Pencil Journal icon

Pencil Journal

Pencil Journal is a free and open-source journaling app for Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS and Android. It allows keeping a digital journal or diary with rich text formatting, photos, tags and more. Pencil Journal emphasizes privacy and does not collect personal data.

What is Pencil Journal?

Pencil Journal is a free, open-source journaling and diary application available for Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS and Android operating systems. It allows users to keep a private, digital journal with support for rich text formatting, inserting images, tagging entries, searching through content, and backing up data.

Some key features of Pencil Journal include:

  • Completely free and open source - published under the GNU GPLv3 license
  • Emphasis on privacy protection - does not collect any personal data from users
  • Rich text editor for bold, italics, lists, etc.
  • Insert and organize photos along with journal entries
  • Tag journal entries to categorize and search through content
  • Daily journal templates for quick entries
  • Password protection and data encryption
  • Cross-platform sync to keep journals up to date across devices
  • Backup and restore options to prevent losing journal entries

Pencil Journal offers a great balance of features while staying committed to user privacy. It is an excellent open-source alternative for those seeking a free journaling app over paid, closed-source options. The wide range of platform support makes it easy to write journals from any device while keeping everything in sync. Overall, Pencil Journal is ideal for those who want to digitally journal in a private, secure environment.

The Best Pencil Journal Alternatives

Top Apps like Pencil Journal

Day One, CherryTree, TiddlyWiki, Daylio, Diaro, Zoho Notebook, Journée, Journalify, Five Minute Journal, Jrnl, My Travel Stories, DailyState are some alternatives to Pencil Journal.

Day One

Day One is a feature-rich journaling and diary app developed by Bloom Built especially for Apple devices like Mac, iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch. It provides an easy way for users to record their daily events, thoughts, ideas, experiences in a searchable private journal.Some key features of Day One include...

CherryTree

CherryTree is a versatile open-source note taking and organization application. It allows users to store information in a hierarchical tree structure, allowing for easy categorization and navigation of notes.Some key features of CherryTree include:Rich text support - Notes can be formatted using bold, italics, lists, etc.Syntax highlighting...

TiddlyWiki

TiddlyWiki is a unique wiki application that sets itself apart in a few key ways:It is designed to run fully within a web browser rather than requiring a server. All content is stored locally in an HTML file.It places emphasis on modularity and non-linear organization of content into...

Daylio

Daylio is a mobile app available on both iOS and Android that allows users to track their mood and activities. It was first released in 2015 and has become one of the most popular mood tracking apps.The core functionality of Daylio involves selecting your mood and activities for each day...

Diaro

Diaro is a mobile diary and journaling app developed for Android and iOS devices. Originally launched in 2015, Diaro aims to provide users with a private and secure place to write their thoughts, feelings, and experiences.The app includes several key features that differentiate it from other journaling apps. Users can...

Zoho Notebook

Zoho Notebook is a cloud-based note-taking and organization app developed by Zoho Corporation. It allows users to take notes, add to-do checklists, audio recordings, images, and more to help organize thoughts and ideas.Key features of Zoho Notebook include:Intuitive and user-friendly interface for creating and organizing notesVariety of note...

Journée

Journée is an open-source, cross-platform journaling application developed by a small team of programmers and designers. It is designed to provide an easy way for users to record their thoughts, feelings, and experiences in a private digital journal.Some key features of Journée include:Powerful text editing tools...

Journalify

Journalify is a popular journaling and diary app available for iOS and Android. It allows users to easily record their thoughts, feelings, and daily events in a private, secure place.Some key features of Journalify include:Clean, intuitive interface that's easy to navigateOption to add password protection and fingerprint unlock...

Five Minute Journal

Five Minute Journal is a guided journaling app created by Intelligent Change that makes it quick and simple for users to build an intentional, productive, and positive daily routine. It takes just 5 minutes in the morning and evening to answer a few thoughtful prompts that help users practice gratitude, foster...

Jrnl

Jrnl is an open source command line journaling application written in Python. It allows you to easily record your daily thoughts, memories, or notes in a plain text file on your local device. Some key features of Jrnl include:Simple and clean interface accessed via the command line journal entries...

My Travel Stories

My Travel Stories is a user-friendly travel journaling app designed to help travelers document their adventures in a memorable storytelling format. Unlike traditional diary apps, My Travel Stories focuses on creative writing and visual media to capture the essence and emotions of one's journey.At the heart of the app...

DailyState

DailyState is a habit tracking and personal analytics app designed to help users build and maintain positive habits. With DailyState, users can track daily habits, goals, and states of mind in order to measure and improve personal progress.Key features of DailyState include:Custom habit and goal tracking - Users...