Momento vs Day One: Which Journal App Still Makes Sense?

This comparison uses the two apps' App Store listings, Day One's pricing and import pages, and Momento's own site, all checked on October 31, 2026. We didn't run a long-term test of either app, so where a listing makes a claim we couldn't confirm, we say so.

The difference that matters most

The two apps start from different ideas about what a journal is.

Day One assumes you'll write. It gives you prompts, templates, streaks and reminders, and it helps you keep going. Time, date, weather and location get attached to each entry, but the entry itself is yours to write. Paid plans can pull in Instagram posts and connect other services through IFTTT, but that's an add-on rather than the point.

Momento assumes you often will not. Its listing describes a journal that fills itself by collecting posts, check-ins and photos from your accounts, then groups them by day on one timeline. You can add private notes on top, and it has reminders and streaks too, but the main appeal is having a record even in the weeks you wrote nothing.

If you have failed at journaling because you stopped writing after two weeks, that difference is the whole decision. Everything else below is detail.

How actively each app is maintained

This is where the two apps separate most clearly.

Apple's Momento listing shows version 3.6.5, released on December 28, 2023, with the note "Minor bug fixes and updates." The Day One listing shows version 2026.22, released on October 23, 2026.

An old release date doesn't mean an app has stopped working. It does raise a specific risk for Momento, because its main feature depends on outside services. The listing still names Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Flickr, Swarm, Spotify, Medium and Goodreads. Those connections rely on access that other companies control and can change. We couldn't confirm which feeds still connect today, so connect the accounts you care about and check that new posts arrive before paying for anything.

One naming trap: a separate app called Momento Diary appeared on October 9, 2026 from a different developer. It's built around a page other people can follow, with the option to keep entries private. If you're looking for the older private journal, the developer name to check is d3i Ltd.

Side by side

Privacy and where your entries live

A diary holds things you would not post anywhere, so this deserves more than a table row.

Day One's pricing page lists end-to-end encryption on the free Basic plan. Journaling across all your devices is listed as a Silver feature, so check how many devices you need before you settle on the free plan.

Momento takes a more local approach. Its listing describes local media storage plus backup and restore through local files and iCloud. The listing doesn't describe encryption, and a passcode lock needs Premium. Local storage has a real upside, since less of your diary sits on someone else's server. The cost is that you carry the responsibility for backups, so turn iCloud backup on and confirm that a restore works before you depend on it.

There is a privacy trade-off built into Momento's main feature too. Pulling in your social accounts means granting it access to them, and anything you posted publicly was never private. If what you want is a place that is only yours, that feature may be the part you leave switched off.

Moving your entries later

Pick a journal the way you would pick a bank: check how you get out before you move in. Years of entries are hard to replace.

Momento exports plain text on Premium. Day One's import guide lists CSV, Day One JSON, text-only backups and Apple Journal on iPhone, and it says plain text import works only in the Mac app. So a move from Momento to Day One looks possible through a Mac, using Momento's plain text export. Momento's listing doesn't say whether that export includes photos, so check before you rely on it. We haven't run that migration, so try it with a few entries first.

If your plan includes export, a simple routine works with either app:

1. Export your journal once now, while it is small.
2. Open the file and check that dates and text came through.
3. Save a copy somewhere outside the app, such as iCloud Drive or a computer.
4. Repeat a few times a year.

Which one to choose

Choose Day One if you want to write regularly, you care about encryption, or you want a journal on more than one device. Start on the free plan. If you never miss photos or sync, you may never need to pay.

Choose Momento if your life is already recorded in your feeds, you want a timeline more than a writing habit, and you have confirmed that your accounts still connect. Keep regular exports, given how long it has been since the last update.

If neither fits, Apple's own Journal app is worth a look before you pay for anything. Our iPhone journaling app comparison covers it alongside Daylio and others, and how to use your iPhone as a digital journal covers the habit side. If you'd rather talk than type, start with our voice journaling guide.

Journals are one kind of saving. Links, screenshots and files you want to find later are another.

Nemos keeps links, notes, screenshots and files in one library. Nemos lets you search saved links, notes and text in screenshots. Nemos is free to download, with optional in-app purchases.

FAQ

Is Momento still being updated?

The App Store shows its last update as December 28, 2023. It's still listed for download, but check that the features you need work on your version of iOS before you pay.

Is Day One free?

Yes. The Basic plan is free and includes unlimited text entries, one photo per entry and end-to-end encryption. Silver adds more photos, video, audio and sync across devices.

Can Day One import from Momento?

There is no Momento option in Day One's list of import formats. Momento's plain text export, a Premium feature, is the likely route, and Day One accepts plain text only in its Mac app. Test a small batch first.

Sources

• Momento on the App Store
• Momento website
• Day One on the App Store
• Day One plans
• Importing data to Day One

Last reviewed: 2026-10-31