Productivity · head to head
Day One vs Pitch
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
- -
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.; Pitch free plan is capped at a one time 100 AI credits and 2 external guests
- Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Day One and Pitch actually diverge.
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 Pitch
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 Pitch
- A person keeping a travel journal that auto-attaches location and weather to each entrynot Pitch
- Someone who wants encrypted entries kept separate from an unencrypted general journalnot Pitch
- A user who wants automated daily writing prompts and On This Day nostalgia reviewnot Pitch
Pitch
- Pitch deck presentationsnot Day One
- Sales presentationsnot Day One
- Team meetingsnot Day One
- Board deck presentationsnot Day One
- Marketing deliverablesnot Day One
- Startup presentationsnot Day One
- Design portfoliosnot Day One
- Project proposalsnot Day One
- Business reportsnot 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.
Pitch
- Free plan is capped at a one time 100 AI credits and 2 external guests
- Enterprise features such as SAML based SSO and SCIM are gated behind a 30 plus seat custom plan
- The 17 percent discount on Plus, Team and Business plans requires annual billing
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
Pitch
FreeNo published plan breakdown. See the Pitch review.
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.
Questions people ask
- Is Day One or Pitch better?
- Neither clearly leads. Day One starts at Free and Pitch at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Day One or Pitch?
- Day One starts at Free and Pitch at Free.
- Does Day One or Pitch run on more platforms?
- Day One runs on iOS, Android, macOS, Web. Pitch 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 Pitch is typically brought in for.
- What can Day One do that Pitch 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.
Pitch: Is Pitch free to use?
Yes, Pitch's Free plan lets you create unlimited presentations forever. Paid plans (Plus, Team, Business) pricing varies by seat count and billing cycle.
SourceDay 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.
Pitch: Can I hire Pitch to build my presentation for me?
Pitch doesn't offer custom design services. Instead, users can leverage Pitch Agent for rapid presentation generation or select from 150+ templates. The company can recommend creative agencies familiar with the platform.
SourceDay 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.
Pitch: Does Pitch offer a free trial?
Free trials are available to some customers depending on their needs. Contact support for eligibility information.
SourcePitch: Can I import my existing deck, and in what format?
Yes, you can upload a PPTX file. Users coming from Google Slides, Keynote, or other tools should export to PPTX format first.
SourceRelated pages
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