Online Diary: The Top 5 Online Diaries Of 2025

Journaling isn’t just for notebooks. From reflecting on your day to tracking your mood, an online diary gives you all the benefits of traditional journaling - plus backups, reminders, and organization that pen and paper just can't match. 

In this guide, we’ve rounded up the top five online diaries of 2025. These tools make it easier (and more enjoyable) to keep a consistent journaling habit, whether you’re writing for wellness, clarity, or creativity. 

Quick Comparison of The Best Online Diaries

NotePlan - Best Overall Online Diary

NotePlan isn’t a traditional online diary - but that’s what makes it so powerful. It lets you keep a diary and plan your day all in one place. You can write your thoughts each morning or evening, add tasks or goals, and use tags to track moods or themes over time. 

It’s great for people who want to reflect daily and stay productive. It also uses markdown, syncs via iCloud, and works beautifully across all Apple devices. 

Key Features:

• Tags for moods, thoughts, or topics
• Calendar & reminder integration
• Custom templates and prompts
• Daily notes + to-do list combo
• End-to-end iCloud sync

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

What Users on Reddit Say About NotePlan

NotePlan on iPad Overview on YouTube

Day One - Best Online Diary for Customization

Day one is the gold standard for digital diaries. It’s elegant, simple to use, and deeply focused on privacy. You can write freely, add photos, record audio, and even insert your location and weather automatically. It also offers secure encryption and Face ID.

If you’re looking for a free online diary and a peaceful space to journal without distractions, Day One is a favorite. It’s easy to build a routine with daily writing prompts. 

Key Features:

• Templates for memory keeping, gratitude, and more
• iOS, macOS, Android, and web support
• Daily prompts and writing streaks
• Photo, audio, and text entries
• Private, encrypted journals

Pricing: Free basic plan, premium at $2.92/month (billed annually)

Journey - Best Online Diary for Guided Wellness

Journey goes beyond what a traditional online journal offers; it’s a digital coach for your mental well-being. It offers guided programs for gratitude, stress relief, and personal growth alongside its traditional journaling features. You can journal free-form, track moods, and even reflect on your travel memories by adding photos and geo-tags.

It’s ideal for people looking to improve emotional wellness while documenting their lives. 

Key Features:

• Google Drive sync and calendar view
• Guided journaling programs
• Mood and emotion tracking
• Travel journaling with maps
• Daily quotes and reminders

Pricing: $4.17/month (billed annually)

Penzu - Best Online Diary for Encryption

If your top priority is privacy, Penzu is for you. It’s built like an online diary app with military-grade encryption and password protection, even on individual entries. The interface is minimal - just you and the page - which makes it ideal for people who like to write long, free-form entries without distractions. 

It doesn’t have advanced features like mood tracking, and it certainly won’t be the best planner app, but for pure, secure journaling, it’s rock solid. 

Key Features:

• Password and lock-protected journals
• Email reminders to keep you writing
• Available on web, iOS, and Android
• Simple, text-first interface
• Custom journal covers

Pricing: Free with different premium plans, starting at 19.99/year

Diarium - Best Online Diary for Audio & Photo Entries

Diarium makes it super easy to document your life - especially if you’re not a big writer. You can add voice notes, attach photos, and even import social media activity into your diary online.

The interface is clean and straightforward, and everything is stored locally by default (with optional sync). It’s great for people who want to capture moments quickly, not just writing. 

Key Features:

• Supports markdown + export to DOCX or PDF
• Location, weather, and calendar event import
• Available on Android, Windows, and iOS
• Add voice recordings and images
• Daily reminders

Pricing: Free, with a $9.99 lifetime PRO option

Summary

Journaling isn’t just about writing - it’s about remembering, reflecting, and growing. If you want an all-in-one daily system, NotePlan is perfect. For a more traditional online diary, go with Day One. If you’re focused on mental wellness, Journey is a solid choice. 

With all of the incredible choices this year, there’s bound to be a perfect online diary for you. 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is The Best Online Diary?

The best online diary is whatever feels the most intuitive for you to use. NotePlan is a popular choice, but there are plenty of others. 

Is a Digital Diary Safe?

Yes, a digital diary is safe. As long as you don’t share your login information with anyone or give them access to your devices, your diary is safe. 

What are the Disadvantages of an Electronic Diary?

The main disadvantage of an electronic diary is that it can feel less satisfying compared to a physical diary. Although, they also have plenty of advantages that counter this, such as having your diary wherever you go.