About Immortal Diaries
I downloaded Immortal Diaries mostly out of curiosity after seeing someone mention it on a Reddit thread about digital journaling. I’m a college student, so I’m always on the lookout for free or cheap apps that actually do what they say without trying to milk me for subscription money every month. The whole idea of keeping a diary that could one day be passed on to someone else felt kind of cool, but honestly I just needed a place to dump my thoughts after a rough lecture or a late night studying. Over the past year, it’s become one of those apps I actually open regularly, which is rare for me. I’m not great at sticking with habits, but this one stuck.
Core Features
You can write entries, add photos or videos, and there’s this mood tracker that lets you pick how you’re feeling. I use it a lot on Monday mornings before my 9 AM class just to vent. There are also writing prompts and quotes if you’re stuck, which I’ve used maybe twice when I had nothing to say but still wanted to keep the streak going. You can organize entries by date or category, which helps when you’re trying to find something from a specific week. The search function works fine, though sometimes it takes a second to pull up old stuff. You can also share entries with friends if you want, but I haven’t really done that because I’m private about my journaling. The reminder feature is clutch — I set mine for 10 PM every night and it actually helps me remember to write before I crash.
Real-World Use
I mostly use Immortal Diaries on my iPhone 15 Pro during my commute or right before bed. There was this one Thursday in October when I had a really rough exam, and I sat in the campus library and just typed out everything I was feeling. It felt good to get it out. The app hasn’t crashed on me once, which is more than I can say for some other apps I’ve tried. I’ve also uploaded a few photos from a trip I took over spring break, and they loaded quickly without any weird compression. The interface is simple enough that I didn’t need a tutorial or anything — just opened it and started writing. I’m not the most tech-savvy person, so that matters a lot to me. The only time I got confused was trying to figure out the legacy feature, but once I played around with it for a few minutes it made sense.
Pricing & Value
It’s free. Like, actually free. No hidden subscription that hits you after a trial period. I’ve been using it for a year and haven’t spent a cent. There are some premium features locked behind a paywall — like extra customization for your diary cover and some advanced search filters — but I haven’t felt the need to buy them. For a student who budgets everything down to the dollar, free is the best price. The premium stuff looks nice but isn’t necessary for basic journaling. If they ever put the core features behind a subscription, I’d probably stop using it, but for now it’s a great deal. Honestly, I’d recommend it to other students who just want a no-pressure place to write without worrying about money.
Updates & Support
I’ve gotten a couple of updates over the year, and they seem to fix bugs and add small improvements. Nothing huge, but the app feels stable. I haven’t contacted support because I never had a problem, so I can’t speak to how helpful they are. But I’ve read some reviews on the App Store that say response times are okay, nothing amazing. That’s fine by me. As long as the app keeps working, I don’t need to talk to anyone. The updates come through the normal App Store process, and I haven’t experienced any issues after updating.
Data & Privacy
This is actually a big deal for me because I don’t want random companies reading my personal thoughts. Immortal Diaries says entries are encrypted and stored securely, and you can set a passcode or use Face ID to lock the app. I use Face ID and it works every time. The legacy feature — where you pick someone to access your diary after you die — is optional, so I haven’t set that up yet. I’m not super paranoid, but I do appreciate that they don’t ask for a ton of permissions. No access to my contacts or location unless I choose to tag an entry. Feels respectful of privacy. My only worry is that it’s run by a company, not an open-source project, but for a free app, I think it’s a fair trade-off.
How does the mood tracker work in Immortal Diaries?
The mood tracker lets you select how you're feeling when you write an entry, making it easy to log your emotional state alongside your thoughts. You can use it to look back and see patterns in your mood over time, which is helpful for self-reflection.
Can I set reminders to write in Immortal Diaries?
Yes, Immortal Diaries has a reminder feature that you can set for a specific time each day, like 10 PM, to help you build a consistent journaling habit. It's especially useful if you tend to forget to write, as the notification will prompt you before bed.
Why is my search function slow in Immortal Diaries?
The search function can take a second to pull up old entries, especially if you have a lot of content saved. To speed it up, try organizing entries by date or category, which makes finding specific weeks or topics easier without relying solely on search.
How do I use the legacy feature in Immortal Diaries?
The legacy feature lets you set up your diary to be passed on to someone else after you're gone, but it can be confusing at first. Just play around with the settings for a few minutes—once you designate a recipient and choose what to share, it becomes straightforward.
How does Immortal Diaries compare to other free journaling apps like Day One?
Unlike Day One, which requires a subscription for full features, Immortal Diaries is completely free with no hidden trial periods, offering core journaling, mood tracking, and photo uploads without cost. While Day One has more polished customization, Immortal Diaries is ideal for budget-conscious users who just need a simple, reliable place to write.
