The Five Minute Journal
A short morning-and-evening gratitude journal app based on the popular paper notebook.
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About The Five Minute Journal
The Five Minute Journal app is the digital version of Intelligent Change's best-selling paper journal. Each morning it asks what you are grateful for, what would make today great and a daily affirmation; each evening it asks for highlights and what could have gone better. The structure is deliberately tiny, so the habit takes about five minutes a day, and photo-a-day entries, quotes, reminders and a timeline round it out. It is a good fit for people who want a gratitude practice rather than an open diary. The app is free to download, with a premium subscription for extra features. It runs on iPhone and Android. Intelligent Change also makes companion apps for habits and affirmations and sells physical journals, and the company says more than two million people use its journaling tools. Anyone wanting long-form writing or rich analytics will outgrow the fixed format, and the app is less capable than general-purpose journals.
Best for: People who want a quick daily gratitude habit with a fixed morning and evening routine.
Pros and cons
What works
- Takes about five minutes a day
- Clear gratitude-focused structure
- Matches the well-known paper journal
Why people leave
- Fixed format limits free writing
- Extra features need a subscription
- Mobile only
Top The Five Minute Journal alternatives
See all 4- 1
Stoic66.5Morning and evening templates plus mood tracking and more prompts.
- 2
Grid Diary62.6Customisable daily question grids if you want different prompts.
- 3
Day One59.6Has gratitude templates too, alongside free-form entries.
- 4
Reflection57.2Guided journaling with more prompt variety and AI insights.
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The Five Minute Journal: common questions
Is The Five Minute Journal free?
The Five Minute Journal has a free plan and paid plans.
Is The Five Minute Journal open source?
No, The Five Minute Journal is not open source.
What platforms does The Five Minute Journal run on?
The Five Minute Journal is available for iOS and Android.
What are the best alternatives to The Five Minute Journal?
The highest-ranked The Five Minute Journal alternatives right now are Stoic, Grid Diary and Day One. See the full ranked list for pricing, platforms and verified facts.