Reviews of Journelly

By: Xenodium Ltd. App

List of user reviews and ratings for Journelly

Total ratings

4.90 (Rating count: 77)

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Review summary

Journelly is a privacy-first journaling app that uses Org-mode markup and stores data locally with iCloud-based syncing across devices (no subscription). Users praise its clean UI, reliable cross-device access, and ability to attach images and integrate with Org-mode workflows. Common drawbacks include the absence of Markdown formatting, occasional cloud-sync conflicts, and requests for richer media support and text emphasis features.

Pros

Private and secure: data stored locally in plain text, prioritizing privacy and user control.
Strong Org-mode integration and markup support, appealing to Emacs users and enabling easy workflow export.
Elegant, simple UI with a fast, distraction-free journaling experience.
Cross-device syncing via iCloud without a subscription, plus easy local backups and no vendor lock-in.
Support for attachments/images and rich journaling features (checklists, location and weather stamps).

Cons

Lacks Markdown formatting and basic text formatting options (e.g., headers).
Cloud-sync conflicts or issues with services like Dropbox can make syncing problematic.
Requests for richer media support (videos/gifs) and greater text emphasis options (headlines) are unmet or planned features.

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User Reviews

Recent rating average: 4.80

All time rating average: 4.90

Upgrade to see all 35 reviews

Date	Author	Comment
2026-08-07	le*****	Every app from this developer is high-quality, does one thing and does it very well
Every app from this developer is high-quality, does one thing and does it very well
2026-06-09	mh*****	The iCloud Sync works great. Simply have your note taking application open to the iCloud document.
The iCloud Sync works great. Simply have your note taking application open to the iCloud document.
2026-05-17	RT*****	If you’re looking for a simple app to capture images, todos and thoughts on your phone, this is a decent option. Its superpower is that it generates a plaintext (org mode or markdown) file that can be synced to your computer via iCloud. This app solves two big pain points of a plaintext productivity system: mobile, and images. Unlike most (all) other similar apps, this handles images super gracefully, and it looks great on mobile. If you’re an org mode fanatic in a museum, for example, this is the app you need. Similarly, if you live in markdown and are looking for a “jot it down and assess it later” app, and also want to keep a food journal, or track the growth of a houseplant, or the books you need plus photos of where they are in the stacks, this would do the job. The only thing it can’t do is push you reminders about upcoming todos—which, to be fair, is not something in its design scope.
If you’re looking for a simple app to capture images, todos and thoughts on your phone, this is a decent option. Its superpower is that it generates a plaintext (org mode or markdown) file that can be synced to your computer via iCloud. This app solves two big pain points of a plaintext productivity system: mobile, and images. Unlike most (all) other similar apps, this handles images super gracefully, and it looks great on mobile. If you’re an org mode fanatic in a museum, for example, this is the app you need. Similarly, if you live in markdown and are looking for a “jot it down and assess it later” app, and also want to keep a food journal, or track the growth of a houseplant, or the books you need plus photos of where they are in the stacks, this would do the job. The only thing it can’t do is push you reminders about upcoming todos—which, to be fair, is not something in its design scope.
2026-03-03	Du*****	I find this app very useful for reminding me the work I’ve done the day before. When the imposter syndrome kicks I take a quick look. It also help that writing in journelly is quick, and intentional given the word count limit per note.
I find this app very useful for reminding me the work I’ve done the day before. When the imposter syndrome kicks I take a quick look. It also help that writing in journelly is quick, and intentional given the word count limit per note.
2026-02-22	mi*****	Perhaps I approached this app the wrong way. I wanted a markdown app that would write journal and notes entries to iCloud folders or wherever I set the storage to. This app will not do basic markdown formatting. It seems to me it should support some of the markdown formatting like headers. At this point it’s not an app I could use daily even for quick updates since I can’t format the text at all.
Perhaps I approached this app the wrong way. I wanted a markdown app that would write journal and notes entries to iCloud folders or wherever I set the storage to. This app will not do basic markdown formatting. It seems to me it should support some of the markdown formatting like headers. At this point it’s not an app I could use daily even for quick updates since I can’t format the text at all.
2026-02-07	30*****	yeah i like it. thank you.
yeah i like it. thank you.
2026-01-10	mo*****	This is an incredible app: simple note taking that syncs to my laptop over iCloud without a subscription.
This is an incredible app: simple note taking that syncs to my laptop over iCloud without a subscription.
2026-01-04	He*****	You don’t get many apps like this: it’s clearly crafted with love, care, competence, and attention to detail. Absolute delight to use.
You don’t get many apps like this: it’s clearly crafted with love, care, competence, and attention to detail. Absolute delight to use.
2026-01-01	Sh*****	Besides the peace of mind the app provides by storing my data in plain-text it is also a delight to use due to the well designed user experience.
Besides the peace of mind the app provides by storing my data in plain-text it is also a delight to use due to the well designed user experience.
2025-12-28	XA*****	I've used Beorg but it's too slow and clunjy for quick notes and thought. Journelly is just what I've been looking for. I can't wait to see how it continues to evolve.
I've used Beorg but it's too slow and clunjy for quick notes and thought. Journelly is just what I've been looking for. I can't wait to see how it continues to evolve.