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Productivity · head to head

Day One vs Remember The Milk

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
Remember The Milk logo

Remember The Milk

Productivity

The smart to-do app for busy people

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.; Remember The Milk interface looks dated compared to modern task managers
  • They diverge on capability: Day One covers Multiple journals, Remember The Milk covers Smart lists.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Day One and Remember The Milk actually diverge.

Attributes where Day One and Remember The Milk differ
AttributeDay OneRemember The Milk
Pricing modelFree tier plus subscriptionUnknown
PlatformsiOS, Android, macOS, WebWeb, iOS, Android, macOS, Windows
FoundedUnknown2004

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 Remember The Milk

  • Smart lists
  • Location reminders
  • Task sharing
  • Advanced search
  • Subtasks
  • Google Calendar
  • Outlook
  • Evernote

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 Remember The Milk
  • A person keeping a travel journal that auto-attaches location and weather to each entrynot Remember The Milk
  • Someone who wants encrypted entries kept separate from an unencrypted general journalnot Remember The Milk
  • A user who wants automated daily writing prompts and On This Day nostalgia reviewnot Remember The Milk

Remember The Milk

  • Schedulingnot Day One
  • Appointment bookingnot Day One
  • Time trackingnot Day One
  • Resource managementnot Day One
  • Team coordinationnot 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.

Remember The Milk

  • Interface looks dated compared to modern task managers
  • Limited mobile app features compared to desktop version
  • No advanced project management features like Gantt charts or timeline views

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

Remember The Milk

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Task creation and organization
    • Basic reminders
    • List sharing
  • Pro$39.99/year
    • All free features
    • Advanced sorting
    • Attachments

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 Remember The Milk if

  • You need smart lists.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, iOS, Android, macOS, Windows.
  • You also want location reminders.
Remember The Milk review

Questions people ask

Is Day One or Remember The Milk better?
Neither clearly leads. Day One starts at Free and Remember The Milk at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Day One or Remember The Milk?
Day One starts at Free and Remember The Milk at Free.
Does Day One or Remember The Milk run on more platforms?
Day One runs on iOS, Android, macOS, Web. Remember The Milk runs on Web, iOS, Android, macOS, Windows.
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 Remember The Milk is typically brought in for.
What can Day One do that Remember The Milk cannot?
Day One covers Multiple journals, Rich entries, End-to-end encryption, On This Day. Remember The Milk covers Smart lists, Location reminders, Task sharing, Advanced search.

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.

Remember The Milk: Is there a free version of Remember The Milk?

Yes. Remember The Milk is free to download and use with core features like task creation, lists, reminders, and basic sharing. A Pro subscription at $39.99 annually unlocks advanced features like advanced sorting, attachments, and Apple Watch support.

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.

Remember The Milk: What devices and platforms does Remember The Milk support?

Remember The Milk is available across desktop, mobile, web, and wearable platforms with native applications, ensuring tasks remain synchronized across all devices.

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.

Remember The Milk: Can I share tasks with others in Remember The Milk?

Yes, Remember The Milk allows you to share lists and assign tasks to others to coordinate work and get things done faster.

Source
Remember The Milk: Does Remember The Milk integrate with other apps?

Yes, Remember The Milk integrates natively with Gmail, Google Calendar, Evernote, and Zapier, allowing you to capture tasks from multiple sources.

Source
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