Alternatives to jrnl
A command-line journal that stores entries in plain text files, with optional AES encryption. The listings below can replace it for an important use case. Each note says what changes if you switch.
The original
jrnl
A command-line journal that stores entries in plain text files, with optional AES encryption.
Replacements
Listings that take over the same core job as jrnl.
Day One
A journaling app for writing daily entries with photos, video, audio and drawings, synced across devices.
Day One swaps the terminal for apps on phones, desktop and the web with photos, audio and end-to-end encrypted sync, but it is closed source with a paid Gold plan.
RedNotebook
Keep a searchable desktop journal with dated entries.
RedNotebook is a free GPL-2.0 graphical desktop journal for Windows and Linux with tags, templates and exports, replacing command-line entry with a searchable app.
Diarium
A private diary app for Windows, Android, iOS and Mac that syncs through your own cloud storage.
Diarium is a closed-source diary app for Windows, Mac, Android and iOS that syncs through your own cloud storage, with a one-time Pro purchase per platform.
Denote
An Emacs note-taking package that organises plain-text notes through a predictable, descriptive file naming scheme.
Denote keeps plain-text notes with predictable file names inside Emacs, and its companion packages cover journals, but it requires Emacs instead of a standalone command.
Similar software
Related functionality, not a direct replacement.
nb
A command-line and local web tool for plain text notes, bookmarks and a Git-backed knowledge base.
Org mode
A GNU Emacs major mode for notes, outlines, to-do lists and documents kept in plain text.
zk
A command-line tool for maintaining a plain-text Markdown Zettelkasten or personal wiki.
VimWiki
A Vim plugin that turns linked plain-text files into a personal wiki with its own syntax.
Daylio
Micro-journal and mood tracker app where a daily entry takes two taps.
