

Platforms

Diarium is available for Android, iOS, macOS and Windows. That covers major mobile and desktop systems, but its sync terms matter for people who move between them: Pro is required on each platform where Cloud Sync is used, while the paid Windows app includes Pro. The database can remain local, and the app supports offline access.

Who it's for

Diarium is a strong fit for journal keepers who want entries that can hold more than text, who value several ways to browse past records, or who are migrating from another journaling app. It especially suits people comfortable syncing through their own OneDrive, Google Drive, Dropbox, iCloud or WebDAV storage. The local default and lack of an account requirement will appeal to people who prefer to keep their journal close at hand.

It is less suitable for someone who wants cloud sync included without platform-specific Pro purchases, or who expects a service with no usage analytics. Its connected feeds also make it less compelling for a reader who wants a strictly standalone writing tool.

Pros and cons

• Pros: Rich-text entries can include multiple kinds of media, locations and tags, with multiple entries per day and unlimited attachments in Pro.
• Pros: Calendar, timeline, map, gallery, attachment views, search and “On this day” notifications offer varied ways to rediscover older entries.
• Pros: Local storage by default, no required account, offline access and password, PIN or biometric protection give users control over journal access and storage choices.
• Pros: Imports from several established journaling apps and exports to Word, plain text, HTML or JSON help preserve portability.
• Cons: Cloud Sync requires Pro on the platform in use, so cross-platform syncing can mean buying more than once.
• Cons: Pro pricing is custom pricing rather than a single published figure, which makes the cost harder to compare before checking the app or Microsoft Store.
• Cons: Firebase and Mixpanel may collect usage information, so local journal storage should not be mistaken for an absence of analytics.

Alternatives

Journey is worth considering if broader platform coverage matters more than keeping sync tied to personal cloud storage: it runs on Android, iOS, Linux, macOS, web and Windows. Its annual Membership is $50.04 a year and includes 10GB cloud storage, 5,000 journal entries and 20 photo/video/a.

Rosebud is another freemium option, with a free plan and a $12.99 a month Rosebud Bloom Monthly plan; it supports Android, iOS, macOS, web and Windows.

Day One is an alternative with a free Basic plan and a free one-month trial inside the app, subject to App Store eligibility. It supports Android, an extension, iOS, macOS and Windows.

Penzu may suit readers looking for a browser-based option alongside Android and iOS, with a Basic plan that includes unlimited entries, mobile apps, basic journal covers and fonts, and simple writing reminders.

Stoic is an alternative for readers interested in guided journals, reflections, exercises, mood and habit tracking through its Premium plan.

Clearful offers a free Basic plan with unlimited entries and a Pro plan at $9.99 a month; it runs on Android, iOS, macOS and web.

Lugelo is a free option with a free plan and no trial, available on Android, extension, iOS, Linux and web.

Daybook is an alternative if a free plan with unlimited entries and sync across multiple devices is the priority; its Pro plan is $3.49 a month.

For more options, see Journal Apps and Journaling Software.

Verdict

Choose Diarium if you want a media-rich journal with strong archive browsing, local storage by default and the flexibility to sync through your own cloud account. Its central advantage is control over how entries are stored and revisited; its main drawback is that Pro and Cloud Sync are tied to the platform, so readers who want frictionless, single-purchase syncing across devices should look elsewhere.