Notes & ideas
jrnl
A plain-text journal you write and search from the terminal.
A good fit for
For people who want a journal beside their command-line tools.
Keep in mind
Requires terminal setup; synchronization uses another file service.
What’s inside
From the app’s documentationExplore all 18 features
Availability can depend on your plan or device. “Not verified” means we haven’t established whether the feature is supported.
Write & reflect
Written entriesAvailable
Timestamped plain-text entries and external-editor support.
Documented · Checked 2026-09-09.
Photo attachmentsNot verified
Not established in the sources reviewed.
Not verified · More research needed.
Audio recordingNot verified
Not established in the sources reviewed.
Not verified · More research needed.
Voice to textNot verified
Not established in the sources reviewed.
Not verified · More research needed.
Prompts & templatesNot verified
Not established in the sources reviewed.
Not verified · More research needed.
Mood trackingNot verified
Not established in the sources reviewed.
Not verified · More research needed.
RemindersNot verified
Not established in the sources reviewed.
Not verified · More research needed.
AI reflectionNot verified
Not established in the sources reviewed.
Not verified · More research needed.
Organize & take it with you
Search & organizationAvailable
Filter entries by tags and other criteria.
Documented · Checked 2026-09-09.
Device syncHas conditions
Shared folders can sync files through another service.
Conditional · Checked 2026-09-09.
Export / portable filesAvailable
Export entries in multiple formats.
Documented · Checked 2026-09-09.
Import / migrationAvailable
Import entries from other sources.
Documented · Checked 2026-09-09.
IntegrationsNot verified
Not established in the sources reviewed.
Not verified · More research needed.
Privacy & access
Local storage optionAvailable
Journal files live in a chosen local location.
Documented · Checked 2026-09-09.
End-to-end encryptionNot verified
Not established in the sources reviewed.
Not verified · More research needed.
App lockHas conditions
Optional password encryption protects journal files.
Conditional · Checked 2026-09-09.
No AI training policyNot verified
Not established in the sources reviewed.
Not verified · More research needed.
Free writingAvailable
The journal is free and open source.
Plan: Free
Documented · Checked 2026-09-09.
Also worth a look
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A closer look
What people reportNot reviewed yet
We haven’t reviewed independent user experiences for this profile yet. Manufacturer testimonials aren’t counted as independent reviews.
What we’re still checking
- Check current operating-system installation requirements.
- Confirm encryption and export workflows with a recovery test.
Device availability doesn’t guarantee identical features. Check OS and language requirements before you choose.
Sources & review notes1 sources
Our recommendations interpret the sources below. These are source reviews, not hands-on product tests.
-
jrnl · official · page. Accessed 2026-09-09.
Official product description inspected; testimonials and health-effect claims excluded.
Sources checked 2026-09-09. Based on research, not hands-on testing. How we compare apps
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