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Productivity · head to head

Day One vs Streaks

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
Streaks logo

Streaks

Productivity

iOS habit tracker sold as a one-time purchase, not a subscription

From
$5.99/one-time
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Day One has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • 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.; Streaks it is iOS and Apple Watch only, with no Android version, so it is not usable for anyone outside Apple's ecosystem.
  • They diverge on capability: Day One covers Multiple journals, Streaks covers Streak tracking.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

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

Attributes where Day One and Streaks differ
AttributeDay OneStreaks
Starting priceFree$5.99/one-time
Pricing modelFree tier plus subscriptionOne-time purchase
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsiOS, Android, macOS, WebiOS

Identical on both: 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 Streaks

  • Streak tracking
  • Apple Health integration
  • Apple Watch app
  • Flexible scheduling
  • Widgets
  • iCloud sync

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

Streaks

  • Someone wanting a simple visual habit tracker without recurring subscription feesnot Day One
  • A person wanting habits like step count or sleep to auto-complete via Apple Health datanot Day One
  • An Apple Watch user wanting to log habits without pulling out a phonenot Day One
  • Someone tracking a mix of daily and weekly recurring to-dos in one placenot 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.

Streaks

  • It is iOS and Apple Watch only, with no Android version, so it is not usable for anyone outside Apple's ecosystem.
  • The base app caps at 24 tracked habits, which is enough for most users but a real limit for anyone wanting to track a larger number of items.
  • Sync is via iCloud only, so there is no web or cross-platform account, which limits use to Apple devices exclusively.
  • It has fewer social or accountability features, such as shared habit tracking with friends, compared with some subscription-based competitors.
  • A single lifetime purchase means no ongoing development revenue tied to the individual user, so it depends on new sales and occasional priced major updates rather than recurring income to fund development.

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

Streaks

$5.99/one-time
  • Streaks$5.99/one-time
    • Full app, no subscription
    • Up to 24 tracked habits
    • Apple Watch app included

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 Streaks if

  • You need streak tracking.
  • You work on iOS.
  • You also want apple health integration.
Streaks review

Questions people ask

Is Day One or Streaks better?
Neither clearly leads. Day One starts at Free and Streaks at $5.99/one-time, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Day One or Streaks?
Day One has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Day One and $5.99/one-time for Streaks.
Does Day One or Streaks run on more platforms?
Day One runs on iOS, Android, macOS, Web. Streaks runs on iOS.
Can I use Day One for free?
Yes. Day One has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Streaks starts at $5.99/one-time.
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 Streaks is typically brought in for.
What can Day One do that Streaks cannot?
Day One covers Multiple journals, Rich entries, End-to-end encryption, On This Day. Streaks covers Streak tracking, Apple Health integration, Apple Watch app, Flexible scheduling.

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.

Streaks: Is Streaks a subscription?

No, it is a one-time App Store purchase, currently priced around 5.99 USD, with no recurring fee.

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.

Streaks: Does it work on Android?

No, it is iOS and Apple Watch only.

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.

Streaks: Does it integrate with Apple Health?

Yes, habits tied to metrics like steps or sleep can auto-complete based on Apple Health data.

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