Sonar//App Store//United States

journal app App Store Keyword Difficulty

"journal app" has a difficulty score of 76/100 (Hard). The top results include established apps like Journal, Day One: Daily Journal & Diary, Diary With Password with an average of 77,319 reviews. Breaking into the top 10 will require a highly optimized listing and strong initial traction.

Data measured Sep 7, 2026 from the top 10 ranking apps on the United States App Store.

76/ 100
Hard
Avg. reviews77,319
Avg. rating4.8
Title match1/10
CategoryProductivity
StoreApp Store
CountryUnited States
MeasuredSep 7, 2026

Top 10 Ranking Apps

Keyword in title
1Journal
Apple
4.8★
317,524 reviews
2Day One: Daily Journal & Diary
4.8★
118,036 reviews
3Diary With Password
4.7★
27,034 reviews
4Notebook - Diary & Journal App
4.7★
14,307 reviews
5Planner & Journal - Zinnia
4.6★
55,874 reviews
6DailyBean - simplest journal
4.8★
70,417 reviews
7My Diary - Journal with Lock
BetterApp Tech Co., Limited
4.7★
28,085 reviews
8stoic. journal & mental health
4.8★
35,482 reviews
9Gratitude: Self-Care Journal
Hapjoy Technologies Private Limited
4.9★
44,950 reviews
10Daylio Journal - Mood Tracker
4.8★
61,478 reviews

How is this difficulty score calculated?

Sonar's difficulty score (0–100) analyzes the top 10 apps ranking for “journal app” on the United States App Store as of Sep 7, 2026. It weighs title match quality (how many of the top apps use the keyword in their title), the install and review volumes of those apps, their average rating, and whether the keyword is dominated by established brands. A score of 0–30 means low competition, 30–60 moderate, and 60–100 highly competitive. Read the full methodology.

How to Rank for “journal app

Include "journal app" in your app title

The App Store algorithm heavily weights title matches. Place "journal app" or a close variant in your app title for the strongest ranking signal.

Use your subtitle for keyword variations

Your iOS subtitle (30 chars) is the second-strongest ranking factor. Use a variation of "journal app" here that doesn't repeat the title.

Consider long-tail variations

"journal app" is competitive (76/100). Target longer variations like "journal app for beginners" or "journal app free" to rank faster, then build authority for the head term.

Focus on ratings and reviews

High-difficulty keywords require social proof. Aim for 4.5+ stars and implement smart review prompts to build review volume faster than competitors.

Localize for more markets

Every country storefront is a separate ranking opportunity. Translate your metadata for the top 5-10 markets to multiply your organic traffic.

Related Keywords

Learn more about ASO

Sonar

Put this into practice

Track “journal app” rankings daily, monitor competitors, and discover keyword opportunities — start optimizing in minutes.

7-day free trial · Cancel anytime