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Productivity · head to head

Day One vs Memberstack

Day One logo

Day One

Productivity

Journalling app for iOS, Android and Mac now sold as a subscription after years as a one-time purchase

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Memberstack logo

Memberstack

Productivity

Add memberships and logins to any website

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Day One it moved from a one-time purchase to a subscription after the Automattic acquisition, so long-term cost is materially higher than the original pricing implied.; Memberstack basic and Professional tiers include transaction fees of 4% and 2% respectively
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Day One and Memberstack actually diverge.

Attributes where Day One and Memberstack differ
AttributeDay OneMemberstack
Pricing modelFree tier plus subscriptionsubscription
PlatformsiOS, Android, macOS, WebWeb

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Productivity).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in Day One

  • Multiple journals
  • Rich entries
  • End-to-end encryption
  • On This Day
  • Cross-platform sync
  • PDF and Day One export

Only in Memberstack

Nothing recorded that Day One does not also cover.

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Day One

  • Someone wanting a private daily journal with photos that syncs between phone and laptopnot Memberstack
  • A person keeping a travel journal that auto-attaches location and weather to each entrynot Memberstack
  • Someone who wants encrypted entries kept separate from an unencrypted general journalnot Memberstack
  • A user who wants automated daily writing prompts and On This Day nostalgia reviewnot Memberstack

Memberstack

  • Launching course platforms without custom backendnot Day One
  • Building subscription services with Webflow and paymentnot Day One
  • Gating content without writing codenot Day One
  • Managing password resets and two-factor authenticationnot Day One
  • Processing Stripe billing automaticallynot Day One

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Day One

  • It moved from a one-time purchase to a subscription after the Automattic acquisition, so long-term cost is materially higher than the original pricing implied.
  • The free tier caps at one journal and 25 photo entries, which is restrictive enough that anyone journalling seriously for more than a few weeks needs to pay.
  • End-to-end encryption is opt-in per journal rather than on by default, so users have to actively choose it and understand which journals are protected.
  • Cancelling Premium after using multiple journals or heavy photo storage can leave content viewable but with sync and some features disabled, so people should export before cancelling.
  • As an Automattic product, its roadmap sits behind a company whose primary focus is WordPress and Tumblr, not journalling specifically.

Memberstack

  • Basic and Professional tiers include transaction fees of 4% and 2% respectively
  • Annual billing required for discounts; monthly pricing is higher
  • Webflow community builders receive Basic plan free but locked to that tier

Pricing, plan by plan

Day One

Free
  • FreeFree
    • One journal
    • Up to 25 photo entries
    • Basic sync
  • Day One Premium$3.99/month
    • Unlimited journals and photos
    • End-to-end encryption
    • On This Day and audio transcription
  • Day One Premium Annual$34.99/year
    • Same as monthly Premium at a lower effective rate

Memberstack

Free
  • Basic$29/month
    • Up to 1,000 members
    • 4% transaction fee
    • $25/month with annual billing
  • Professional$49/month
    • Up to 5,000 members
    • 2% transaction fee
    • $39/month with annual billing
  • Business$99/month
    • 10,000+ members
    • 0.9% transaction fee
    • $79/month with annual billing
  • Established$499/month
    • 10,000+ members
    • Zero transaction fees
    • $399/month with annual billing

Which should you pick?

Choose Day One if

  • You need multiple journals.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on iOS, Android, macOS, Web.
  • You also want rich entries.
Day One review

Choose Memberstack if

  • You want to start without paying.
Memberstack review

Questions people ask

Is Day One or Memberstack better?
Neither clearly leads. Day One starts at Free and Memberstack at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Day One or Memberstack?
Day One starts at Free and Memberstack at Free.
Does Day One or Memberstack run on more platforms?
Day One runs on iOS, Android, macOS, Web. Memberstack runs on Web.
Can I use Day One for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Day One best used for?
Day One is most often used for someone wanting a private daily journal with photos that syncs between phone and laptop, a person keeping a travel journal that auto-attaches location and weather to each entry, someone who wants encrypted entries kept separate from an unencrypted general journal, a user who wants automated daily writing prompts and on this day nostalgia review. Of those, someone wanting a private daily journal with photos that syncs between phone and laptop and a person keeping a travel journal that auto-attaches location and weather to each entry are not what Memberstack is typically brought in for.
What can Day One do that Memberstack cannot?
Day One covers Multiple journals, Rich entries, End-to-end encryption, On This Day.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Day One: Is Day One still a one-time purchase?

No. Since the 2021 Automattic acquisition it is sold as Day One Premium, a subscription. Older lifetime purchasers were grandfathered but new users pay a subscription.

Memberstack: What are Memberstack's transaction fees?

Memberstack's transaction fee varies by tier: Basic plan charges 4% per transaction, Professional charges 2%, Business charges 0.9%, and Established tier charges zero transaction fees.

Source
Day One: Is encryption on by default?

No, end-to-end encryption is an option users turn on per journal, not a default for all entries.

Memberstack: Does Memberstack offer a free trial or testing mode?

Yes, Memberstack offers an unlimited free trial in test mode requiring no credit card. Users maintain full feature access at no cost until their site launches with real members.

Source
Day One: Can I export my entries if I cancel?

Yes, PDF and native Day One export formats are available regardless of subscription status, though some sync and premium features stop working.

Memberstack: What discounts does Memberstack offer?

Memberstack offers 50% discount for non-profits, special pricing for young professionals (4% fees), and $249/month with zero fees for startups under $1M raised. Webflow community builders receive the Basic plan free. 30-day money-back guarantee available with full refund.

Source
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