Community-ranked guide
Guided Journaling Apps with Prompts
A blank page is the hardest part of journaling. Guided journaling apps give you a question or exercise each day, so it takes a minute to start instead of ten.
These are the journaling apps with prompts or guided sessions listed on MindScout, ranked by community likes.
Our picks at a glance
- 1
Finchbest for self-careFree, in-app purchases from $1.99 - 2
Dayliobest for journalingFree, in-app purchases from $0.99, contains ads - 3
Reflectionbest for ADHDFree, in-app purchases from $5.99 - 4
Reflectlybest for journalingFree, in-app purchases from $4.99 - 5
Stoicbest for journalingFree, in-app purchases from $6.99 - 6
Lumbiabest for self-careSee website - 7
Wysabest for AI companionFree, in-app purchases from $0.99 - 8
CraveBreaker: Quit Vapingbest for habit trackerFree, in-app purchases from $4.99 - 9
Dear You: Daily Lettersbest for journalingFree, in-app purchases from $6.99 - 10
UnFight: Couples & Marriagebest for journalingFree, in-app purchases from $9.99
Compare the 10 apps
| App | Best for | App Store | Google Play | Pricing | Platforms |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1Finch | Self-care | 4.9★ (770K) | 4.9★ (639K) | Free, in-app purchases from $1.99 | iOSAndroid |
| 2Daylio | Journaling | 4.8★ (62.3K) | 4.7★ (464K) | Free, in-app purchases from $0.99, contains ads | iOSAndroid |
| 3Reflection | ADHD | 4.7★ (1.1K) | 4.3★ (2.4K) | Free, in-app purchases from $5.99 | iOSAndroid |
| 4Reflectly | Journaling | 4.6★ (81.7K) | 4.2★ (40.7K) | Free, in-app purchases from $4.99 | iOSAndroid |
| 5Stoic | Journaling | 4.8★ (36.2K) | 4.6★ (3.5K) | Free, in-app purchases from $6.99 | iOSAndroid |
| 6Lumbia | Self-care | — | — | — | — |
| 7Wysa | AI companion | 4.8★ (24.5K) | 4.5★ (152K) | Free, in-app purchases from $0.99 | iOSAndroid |
| 8CraveBreaker: Quit Vaping | Habit tracker | Few ratings yet | — | Free, in-app purchases from $4.99 | iOS |
| 9Dear You: Daily Letters | Journaling | Few ratings yet | — | Free, in-app purchases from $6.99 | iOS |
| 10UnFight: Couples & Marriage | Journaling | Few ratings yet | — | Free, in-app purchases from $9.99 | iOS |
How we evaluated these apps
- Every app is listed on MindScout and was reviewed by our team before it was published.
- Apps are ordered by likes from the MindScout community.
- Ratings and the number of ratings come from the public App Store and Google Play listings.
- Pricing is taken from those listings: the price, in-app purchases and whether the app shows ads.
- Store data is refreshed regularly; check the store for the latest price in your country.
1. Finch: Best for self-care
A cute virtual pet bird that helps you build self‑care habits by completing daily wellness tasks.
Google Play- Platforms
- iOSAndroid
- Pricing
- Free, in-app purchases from $1.99
- MindScout likes
- 7
Finch is a gamified self‑care app where you raise a virtual bird by completing quick mental health and wellness exercises—like mood journaling, breathing, quizzes and habit tracking. As your bird grows, you earn rewards (‘rainbow stones’) to customize it and its home. Features include daily check-ins, insights, social support via friends, seasonal events, and a premium Finch Plus option for extra customization and deeper tracking. Created to promote positive habits, mental resilience, and self‑love by making self‑care fun and engaging.
2. Daylio: Best for journaling
Micro‑journal for moods & activities in two taps
- Platforms
- iOSAndroid
- Pricing
- Free, in-app purchases from $0.99, contains ads
- MindScout likes
- 6
Daylio is a simple micro‑diary that lets you record moods and activities with just two taps. It visualizes patterns through charts and calendars, helps set goals, track habits, and personalize prompts—ideal for daily mood awareness.
3. Reflection: Best for ADHD
AI-Powered Journal and Coach
- Platforms
- iOSAndroid
- Pricing
- Free, in-app purchases from $5.99
- MindScout likes
- 2
Transform your self-reflection with Reflection, the intelligent journaling app featuring AI coaching, voice journaling, and mindfulness tools. Available on iOS, Android, Mac, and web with cross-platform sync. Includes 100+ expert prompts, mood tracking, personal growth insights, and advanced privacy. Perfect for self-improvement, mental wellness, and goal setting.
4. Reflectly: Best for journaling
AI-powered personal journal & mood tracker
- Platforms
- iOSAndroid
- Pricing
- Free, in-app purchases from $4.99
- MindScout likes
- 2
Reflectly is a personal AI journal that helps manage negative thoughts, increase positivity, and educate you on well‑being science. It offers daily insights, mood tracking, prompts, and a friendly conversational interface.
5. Stoic: Best for journaling
Daily journal & mental health companion
- Platforms
- iOSAndroid
- Pricing
- Free, in-app purchases from $6.99
- MindScout likes
- 2
Stoic is a mental health and journaling app with morning and evening routines, mood tracking, prompts, and insights to boost happiness, productivity, and resilience. It’s used by over 3 million users.
6. Lumbia: Best for self-care
A 2-minute daily check-in that asks how you feel before it says anything.
- Platforms
- See website
- Pricing
- See website
- MindScout likes
- 1
Most affirmation apps give you the same cheerful line no matter how your day is going. Lumbia asks how you feel first, then meets you there. In two minutes: check in (anxious, stuck, low…), get words written for that moment, take one small step, and see the days you showed up, never the ones you missed. Includes a private journal with gentle prompts and optional daily reminders. No sign-up, and what you write stays on your phone. Free while in beta.
7. Wysa: Best for AI companion
AI companion for mental health & resilience
- Platforms
- iOSAndroid
- Pricing
- Free, in-app purchases from $0.99
- MindScout likes
- 1
Wysa is an AI-driven mental health app featuring an empathetic chatbot (“Pocket Penguin Coach”) for 24/7 support through CBT, DBT, journaling, breathing exercises, guided mindfulness, mood tracking, and optional human coaching.
8. CraveBreaker: Quit Vaping: Best for habit tracker
Free craving tools, a quit plan and private logs for adults stopping vaping.
- Platforms
- iOS
- Pricing
- Free, in-app purchases from $4.99
- MindScout likes
- 0
For adults stopping vaping: free craving timers, grounding, a small puzzle, routine prompts and personal reasons. Keep an offline quit plan, craving log and journal; a lapse does not erase your recorded history. Try the free browser tools before downloading. No account. Core tools are free; optional paid Premium adds longer programs and insights. Self-help software, not medical care or proof of health recovery. Submitted by Honest Little Apps, the publisher.
9. Dear You: Daily Letters: Best for journaling
Write future-self letters, seal them for later and keep a private journal.
- Platforms
- iOS
- Pricing
- Free, in-app purchases from $6.99
- MindScout likes
- 0
Dear You is a reflection and letter-writing app for iPhone and iPad. Write to your future self, seal a letter until a chosen date and write back when it opens. Free features include one future letter waiting at a time, write-back notes, search, Face ID lock, PDF export and backup. No account or ads. Optional Plus subscriptions add unlimited future letters, more original letters and guided Journeys. It is a writing app, not a medical or mental-health service.
10. UnFight: Couples & Marriage: Best for journaling
Pause, find your words and plan a next step after an argument.
- Platforms
- iOS
- Pricing
- Free, in-app purchases from $9.99
- MindScout likes
- 0
UnFight is a self-guided communication tool from publisher Honest Little Apps. Take a pause, find words for a difficult conversation, or work through a guided RESET. Optional Partner Mode requires both people to opt in and approve sharing their answers. Free features include Calm Down, a break timer, safety resources and one guided session a week; optional Premium adds more. UnFight is not therapy, counseling or emergency assistance.
Best free options
- Finch: Free, in-app purchases from $1.99
- Daylio: Free, in-app purchases from $0.99, contains ads
- Reflection: Free, in-app purchases from $5.99
- Reflectly: Free, in-app purchases from $4.99
- Stoic: Free, in-app purchases from $6.99
- Wysa: Free, in-app purchases from $0.99
- CraveBreaker: Quit Vaping: Free, in-app purchases from $4.99
- Dear You: Daily Letters: Free, in-app purchases from $6.99
- UnFight: Couples & Marriage: Free, in-app purchases from $9.99
How to choose
Check how many prompts the app has and whether they change daily, so the habit does not get stale.
Some apps focus on gratitude, others on self-reflection or therapy-style exercises; pick the style that fits.
Make sure you can also write freely when you do not want a prompt.
Try the free prompts before paying for a full library.
Frequently asked questions
What is a journal prompt?
A question or short task that gives your entry a direction, such as "What drained your energy today?" or "Name three things that went well".
Is guided journaling better than free writing?
Neither is better; prompts make it easier to build the habit, and many people switch to free writing once it sticks.
How are these apps ranked?
By likes from the MindScout community.
Which of these apps are free?
9 of the 10 apps here can be used for free: Finch (free, in-app purchases from $1.99); Daylio (free, in-app purchases from $0.99, contains ads); Reflection (free, in-app purchases from $5.99); Reflectly (free, in-app purchases from $4.99); Stoic (free, in-app purchases from $6.99); Wysa (free, in-app purchases from $0.99); CraveBreaker: Quit Vaping (free, in-app purchases from $4.99); Dear You: Daily Letters (free, in-app purchases from $6.99); UnFight: Couples & Marriage (free, in-app purchases from $9.99). Store pricing can differ by country.