Pixy
Pixy app iconvsFive Minute Journal app icon
Free Five Minute Journal alternative

Pixy vs Five Minute Journal: a free daily journal

The 5 Minute Journal app charges a subscription for daily prompts. Pixy takes even less time: one tap for your mood, plus a note if you want. Free.

Download on the App StoreGet it on Google Play
4.9 App Store4.7 Google Play700+ ratings
Price for every feature
$0. Free, no subscription
Five Minute Journal: Premium from $19.99/year
App Store rating
4.87 ★
Five Minute Journal: 4.76 ★
Google Play rating
4.68 ★
Five Minute Journal: 4.56 ★

Side by side

Pixy vs Five Minute Journal at a glance

8 reasons people pick Pixy over Five Minute Journal, based on public store listings.

Checked on September 29, 2026. Sources: App Store (US), Google Play (US), and public store reviews. "Not in store listing" means Five Minute Journal does not advertise it.
CategoryPixy app iconPixyFive Minute Journal app iconFive Minute Journal
Price for every featurePublic in-app purchase catalog, US App Store$0. Free, no subscriptionPremium from $19.99/year
App Store ratingUS App Store4.87 ★4.76 ★
Google Play ratingUS Google Play4.68 ★4.56 ★
Share of 1 and 2 star reviewsSample of 273 Pixy and 3,202 Five Minute Journal store reviews4.0%22%
Year in pixels calendarBuilt inNot in store listing
Open sourceYes, MIT licenseClosed source
Download sizeiPhone, App Store20 MB272 MB
Works on older iPhonesiOS 12.4 and neweriOS 17.6 and newer

Why Pixy

Why people switch from Five Minute Journal to Pixy

Pixy does one job well: it helps you notice how your days feel. Everything is free, and nothing gets in the way.

Your year in pixels
Every day becomes one colored square. A full year of moods fits on one screen, so patterns jump out.
Log a day in seconds
Pick a color and you are done. Add emotions, tags, sleep, or a note only when you want to. You choose which steps show up.
Name what you feel
Choose from a long list of emotions, each with a short description. Log as many entries per day as you like.
Patterns you can act on
Weekly, monthly, and yearly statistics show when your mood peaks and which tags come up most often.
Private by default
No account and no sign-up. Entries stay on your phone, behind Face ID or a passcode. Export a backup any time.
Free and open source
No ads, no subscription, no paywall. The code is public on GitHub under the MIT license.

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! I’ve tried so many tracking apps but they all ask 50 questions and the actually useful stuff is paywalled. I’m pleased this one isn’t like that.”
Verified App Store review · Jun 2025
“It has everything you need and it doesn’t overwhelm you with unnecessary ads or functions. One thing I hate is apps that … force you to stare at the monthly and yearly subscription. This app has not done anything annoying like that!”
Verified App Store review · Mar 2025
“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.”
Verified Google Play review · Jun 2024
“I have honestly tried a good few of these apps and I think this is the best. #1 it’s free, #2 it’s clear and easy, #3 it’s not childish.”
Verified Google Play review · Sep 2023
“This app has been huge in helping my psychiatrist and I determine what’s going on with my brain. I honestly can’t believe it’s free.”
Verified App Store review · Dec 2025
“I am a mental health counselor and I love suggesting to my clients to use this. Without the ads, it really allows you to not feel monetized while you’re trying to just get a grasp on your mental health. 10/10 always recommend!”
Verified Google Play review · Apr 2024

Switching

How to switch from Five Minute Journal to Pixy

  1. Step 1
    Download Pixy for free
    Get Pixy from the App Store or Google Play. No account, no sign-up, no trial.
  2. Step 2
    Keep your Five Minute Journal history
    Export your old entries from Five Minute Journal before you leave, so nothing gets lost.
  3. Step 3
    Log today in seconds
    Tap a color for today. Your first pixel is in, and your year starts to take shape.

FAQ

Pixy vs Five Minute Journal: frequently asked questions

Ready to switch from Five Minute Journal?

Free on iPhone and Android. No ads, no subscription, no account.

Download on the App StoreGet it on Google Play
4.9 App Store4.7 Google Play700+ ratings

More comparisons

Compare Pixy with other apps

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Five Minute Journal is a trademark of Intelligent Change LLC. Pixy is not affiliated with Five Minute Journal. Facts about Five Minute Journal come from its public store listings and reviews, checked on September 29, 2026. Found something out of date? Tell us.