C. Scott Brown / Android Authority
Google rolled out a set of exclusive apps for the Pixel 10 smartphone line, including a new personal reflection app called Pixel Journal. I’ve already covered it in a separate article, but to summarize, it’s an AI-enhanced diary app that offers contextual writing prompts, support for attached images and maps, and is designed using Google’s new Material 3 Expressive design language. Naturally, it seems like a perfect fit for Pixel users.
However, Google didn’t invent the diary app. In fact, plenty of other journal apps have existed on the platform for years, each offering something a little different. If you aren’t impressed by Pixel Journal’s AI features, find it overwhelming, or don’t think it delves deep enough, here are some apps you should consider instead.
Which Pixel Journal alternative do you think is best? 7 votes Daily You 14 % Daily Diary 0 % Day One 14 % Diarium 0 % Journey 57 % Another app or service (mention which in comments) 14 %
Daily You
Andy Walker / Android Authority
I have a soft spot for Daily You. This brilliant little diary app is open source and free, and it also includes features that make recording my day’s happenings an adventure. Like Pixel Journal, it has an option to upload images and lets me track my mood. Over time, I can view these mood trends in the stats section, comparing and contrasting them with activities I engage in over the week. Entries that support text formatting give the app an advantage over Pixel Journal.
For journal newbies, Daily You offers an approachable layout and all of the features you could need.
Daily You emphasizes reliving moments in your life. A Flashbacks section on the home page highlights an entry from the past. By default, this section includes “bad days” too, but I prefer the setting that excludes them. Naturally, this type of feature only rewards regular users of the app.
The app includes plenty of additional settings, like importing data from a broad array of third-party diary and mood apps, changing the default storage folders, and a password to lock your entries.
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