What is the best online diary?

I've been journaling digitally since 2008. Started with text files, moved to Evernote, tried Day One, Penzu, Journey, and probably a dozen others I've forgotten about. The truth is, there's no single "best" online diary – but there are some that fit certain people really well.

The contenders (with honest takes)

Day One is probably the most polished option. Beautiful interface, great photo integration, automatic weather and location tagging. The catch? It's Apple-only for the full experience, and the subscription adds up. If you're deep in the Apple ecosystem and don't mind paying, it's genuinely excellent.

Penzu takes privacy seriously – military-grade encryption, the whole deal. The interface feels a bit dated compared to Day One, but if security is your main concern (maybe you're working through personal stuff you really don't want leaked), it's worth considering.

Simple web-based diaries (like Oh Diary) skip the bloat entirely. No apps to install, works on any device, just open and write. You lose some fancy features, but honestly? Most people don't use half the features in Day One anyway. Sometimes simpler is better.

What actually matters

After all these years, here's what I've learned actually matters:

• Friction kills habits. If it takes more than 10 seconds to start writing, you won't stick with it. The best diary is the one you'll actually use.
• Export options. Will you be able to get your entries out in 5 years? 10 years? Check before you commit.
• Privacy you can verify. "We take privacy seriously" means nothing. End-to-end encryption means something.

Skip the feature comparison charts

I know, every other article lists 47 features in a comparison table. But here's the thing: you don't need weather tagging. You don't need AI-powered prompts. You don't need mood tracking with fancy graphs. You just need a place that feels private enough that you can be honest with yourself.

Some people need photos in their entries – maybe you're documenting travels or your kid growing up. Others just want to dump thoughts at the end of the day. Figure out which you are before looking at features.

My actual recommendation

Try the free version of Day One for a week. If the Apple-only thing or the subscription bothers you, try a simple web diary. The fancy features don't make you journal more – convenience does.

And if you're still stuck? Just open a text file and start writing. You can always move to something fancier later. The important part is the writing, not the tool.