Day One has long held the crown as one of the most beloved and feature-rich journaling apps on Mac. While Day One has been exclusive to Apple devices for a while, the company recently launched a native app on Android and expanded its footprint on Windows as well. Eager to see if this cross-platform leap lives up to the hype, I put the Windows version through its paces. Let’s see if it truly brings the magic of Day One to a new operating system.

A beautiful UI

Looks neat but not as eye-catching as the Mac version

Day One on Windows successfully carries over the app's signature aesthetic with a clean and uncluttered interface that prioritizes the user’s focus on writing. There are smooth, subtle animations to enhance the user experience and provide fluid transitions between screens and actions.

While the Windows version gets the basics right for visual design, it’s still not on par with the Mac version. Day One supports dark and white themes, but it misses out on translucent UI. I would love to see that inclusion in future updates. Despite this, Day One on Windows remains a visually appealing and user-friendly journaling tool.

Packed with useful templates

Don’t start an entry from scratch

Day One doesn’t just give you a blank page – it offers thoughtfully crafted templates to quickly initiate entries. These templates are neatly divided into different categories like reflections, gratitude, check-ins, goals, health, wellness, travel, and more.

Whether it's daily reflections, gratitude lists, habit tracking, meeting notes, or mood tracking, you have ample templates to get started. Instead of having to brainstorm how to structure your thoughts, you can pick a template, fill in the prompts, and finish the entry quickly.

This organization not only saves time but also ensures consistency and clarity in your journaling routine. It's perfect for those who want to journal regularly without feeling overwhelmed by a blank page.

A robust text editor to jot-down entries

Fly through your thoughts

Day One offers a full suite of text formatting options, including various heading levels, bold and italic effects, the ability to insert quotes, and more. Day One also supports a focus mode that minimizes distractions by dimming or hiding interface elements. Overall, Day One gives you all the tools you need to make your journal entries look and feel exactly how you want.

It would be fantastic to have support for highlighters and stickers in a future update. These features could add a personal flair and an aesthetic charm to your dull entries.

Organize your entries with tags

Media layout and calendar integration

One of the things I truly appreciate about Day One is how it lets me customize my journaling experience. I've set up separate journals for different aspects of my life – a personal one for daily reflections, another for my travel adventures, and even one for work notes. Then, I use tags to organize them.

I can even create a shared journal and collaborate with my loved ones on specific memories. And when I'm looking for a particular entry, the calendar view and media integration are lifesavers. I can quickly scroll through dates or search by photos and relive those special times.

Supports end-to-end encryption

But where is Windows Hello support?

Like many top productivity apps, Day One on Windows supports end-to-end encryption to keep your entries safe from prying eyes. You can also choose to save your journal offline and avoid any cloud complexities. While the Windows version maintains these core security features, it currently lacks support for Windows Hello, a convenient biometric authentication method.

Lacks quick entries

Would love to see that in future updates

A practical difference between Day One on macOS and Windows is the lack of a quick entry option on Windows. On Mac, you can click the menu bar icon for instant journaling. On Windows, you must open the full app to write, which adds a step. This makes capturing quick thoughts less efficient on Windows.

Misses out on maps integration

A major omission

One notable omission in Day One's Windows version is the absence of integrated map functionality. On macOS and iOS, Day One seamlessly maps and lets users automatically or manually attach location data to their journal entries. It’s a must-have add-on for frequent travelers.

A powerful journaling solution

After spending considerable time with Day One on Windows, it's clear that the developers have made a commendable effort to bring the app's core strengths to a new platform. While there are some minor differences and adjustments compared to the macOS version, the essential Day One experience – the focus on beautiful journaling, seamless syncing, and robust features – is largely the same.

If you've been longing for a powerful and elegant journaling solution on your Windows PC, or if you're a Mac user looking for a consistent experience across devices, I encourage you to give Day One for Windows a try. If Day One doesn’t work for you (due to subscription prices), you can use your existing tool, like Obsidian, as a digital journal as well.