5 Minute Journal: 6 Journals That Make Journaling Easy

If you’ve ever wanted to journal but felt like you didn’t have the time, you’re not alone. That’s where 5-minute journals come in. They’re short, focused, and incredibly effective.

The idea is simple: take just a few minutes a day to reflect, express gratitude, and set your intentions. These bite-sized habits can lead to big shifts in mindset, productivity, and overall wellbeing.

Whether you're looking to start your day with purpose or wind down with reflection, this guide covers the best journaling apps built for busy lives. They’re minimal, approachable, and help you stick with the habit - even when life gets hectic.

Best 5-Minute Journaling Apps at a Glance

NotePlan - Best 5 Minute Journal Overall

NotePlan combines journaling, to-dos, and calendars into one beautifully streamlined app. While it’s great for productivity, it also excels as a 5-minute journal. Create a custom daily template that includes gratitude, goals, and reflections - perfect for a quick mental reset.

With Markdown support and iCloud sync, you can journal across your devices without missing a beat. It's ideal if you want to blend planning and reflection into one consistent habit.

Key Features:

• Customizable journaling templates
• Calendar and task integration
• Markdown formatting
• Bi-directional linking between notes and entries
• Private, local file storage
• Cross-platform sync (iPhone, iPad, Mac)

Pricing: Free trial, then $8.33/month ($99 billed annually)

What Users on Reddit Say About NotePlan

NotePlan on iPad Overview on YouTube

Five Minute Journal - Best 5 Minute Journal for Simplicity

Based on the popular physical journal, the Five Minute Journal app keeps things beautifully simple. You’re prompted every morning and evening with questions about gratitude, daily intentions, and highlights from your day.

The design is clean, distraction-free, and encourages consistency. Whether you're new to journaling or want something lightweight, this app is an excellent place to start.

Key Features:

• Morning and evening prompts
• Daily affirmations
• Photo journaling
• Streak tracking and reminders
• Gentle, minimalist design
• Positive psychology-inspired format

Pricing: Various premium plans starting at $1.99/week

Day One - Best 5 Minute Journal for Guided prompts

Day One is one of the most beloved journaling apps out there—and for good reason. It’s great for deep reflections, but it also works brilliantly as a 5-minute journal.

You can set up short daily prompts, add photos, and log quick thoughts. The ability to lock your journal, add location data, and sync across devices makes it a go-to choice for both beginners and serious journalers.

Key Features:

• Custom daily prompts
• Photo, audio, and video entries
• End-to-end encryption for privacy
• Sync across devices
• Reminders and streaks
• Beautiful, intuitive UI

Pricing: Various premium plans starting at $5.99/month

Reflectly - Best 5 Minute Journal for AI-Powered Mood Tracking

Reflectly uses AI to help you reflect on your emotions, stress levels, and thoughts. Each session takes just a few minutes and includes mood logging and guided prompts to help you understand yourself better.

It’s visually polished, great for self-awareness, and ideal if you want to blend quick journaling with mental health tracking.

Key Features:

• Daily mood tracker
• AI-generated questions
• Journaling streaks and stats
• Personalized reflections
• Motivational quotes
• Insightful charts and analytics

Pricing: Free basic plan, with premium plans starting at $4.99/month

DailyBean - Best 5 Minute Journal for Visual Mood Logging

DailyBean makes journaling fast and fun with its unique visual format. Instead of writing paragraphs, you log your mood using colorful icons, track your activities, and jot down quick notes.

It’s a fantastic choice if you’re not a big writer but still want to build awareness and stay consistent.

Key Features:

• Mood tracking with emoji-style “beans”
• Custom event icons and tags
• Short daily logs
• Graphs for habit and mood tracking
• Secure passcode lock
• Adorable, gamified interface

Pricing: Various premium plans starting at $3.99/month

Gratitude - Best 5 Minute Journal for Gratitude

Gratitude focuses entirely on helping you build a positive mindset through short daily reflections. You can write about what you’re thankful for, add photos, and set reminders to stay on track.

There’s also a vision board feature and inspirational quotes for an extra motivation boost - perfect for keeping your journaling habit enjoyable and meaningful.

Key Features:

• Daily gratitude log
• Pre-written journal prompts
• Photo and quote journal entries
• Vision board feature
• Mood tracker and habit builder
• Passcode protection for privacy

Pricing: Various premium plans starting at $4.99/month

Conclusion

If you’re short on time but still want the benefits of journaling, these apps are the perfect solution. A few minutes a day is all it takes to reflect, reset, and get more intentional with your life.

NotePlan is a fantastic all-in-one option for people who want to merge journaling with planning. Five Minute Journal and Gratitude are unbeatable for simplicity. And if you're into visual tracking or mood journaling, DailyBean and Reflectly are easy wins.

Whatever your style, there’s a 5-minute journal app here that’ll help you build a habit that actually sticks.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is The 5-minute Journal Method?

The 5 minute journal method involves journaling for just five minutes in the morning and five minutes in the evening, usually just answering a few basic prompts. 

Is the Five Minute Journal Worth it?

Yes, the five minute journal is worth it. It’s an easy way to get into the habit of journaling and improve quality of life. 

Do Gratitude Journals Actually Work?

Yes, gratitude journals do actually work. Studies have shown that people who gratitude journal tend to be happier than they were before.