Diarly is a polished Apple-only journal loved by writers for its Markdown editor and its stats. Dayleaf is built around the calendar rather than the editor. Both are made by small independent teams.
At a glance
| Dayleaf | Diarly | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free tier with unlimited entries; Pro $19.99 once for iPhone, iPad, Mac and Apple Watch, or $9.99 a year after a 7-day trial | Free tier (one journal on one device); Premium is subscription only, $24.99 to $29.99 a year or $2.99 a month; AI+ add-on $1.99 a month |
| Platforms | iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch, Android | iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch (no Android, no web) |
| Layout | Calendar first: entries, photos, stickers and goals live on month, week and day pages | Timeline and Today hub with a calendar; Markdown-first editor |
| Day One import | Free: entries, photos, videos and audio | Yes, among many sources |
Where Diarly is genuinely better
- Writing in Markdown with slash commands and links between entries.
- Encryption of entry text with your own password (attachments are not encrypted).
- Mood tracking that writes to Apple Health, a stats page with streaks and totals, and templates that pull in weather, calendar events and Health data.
- Many importers and free Markdown export.
Where Dayleaf is genuinely better
- Buy once. $19.99 for every Apple device instead of a yearly subscription.
- Android. Dayleaf runs on Android too; Diarly is Apple only.
- A planner, not just a diary. Month and week pages with entries, photos, stickers and daily, weekly and monthly goals, plus a Year in Review.
- Personality. Twenty themes, each with a dark face, and stickers like a paper planner.
Choose Diarly if…
you write long entries in Markdown, want text encryption, or care most about stats and mood tracking.
Choose Dayleaf if…
you want a journal that works like a paper planner, use Android, or would rather pay once than subscribe.
FAQ
Is Diarly a subscription?
Yes. Diarly Premium is $24.99 to $29.99 a year or $2.99 a month, with no lifetime option. Dayleaf Pro can be bought once for $19.99.
Does Dayleaf support Markdown?
Dayleaf has a rich-text editor (headings, lists, quotes, links, photos in the text) and exports Markdown with Pro; Diarly is the stronger pick if you write in Markdown syntax.
Which is better for privacy?
Diarly can encrypt entry text with your password. Dayleaf keeps your journal on your device with a Face ID lock and backs up to your own iCloud, without end-to-end encryption.
Prices and features change; we last checked the details above on October 26, 2026. Comparing more apps? See the best Day One alternatives in 2026, Dayleaf vs Day One, Dayleaf vs Diarium · Dayleaf vs Apple Journal · Dayleaf vs Journey · Dayleaf vs Daylio.
