What the labels show
- Data used to track you: Mindsera, Reflection and Lightpage
- User Content linked to you: Day One, Journey, Mindsera, Rosebud and Untold
- Only data not linked to you: Apple Journal, Daylio, Diarium and Stoic
- Data Not Collected: Dawn Light
What each label heading means
Apple asks every developer to declare what its app collects, in up to four headings. The wording below is Apple's own, shortened.
| Heading | What it means |
|---|---|
| Data Used to Track You | Data linked with data from other companies' apps or websites for ads, or shared with data brokers |
| Data Linked to You | Data tied to your identity, such as your account, device or contact details |
| Data Not Linked to You | Data collected without being tied to your identity |
| Data Not Collected | The developer collects no data from the app |
Why User Content matters in a journal
User Content covers what you write or say in the app. When it is linked to you, the developer collects your entries and ties them to who you are. That is normal for apps that sync through their own servers or run AI in the cloud. It is worth knowing before you write something private.
How this table was made
Each app's US App Store page was read on October 17, 2026, and the App Privacy section was copied word for word. The same 14 apps appear in the price table, chosen the same way. Dawn Light is ours.
Limits of the data
- Developers declare their own labels, and Apple does not verify them
- A label describes the app, not the developer's website
- Labels change when apps update, so check the listing before you decide
- A label says what is collected, not how well it is protected
Changes to this table
We check every label again each quarter. The next full check is due by January 17, 2027.
| Date | Change |
|---|---|
| October 17, 2026 | First edition: 14 apps checked on the US App Store |
Questions about journal app privacy
Which journal app is the most private?
By its App Store label, Dawn Light was the only app in this table to declare Data Not Collected. Apple Journal, Daylio, Diarium and Stoic declared only data not linked to you. Labels are self-declared, so read each app's privacy policy too.
Does Apple check privacy labels?
No. Each App Store page says the developer provided the information. The labels are the developer's own statement, not an audit.
Can I download this data?
Yes, as CSV or JSON, with each app's full label. The links are under the table.
Why does an AI journal link my entries to me?
AI journals that run their AI in the cloud send entries to their servers, and many sync through their own accounts. Dawn Light runs transcription and Plus on your device instead.
Sources
Keep your journal on your phone
Dawn Light writes down what you say on your iPhone, with no account and no server. Its App Store label reads Data Not Collected.
Get Dawn Light freeUnlimited entries, transcripts, search and iCloud sync. For iPhone, iPad and Apple Watch. Works with iOS 26, iPadOS 26 and watchOS 26 or later.