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Pixy vs Google Journal: a mood journal for any phone
Google Journal only runs on Pixel phones. Pixy is a mood journal for any Android phone, including Samsung, and for iPhone.
Last checked . Facts from the US App Store and Google Play listings. Pixy facts from the app source.
4.9 App Store4.7 Google Play700+ ratings
Side by side
Pixy vs Google Journal at a glance
How Pixy and Google Journal compare on features, platforms, and privacy, based on public store listings.
| Category |  Pixy |  Google 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 |
| App lock | Face ID or Private Space lock | 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 |
| Home screen widget | iPhone widgets: 4 weeks, month, year | Not in store listing |
| Export your data | Export JSON or CSV, re-import JSON | 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 | Pixel phones 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) | Not on the App Store |
| Google Play ratingUS Google Play, checked September 29, 2026 | 4.68 ★ (569) | 3.37 ★ (953) |
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 Google 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.
Jun 2025
“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.”Nov 2024
“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.”Aug 2024
“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.”Jun 2025
“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.”Nov 2024
“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.”Aug 2024
“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.”Jun 2025
“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.”Nov 2024
“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.”Jun 2024
“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.”Aug 2024
“Tested a bunch of tracker apps. This UX is perfect and intuitive. And customizable!”Jan 2023
“It’s minimal, feature-rich and very user friendly. This one genuinely deserves way more downloads.”Jun 2024
“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.”Aug 2024
“Tested a bunch of tracker apps. This UX is perfect and intuitive. And customizable!”Jan 2023
“It’s minimal, feature-rich and very user friendly. This one genuinely deserves way more downloads.”Jun 2024
“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.”Aug 2024
“Tested a bunch of tracker apps. This UX is perfect and intuitive. And customizable!”Switching
How to switch from Google Journal to Pixy
FAQ
Pixy vs Google Journal: frequently asked questions
Google Journal is Google's journal app for Pixel phones. 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, home screen widgets, data export, and on-device storage, which Google Journal does not list in its store description. Google Journal lists voice notes, device sync, health data such as sleep, AI features, goals and streaks, photos in entries, 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. Google Journal fits better if you want voice notes, device sync, health data such as sleep, AI features, goals and streaks, photos in entries, writing prompts, and automatic backups.
Pixy has no direct import from Google Journal. Most people keep an export of their old Google Journal history and start fresh in Pixy. You can export a Pixy backup file at any time.
Google Journal is made for Pixel phones. Pixy is a mood journal that runs on any Android phone, including Samsung, and on iPhone.
Your mood on a color scale, emotions from a long list with short descriptions, the people you were with, tags for activities and places, and 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.
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 Google Journal?
On iPhone and Android. No ads, no account, your data on your phone.
4.9 App Store4.7 Google Play700+ ratings
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MindDoc alternativeGoogle Journal is a trademark of Google LLC. Pixy is not affiliated with Google Journal. Facts about Google Journal come from its public store listings and reviews, checked on September 29, 2026. Facts about Pixy come from the app source code. Found something out of date? Tell us