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Pixy vs Apple Journal: mood tracking on iPhone and Android
Apple Journal is iPhone only and made for writing. Pixy is made for mood: a year in pixels, emotions, and statistics, on iPhone and Android.
Last checked . Facts from the US App Store and Google Play listings. Pixy facts from the app source.
Side by side
Pixy vs Apple Journal at a glance
How Pixy and Apple Journal compare on features, platforms, and privacy, based on public store listings.
| Category |  Pixy |  Apple Journal |
|---|---|---|
| Notes | Add a note to any entry | Yes, per store listing |
| Mood statistics | Weekly, monthly, and yearly | Yes, per store listing |
| Reminders | Daily check-in reminder | Yes, per store listing |
| Home screen widget | iPhone widgets: 4 weeks, month, year | Yes, per store listing |
| App lock | Face ID or Private Space lock | Yes, per store listing |
| Export your data | Export JSON or CSV, re-import JSON | Yes, per store listing |
| Year in pixels calendar | Every day is one colored square | Not in store listing |
| Custom tags | Your own activities, people, places | Not in store listing |
| Data stays on your phone | On your phone, no account | Not in store listing |
| Photos | No | Yes, per store listing |
| Voice notes | No | Yes, per store listing |
| Writing prompts | No | Yes, per store listing |
| Goals and streaks | No | Yes, per store listing |
| Automatic backup | No | Yes, per store listing |
| Device sync | No | Yes, per store listing |
| Health data | No | Yes, per store listing |
| AI features | No | Yes, per store listing |
| Platforms | iPhone and Android | iPhone only |
| Price | Free. No subscription, no ads. | Free |
| Ads | No ads | No ads |
| Open source | Yes, MIT license | Closed source |
| App Store ratingUS App Store, checked September 29, 2026 | 4.87 ★ (135) | 4.78 ★ (325,942) |
| Google Play ratingUS Google Play, checked September 29, 2026 | 4.68 ★ (569) | Not on Google Play |
Is Pixy free?
Yes. Pixy is free on iPhone and Android, with no subscription, no ads, and no account. The source code is public under the MIT license.
Why Pixy
Why people switch from Apple Journal to Pixy
Pixy does one job well: it helps you notice how your days feel. Quick to fill in, clear to read, and private by default.
Reviews
Loved by People Who Tried Other Apps
Pixy is rated 4.9 on the App Store and 4.7 on Google Play. Here is what reviewers say.
“Finally, a mood app that isn’t overwhelming! The app design is visually pleasing, it’s simple and not crowded or too busy. … You can choose what things you track.”“Out of all the mood tracker apps I’ve tried, Pixy is by far the best. I love the simple and easy to use design, it also has a very neat layout and aesthetic.”“Plenty of emotions to choose from and can select multiple options. Color coded so you can easily spot patterns throughout the weeks and months. Developer cares and it shows.”“Finally, a mood app that isn’t overwhelming! The app design is visually pleasing, it’s simple and not crowded or too busy. … You can choose what things you track.”“Out of all the mood tracker apps I’ve tried, Pixy is by far the best. I love the simple and easy to use design, it also has a very neat layout and aesthetic.”“Plenty of emotions to choose from and can select multiple options. Color coded so you can easily spot patterns throughout the weeks and months. Developer cares and it shows.”“Finally, a mood app that isn’t overwhelming! The app design is visually pleasing, it’s simple and not crowded or too busy. … You can choose what things you track.”“Out of all the mood tracker apps I’ve tried, Pixy is by far the best. I love the simple and easy to use design, it also has a very neat layout and aesthetic.”“Absolutely superb app with the right balance of functionality and simplicity. I tried a couple of other tracker apps but they were too complex and time consuming to fill in. Pixy’s biggest strength is that it can be used quickly.”“Tested a bunch of tracker apps. This UX is perfect and intuitive. And customizable!”“It’s minimal, feature-rich and very user friendly. This one genuinely deserves way more downloads.”“Absolutely superb app with the right balance of functionality and simplicity. I tried a couple of other tracker apps but they were too complex and time consuming to fill in. Pixy’s biggest strength is that it can be used quickly.”“Tested a bunch of tracker apps. This UX is perfect and intuitive. And customizable!”“It’s minimal, feature-rich and very user friendly. This one genuinely deserves way more downloads.”“Absolutely superb app with the right balance of functionality and simplicity. I tried a couple of other tracker apps but they were too complex and time consuming to fill in. Pixy’s biggest strength is that it can be used quickly.”“Tested a bunch of tracker apps. This UX is perfect and intuitive. And customizable!”Switching
Switch from Apple Journal to Pixy in under 5 minutes
Your moods, emotions, tags, people, and notes from Apple Journal come along.
- Step 1Export from Apple Journal
Save your Apple Journal data as .zip, .html or .json.
- Step 2Convert in Pixy Switch
Drop the file into Pixy Switch. It runs in your browser, so nothing is uploaded.
Comes along
- Mood
- Emotions
- Tags
- People
- Notes
Photos stay in Apple Journal.
How to export your Apple Journal data
- In Journal, tap ⋯ (top right) > Export > Export
- Pick a folder in Files and tap Save. Keep Journal open until the export finishes
- In Files, long-press the AppleJournalEntries folder > Compress
Import replaces the data in Pixy. Already using Pixy? Add your Pixy backup in Pixy Switch too, and both histories are merged.
From their help center
What Apple Journal Users Ask, Answered for Pixy
The most common questions in the Apple Journal help center, and how they work in Pixy.
FAQ
Pixy vs Apple Journal: frequently asked questions
Apple Journal is Apple's built-in journaling app for iPhone. Pixy is a mood tracker that turns each day into one colored pixel, so a whole year of moods fits on one screen. Pixy also offers a year in pixels calendar, custom tags, and on-device storage, which Apple Journal does not list in its store description. Apple Journal lists voice notes, device sync, health data such as sleep, AI features, photos in entries, goals and streaks, writing prompts, and automatic backups, which Pixy does not have.
It depends on what you need. Pixy fits if you want a quick daily check-in and a year in pixels, with no account. Apple Journal fits better if you want voice notes, device sync, health data such as sleep, AI features, photos in entries, goals and streaks, writing prompts, and automatic backups.
Yes. Export your Apple Journal data, drop the file into Pixy Switch and import the result into Pixy. It takes under 5 minutes, runs in your browser and uploads nothing.
Apple Journal is only on iPhone. Pixy is a mood journal for both Android and iPhone, so you can track your mood on any phone.
Apple Journal is built for writing entries. Pixy is built for tracking mood: each day becomes a colored pixel, and statistics show your patterns over weeks, months, and the year.
- Your mood on a color scale
- Emotions from a long list with short descriptions
- The people you were with
- Tags for activities and places
- A note
You decide which steps show up, and you can log several entries per day.
Your entries stay on your phone. Pixy needs no account and no sign-up. You can export a JSON or CSV file or delete your data at any time.
To keep a copy automatically, turn on Backup in Settings > Data > Backup. Pixy then saves one backup file in your own iCloud or Google Drive. It is off until you turn it on.
In Pixy, open Settings > Data > Backup, turn off the switch, and tap Turn Off.
- Pixy deletes the backup file from your iCloud or Google Drive.
- On Android, Pixy also signs out of Google Drive.
- Your entries on the phone stay.
Delete All My Data does not delete the cloud backup, so turn off the backup first.
Lost your phone or deleted Pixy?
- On iPhone or iPad, open Settings > [your name] > iCloud > Manage Account Storage (older iOS: Manage Storage) > Pixy > Delete Data from iCloud.
- On a Mac, open System Settings > Apple Account > iCloud > Manage > Pixy.
- For Google Drive, open drive.google.com on a computer, click the gear, then Settings > Manage apps > Pixy > Options > Delete hidden app data.
Not at the same time. Pixy does not sync entries between devices. The iCloud or Google Drive backup holds the entries of one phone.
- To move to a new phone, restore the backup there. Restore replaces the entries on that phone.
- When two phones use the same backup, the phone that wrote it last keeps it. The other phone pauses its backup.
Yes. Pixy is on the App Store for iPhone and on Google Play for Android.
Yes.
- On iPhone, touch and hold the Pixy icon and choose Require Face ID.
- On Android 15 and later, move Pixy into your Private Space.
Your phone then asks for Face ID, a fingerprint, or your passcode before Pixy opens.
Yes, on iPhone. Pixy widgets show your last 4 weeks, the current month, or your whole year in pixels. Tap a widget to open your calendar. Android has no Pixy widget yet.
A year in pixels is a calendar where each day is one small square, colored by your mood. After a few weeks you can see good and bad stretches at a glance. Pixy builds it for you as you log.
No. Pixy shows no ads, so nothing interrupts you while you reflect on your day.
Yes. The code of the Pixy app is public on GitHub under the MIT license, so anyone can check how it works and how it handles data.
You can export your entries as a file and show the calendar on your phone. Pixy has no PDF report. Pixy is a self-tracking tool, not a medical device.
Yes. Pixy is free on iPhone and Android, with no subscription, no ads, and no account. The source code is public under the MIT license.
Ready to switch from Apple Journal?
On iPhone and Android. No ads, no account, your data on your phone.
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Moody alternative
EMMO alternative
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Bearable alternativeApple Journal is a trademark of Apple. Pixy is not affiliated with Apple Journal. Facts about Apple Journal come from its public store listings and reviews, checked on September 29, 2026. Facts about Pixy come from the app source code. support.apple.com/guide/iphone/get-started-with-journal-iph0e5ca7dd3/ios. Found something out of date? Tell us