DailyBean alternatives: 4 apps ranked by verified data

Facts checked Oct 25, 2026AppBreakup editorialHow we rank

Common reasons people leave DailyBean: free tier has ads and one photo a day, and light on long-form writing. We ranked 4 alternatives by how directly each one replaces DailyBean, then by reviews, real visits and how recently each app's facts were checked against its own website. Daylio currently ranks first.

Quick comparison

#	App	Pricing	Open source	Platforms	Verified facts	Score
1	Grid Diary	Free plan + paid	No	iOS, macOS, Android	4 of 4	59.6

1. Grid DiaryTop pick
Best for: People who find a blank page intimidating and want short guided prompts each day
Free plan + paidiOS, macOS, Android
59.6
score / 100
Why switch from DailyBean
Prompted journaling for people who want to write a little more each day.
Pros
Prompts make daily entries quick
Customisable question templates
Exports to PDF, Markdown and images
Cons
Sync between devices requires membership
Grid format is restrictive for long writing
Subscription for advanced features
Visit Grid Diary 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 Grid Diary a good DailyBean alternative?
Verified facts
4 of 4 verified
Monthly price
$2.99/month
Checked Oct 25, 2026griddiaryapp.com(opens source in a new tab)
Annual price
$22.99/year
Checked Oct 25, 2026griddiaryapp.com(opens source in a new tab)
Export
PDF, Markdown, JPG
Checked Oct 25, 2026griddiaryapp.com(opens source in a new tab)
Free features
Many features free
Checked Oct 25, 2026griddiaryapp.com(opens source in a new tab)

The best DailyBean alternative for…

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

Best DailyBean alternative for most people

Daylio

The best-known two-tap mood diary, with stronger statistics.

Best DailyBean alternative for a free option

How We Feel

Free with no premium tier, focused on naming emotions.

Best DailyBean alternative for a free plan you can upgrade

Grid Diary

Prompted journaling for people who want to write a little more each day.

Best DailyBean alternative for Mac

Grid Diary

Prompted journaling for people who want to write a little more each day.

Best DailyBean alternative for iPhone and Android

Finch

Turns daily check-ins into caring for a virtual pet.

DailyBean alternatives: common questions

What is the best alternative to DailyBean?

Daylio ranks first right now. The best-known two-tap mood diary, with stronger statistics. How We Feel and Grid Diary follow it in our ranking.

Is there a free alternative to DailyBean?

Yes. Daylio (free plan + paid), How We Feel (free), Grid Diary (free plan + paid) and Finch (free plan + paid) have a free option. Check each app's verified facts for current plan limits.

Is there an open-source alternative to DailyBean?

None of the 4 alternatives in this list is open source.

Why do people switch from DailyBean?

The complaints we hear most: free tier has ads and one photo a day; light on long-form writing; deeper analysis requires Premium.

How is this list ranked?

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