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Dabble Me alternatives: 4 apps ranked by verified data

Facts checked Oct 25, 2026AppBreakup editorialHow we rank

Common reasons people leave Dabble Me: depends entirely on email, and photos and search require PRO. We ranked 4 alternatives by how directly each one replaces Dabble Me, then by reviews, real visits and how recently each app's facts were checked against its own website. Penzu currently ranks first.

Quick comparison

#AppPricingOpen sourcePlatformsVerified factsScore
1Penzu logoPenzuFree plan + paidNoWeb, iOS, Android5 of 566.5
2Day One logoDay OneFree plan + paidNoiOS, Android, macOS +26 of 662.6
3jrnl logojrnlOpen sourceYesLinux, macOS, Windows4 of 459.6
4ThThe Five Minute JournalFree plan + paidNoiOS, Android4 of 457.2
  1. Penzu logo

    1. PenzuTop pick

    Best for: People who want a private diary that works in any browser without installing anything

    Free plan + paidWeb, iOS, Android

    66.5

    score / 100

    Why switch from Dabble Me

    A private web diary with a writing editor and mobile apps.

    Pros

    • Works in any browser
    • Free plan with unlimited writing
    • Double password and encryption locking on paid plans

    Cons

    • Encryption locking and exports require Pro
    • Basic media support
    • Mobile apps are simpler than rivals'
    Visit Penzu Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.3100
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.1585
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is Penzu a good Dabble Me alternative?

    Verified facts

    5 of 5 verified
    Free plan
    Yes, no credit card
    Checked Oct 25, 2026penzu.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Pricing model
    Always free, with Pro plans
    Checked Oct 25, 2026penzu.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Pro+ lifetime
    $199.99
    Checked Oct 25, 2026penzu.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Mobile apps
    iOS and Android
    Checked Oct 25, 2026penzu.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Users
    2 million+
    Checked Oct 25, 2026penzu.com(opens source in a new tab)
  2. Day One logo

    2. Day One

    Best for: People who want a rich, media-friendly journal that stays private and lasts for years

    Free plan + paidiOS, Android, macOS, Windows, Web

    62.6

    score / 100

    Why switch from Dabble Me

    Full-featured journaling apps with media and encryption.

    Pros

    • End-to-end encryption on every plan
    • Rich entries with photos, audio and automatic metadata
    • Apps on nearly every platform
    • Exports and printed books

    Cons

    • Free plan limited to one device and one photo per entry
    • Yearly subscription for sync
    • AI features may not appeal to private journalers
    Visit Day One Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.387
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.1585
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is Day One a good Dabble Me alternative?

    Verified facts

    6 of 6 verified
    Free plan
    Basic at $0/year
    Checked Oct 25, 2026dayoneapp.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Silver
    $49.99/year
    Checked Oct 25, 2026dayoneapp.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Gold
    $74.99/year
    Checked Oct 25, 2026dayoneapp.com(opens source in a new tab)
    End-to-end encryption
    Yes, all plans
    Checked Oct 25, 2026dayoneapp.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Free trial
    1 month
    Checked Oct 25, 2026dayoneapp.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Owner
    Automattic
    Checked Oct 25, 2026dayoneapp.com(opens source in a new tab)
  3. jrnl logo

    3. jrnl

    Best for: Developers and terminal users who want a fast, future-proof plain-text journal

    Open sourceLinux, macOS, Windows

    59.6

    score / 100

    Why switch from Dabble Me

    Another minimal, open-source approach, from the command line.

    Pros

    • Plain-text files you fully control
    • Optional AES encryption
    • Fast natural-language entry from the terminal
    • Free and open source

    Cons

    • Command line only, with no GUI or mobile app
    • No photos or rich media
    • No reminders or prompts
    Visit jrnl Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.377
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.1585
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is jrnl a good Dabble Me alternative?

    Verified facts

    4 of 4 verified
    License
    GPL-3.0
    Checked Oct 25, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Encryption
    AES
    Checked Oct 25, 2026jrnl.sh(opens source in a new tab)
    Sync
    Via tools like Dropbox
    Checked Oct 25, 2026jrnl.sh(opens source in a new tab)
    Price
    Free & open source
    Checked Oct 25, 2026jrnl.sh(opens source in a new tab)
  4. Th

    4. The Five Minute Journal

    Best for: People who want a quick daily gratitude habit with a fixed morning and evening routine

    Free plan + paidiOS, Android

    57.2

    score / 100

    Why switch from Dabble Me

    Short guided prompts that take just a few minutes a day.

    Pros

    • Takes about five minutes a day
    • Clear gratitude-focused structure
    • Matches the well-known paper journal

    Cons

    • Fixed format limits free writing
    • Extra features need a subscription
    • Mobile only
    Visit The Five Minute Journal Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.369
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.1585
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is The Five Minute Journal a good Dabble Me alternative?

    Verified facts

    4 of 4 verified
    Price
    Free to download
    Checked Oct 25, 2026intelligentchange.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Platforms
    iOS and Android
    Checked Oct 25, 2026intelligentchange.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Approach
    Guided gratitude prompts
    Checked Oct 25, 2026intelligentchange.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Users
    2 million+
    Checked Oct 25, 2026intelligentchange.com(opens source in a new tab)

The best Dabble Me alternative for…

The highest-ranked app in this list for each need.

Penzu logo

Best Dabble Me alternative for most people

Penzu

A private web diary with a writing editor and mobile apps.

jrnl logo

Best Dabble Me alternative for a free option

jrnl

Another minimal, open-source approach, from the command line.

Day One logo

Best Dabble Me alternative for a free plan you can upgrade

Day One

Full-featured journaling apps with media and encryption.

jrnl logo

Best Dabble Me alternative for open source

jrnl

Another minimal, open-source approach, from the command line.

Day One logo

Best Dabble Me alternative for Mac

Day One

Full-featured journaling apps with media and encryption.

Day One logo

Best Dabble Me alternative for Windows

Day One

Full-featured journaling apps with media and encryption.

jrnl logo

Best Dabble Me alternative for Linux

jrnl

Another minimal, open-source approach, from the command line.

Th

Best Dabble Me alternative for iPhone and Android

The Five Minute Journal

Short guided prompts that take just a few minutes a day.

Penzu logo

Best Dabble Me alternative for working in the browser

Penzu

A private web diary with a writing editor and mobile apps.

Dabble Me alternatives: common questions

What is the best alternative to Dabble Me?

Penzu ranks first right now. A private web diary with a writing editor and mobile apps. Day One and jrnl follow it in our ranking.

Is there a free alternative to Dabble Me?

Yes. Penzu (free plan + paid), Day One (free plan + paid), jrnl (open source) and The Five Minute Journal (free plan + paid) have a free option. Check each app's verified facts for current plan limits.

Is there an open-source alternative to Dabble Me?

Yes: jrnl.

Which Dabble Me alternatives work on Linux?

jrnl runs on Linux.

Why do people switch from Dabble Me?

The complaints we hear most: depends entirely on email; photos and search require PRO; no native apps or offline mode.

How is this list ranked?

Every app is scored with the same published formula: how directly it replaces Dabble Me, reviews (weighted by verification), visits from AppBreakup, how recently its facts were checked against its own website, and reader votes.