The act of journaling, once a solitary ritual with pen and paper, has gone digital. Your iPhone can transform this timeless practice into a fuller experience, bringing in imagery, video and more.
However, you still get all the good stuff: fulfillment and catharsis, along with an ever-growing body of memories to peruse and reflect on. This toolkit explores the approaches, apps, and accessories you need to elevate your journaling to new heights.
Get started
Decide what matters: There’s no rule to keeping a journal. So focus on your priorities. That could be a full diary, a daily photo, or a few lines about what you’re grateful for on any given day.
Take advantage of tech: Your iPhone provides you with access to a wealth of tools and information, and so make use of them. It’s easier than ever to record fuller memories that include imagery, audio, data and more.
Don’t overthink things: The process of journaling should be positive. So streamline everything and ensure apps don’t get in your way. Avoid busywork. And don’t worry about your writing not being ‘good enough’ – your journal isn’t a novel.
Keep it private: Historically, many journaling apps could be protected with Face ID/Touch ID. Today, if you’re running iOS 18, you can lock down any app by tap-holding its Home Screen icon and selecting the Require option.
Be wary of lock-in: Apps like you putting content into them. Not all of them are keen for you to get it back out again. If that matters to you, explore export options before investing in any app.
Give yourself time: Set a routine for adding to your journal, and cut it back from daily to weekly if it feels like too much. Also set aside the odd hour for reflection, revisiting your past entries.
Download these apps
Journal (free): Make use of Apple’s tight app integration and craft journal entries by drawing on information your iPhone already holds. Writing prompts provide further help to get you started.
Day One (free + IAP): Explore the original digital journal app, which has evolved into a cross-platform product rich with features – including robust export options.
Momento (free + IAP): Use this app to widen the notion of journaling to encompass what you post online, including RSS feeds from Bluesky and Mastodon.
5 Minute Journal (free + IAP): Be more efficient in your journaling while improving your wellbeing by making use of this popular, proven positivity-boosting method.
Moodistory (free + IAP): Keep track of how you feel over time, to build a colorful, browsable ‘mood’ calendar to which you can add basic text and photo journal entries.
Memories (free or $1.99/£1.99): Dig into your photo library by date for composing entries based around specific days – from this year or any previous one.
Adobe Scan (free): Get old-school entries, from written notes to sketches and photos, into your digital journal by way of this efficient iPhone scanner.
Connect this hardware
MOFT snap-on phone tripod wallet ($50/£42): When you want your iPhone to become a screen so you can type entries using a portable keyboard (see next entry), snap on one of these MagSafe tripods.
ProtoArc XK04 foldable bluetooth keyboard ($34.99/£39.99): This tiny keyboard can be connected to up to three devices, and is ideal for typing on the go. When folded in half, it’ll be safe stashed in your bag.
Apple Pencil (from $79/£79): If you’re armed with an iPad and fancy going old-school, try hand writing your notes using Apple’s stylus. Apps will even tidy up your scrawl.
Adonit Mark ($9.99/£15): This scribbling stick might lack the precision of Apple’s, but it costs a fraction of the price, works with iPhone, and doesn’t even need pairing or charging.
AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation (from $179/£179): Get in the zone for jotting things down by blocking out the world with these AirPods that feature active noise cancellation.