OhDiary vs Day One:
The Free Alternative That Delivers
Day One is a great journaling app—but at $50/year, is it worth it? Discover why thousands choose OhDiary, the completely free alternative with 15+ years of proven reliability.
The Bottom Line
Choose OhDiary if: You want a completely free journaling experience with email-based simplicity, proven reliability over 15+ years, and no subscription worries. Perfect for daily journalers who value simplicity.
Feature Comparison
| Feature |
OhDiary
|
Day One
|
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free Forever | $4.17/mo ($50/yr) |
| Unlimited Entries | ||
| Multi-Device Sync | Premium only | |
| Photo Attachments | 1 photo free, unlimited paid | |
| Daily Email Prompts | ||
| Reply-to-Email Journaling | Premium only | |
| Memory Flashbacks | ||
| Mood Tracking | ||
| Life in Weeks View | ||
| Milestones Timeline | ||
| Import/Export | ||
| Encryption | Premium only (E2E) | |
| Native Mobile Apps | Web-based PWA | |
| Years Running | 15+ years | 14+ years |
| Multiple Journals | Single journal | Premium only |
| Video/Audio Entries | Premium only |
The True Cost Over Time
OhDiary
- All features included
- No credit card required
- No subscription to cancel
- Save $500+ over 10 years
Optional: One-time $89 supporter contribution
Day One Premium
- Free tier is very limited
- Need premium for sync
- $500 over 10 years
- Lose access if you stop paying
5 years = $250 | 10 years = $500
Why Choose OhDiary Over Day One?
Truly Free
No hidden costs, no premium tier, no "free trial" that expires. Every feature is available to everyone, forever.
Email-First Experience
Get a gentle daily nudge in your inbox. Reply to journal. No app to open—journaling fits naturally into your day.
15+ Years Proven
Running since 2009, OhDiary has proven its staying power. Your memories are safe with a platform that's stood the test of time.
Unique Life in Weeks
Visualize your entire life on one page with our signature Life in Weeks view—a feature Day One doesn't offer.
Privacy by Design
Your entries are encrypted and protected. Passwordless authentication means no passwords to hack.
Beautifully Simple
No overwhelming features. Just write, reflect, and grow. OhDiary focuses on what matters—your words.
Being Honest: When Day One Might Be Better
We believe in honest comparisons. Here's when Day One could be a better fit:
- Native mobile apps: If you prefer polished native iOS/Android apps over web-based access
- Video & audio entries: If you want to record voice memos or video journal entries
- Multiple journals: If you need separate journals for different areas of life
- Apple ecosystem: If you're deep in Apple (Watch, Mac, iPad) and want tight integration
Frequently Asked Questions
Is OhDiary really completely free?
Yes! OhDiary is 100% free with all features included. There's no premium tier that locks away features. We offer an optional one-time supporter contribution for those who want to help keep the service running, but it's completely voluntary.
Can I import my Day One entries to OhDiary?
Yes, OhDiary supports importing entries. Export your Day One journal and import it into OhDiary. Your memories travel with you.
How does the email journaling work?
Every day at your chosen time, we send you an email prompt. Simply reply to that email with your thoughts, and it's automatically saved as a journal entry. You can also attach photos. It's the easiest way to build a journaling habit because it meets you where you already are—your inbox.
Is my data secure with OhDiary?
Absolutely. Your entries are encrypted and stored securely. We use passwordless authentication (no password to hack), and your data is backed up daily. With 15+ years of operation, we take data security seriously.
What happens to my entries if OhDiary ever shuts down?
We've been running for 15+ years and aren't going anywhere. But you can always export all your entries at any time—your data is yours. We provide export in multiple formats so you're never locked in.
Ready to Start Your Free Journaling Journey?
Join thousands who have discovered the joy of simple, free journaling. No credit card, no commitment—just start writing.
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