PlanJour vs Daylio: mood tracking with or without a calendar
By PlanJour team, Sparklithic Ltd · Published · Updated
Daylio is a quick, tap-based mood tracker. PlanJour pairs mood with a full calendar and a daily journal. Here is which suits you, honestly.
If you want the fastest possible way to log your mood and activities in a few taps, with charts showing patterns over time, Daylio is the better tool. If you want mood tracking alongside a real calendar and a written journal, so you can connect how you felt with what you actually did, PlanJour is the better fit.
Both are about noticing patterns in your days. They come at it from opposite ends: Daylio starts with mood and adds a little context; PlanJour starts with your schedule and adds reflection.
At a glance
| PlanJour | Daylio | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free plan; Plus £4.99/month or £34.99/year | Free version; paid tiers available |
| Calendar | Full calendar: day, week, month, year, agenda, recurring events | None (a calendar view of past mood entries only) |
| Journal | Daily page: thoughts, wins, gratitude, affirmation, photos | Short notes attached to each mood entry |
| Mood tracking | Five-point mood plus weather on each day | Core feature: mood scale, activities, detailed statistics |
| Habits | Daily habit checklist with momentum rather than streaks | Activity tracking and goals |
| Sharing | Share events, categories or view-only calendar access | Personal only |
| Platforms | Any browser (installable), companion iOS app | iOS and Android apps |
| Privacy | Optional end-to-end encryption for journal content | Data kept on your device, with optional backup |
Where Daylio is genuinely better
Speed. Logging a mood in Daylio takes a few seconds, with no typing required, and its statistics are rich: mood over time, which activities correlate with better days, and year-in-pixels style overviews. If mood itself is the thing you want to study, Daylio goes deeper than PlanJour does.
It also has native Android and iOS apps, and keeps your data on your device by default, which some people prefer.
Where PlanJour is better
Context. A mood score tells you that Tuesday was rough; a calendar tells you that Tuesday had four back-to-back meetings and no lunch. PlanJour keeps both on the same day, along with a written journal page for thoughts, wins and gratitude, so the pattern explains itself.
The calendar is a full planner, not just a log. You plan ahead with recurring events and colour-coded categories, then use the "did this actually happen?" review to mark what was done, skipped or moved. Time-balance insights show whether your week matches what you say matters, and Plus adds monthly Life Progress checks across areas like health, relationships and work.
For writing, PlanJour gives more room: a full thoughts area, photos, and on Plus, voice memos. Optional end-to-end encryption keeps those entries unreadable to anyone without your key.
Choose Daylio if…
- You mainly want to track mood quickly, with minimal typing.
- You want detailed mood statistics and correlations.
- You use Android and want a native app.
Choose PlanJour if…
- You want mood alongside your actual schedule.
- You like writing a few lines about your day, not just tapping an icon.
- You want one app for planning ahead and reflecting afterwards.
- You want habits tracked without a streak that resets to zero.
Can you use both?
You can, though most people find two daily check-in apps too many. If you already love Daylio's statistics, keep it and use any calendar for planning. If you want planning and reflection in one place, PlanJour covers mood well enough for most people.
FAQ
Can I import my Daylio history into PlanJour?
Not directly. There is no Daylio importer, so most people keep their Daylio export as an archive and start fresh.
Does PlanJour show mood charts?
Not in the way Daylio does. Mood is recorded on each day's journal page and you can look back through it, but PlanJour has no dedicated mood statistics.
Is PlanJour a mental health app?
No. It is a calendar and journal. If you are struggling, please speak to your GP or a qualified professional.