Zeitgeist Journal & Diary

Liking it so far but feel it needs a lot more. It’s expensive for what it is. Needs widgets, mood (added now), and AI recaps or a way to search with AI. Then it’s more complete and worth the cost. Hoping more of that stuff comes really soon.

I like to think of myself as an enthusiast, always looking for new apps and passionate developers. I discovered Zeitgeist through Instagram Threads, which has become a hub for developers through certain communities and hashtags. Marcel posts there frequently with updates, and around the time Threads released its disappearing posts feature, I saw the perfectly timed ad for Zeitgeist. Striking in purple, it immediately caught my eye. I thought, wow, what is this? A new journaling app? Well, I had to try it. As a writer, I’m no stranger to journaling apps. Since the AI craze began, there seems to be a new one released every week with promises to enhance the experience through insights, learning, and motivational prompts. Fortunately, that is not the gimmick Zeitgeist chose to follow. Instead, it offers a modern approach to journaling that hasn’t been explored much. Though I’ve come across other apps with a similar idea, Marcel has executed it in the best way. It feels like a journaling app that blends the fun of posting or tweeting. It’s a wonderful experience. “Micro-journaling” might be the next evolution of journaling, with ZG leading the way. It’s polished, inviting, and genuinely fun to use. A defining feature is the People tab, which allows you to mention friends, loved ones, or anyone you write about. Those posts are collected in one place where you can also add notes and view all previous entries mentioning them. I’ve never seen this in a journaling app, and I’m sure others will soon follow. It’s still early in its development, but Marcel is quick with updates and open to feedback and feature requests. There is probably no better time to download the app. I gladly upgraded my account because I use the app daily and it truly brings me joy. I’m eager to see how it continues to grow. I’ve tried them all, but none compare. Even the stock Journal app on iOS feels clunky next to ZG. That said, you don’t have to abandon your current journal app. I know how attached we get to them because they hold our memories. But Zeitgeist actually works great in tandem. You can jot quick posts throughout the day in ZG, then write your final reflections later in your main journal. As for me, Zeitgeist is all I need. I honestly don’t think it gets much better. If you journal, or if you like to tweet, post, or share your thoughts online, there’s no reason this app shouldn’t be on your phone.

I was excited about it when it was first announced, and now that I’ve been able to use it the past couple days, I am excited to see where it goes next! It’s so fun and useful, and makes me want to journal (knowing there’s a limit to it also helps me to not overthink. Responding to my own thoughts (like they are comments, or bookmarking thoughts) is a really creative idea. It’s like a journal, but in the style of social media, and it’s just a really great idea.