Tool profile
Grid Diary: cost, fit and limits
Grid Diary is a journaling app made by Xiamen Sumi Network Technology Co., Ltd. that asks you to answer a grid of reflective questions each day, with Markdown editing, tags and export, for people who want structure.
What to know first
Grid Diary is built around a grid format with reflective prompts. The free app covers multiple journals, Markdown editing, tags, stickers, attachments, a dark theme, reminders and export to PDF, MD and JPG. Membership costs $2.99 monthly with a 3-day trial or $22.99 annually with a 14-day trial, and unlocks sync, passcode lock and more color themes. The page names no AI feature.
Grid Diary at a glance
| Maker | Xiamen Sumi Network Technology Co., Ltd., Not stated on the vendor pages |
|---|---|
| Free plan | Yes |
| Entry price | $2.99 monthly (membership, 3-day free trial) |
| API access | No |
| Category | Best AI Journaling Apps in 2026, rank 10 of 12 |
| Website | griddiaryapp.com |
Who Grid Diary is best for
People who struggle with a blank page
The grid of reflective questions gives each day a structure, so writing starts from answering a cell rather than from nothing at all on the screen.
Markdown users
Markdown editing is in the free app, and export covers PDF, MD and JPG, so entries can move into plain-text notes or a shared document without retyping any of the text.
Budget buyers
Annual membership at $22.99 is the lowest published yearly price in this ranking, and many features are free, so the cost of trying the app seriously stays small.
Grid Diary plans and pricing
| Plan | Price | What it includes |
|---|---|---|
| Free | Free | Multiple journals, Markdown editing, tags, stickers, attachments, a dark theme, reminders and export, with no account fee. |
| Membership, monthly | $2.99 monthly | Sync, passcode lock and more color themes, with a 3-day free trial before the first charge is made. |
| Membership, annual | $22.99 annual | The same membership features as the monthly plan, with a longer 14-day free trial, which makes it the cheaper option for a diary kept all year. |
Checked November 2026.
What Grid Diary does
- Grid format
- Each entry is a grid of reflective prompts, so a short answer in each cell builds a full day without the pressure of writing paragraphs from scratch.
- Markdown editing
- Entries support Markdown, which helps writers who keep notes in plain text and want headings, lists and emphasis to survive when they export the journal.
- Stickers and attachments
- Entries can carry stickers and attachments for decoration and context, so a journal page can hold a photo or a file next to the answers.
- Passcode lock
- Membership adds a passcode lock to protect the journal from anyone who picks up the phone, which the free app does not provide on its own.
- Export
- Export to PDF, MD, JPG and more moves entries out of the app, and it is included in the free app rather than reserved for paying members.
How Grid Diary handles your data
Grid Diary's privacy policy says data is used to provide and improve the service and does not say whether journal content is used for training. Retention of journal content is not stated, and usage data is generally retained for a shorter period with no durations given. The policy says the vendor transfers data to the United States and processes it there. It names no hosting provider and no company address. No certifications are claimed; PCI-DSS is mentioned only for payment processors. The company name in the policy is Xiamen Sumi Network Technology Co., Ltd.
Where Grid Diary falls short in practice
- Security needs membership. The passcode lock and sync are membership features, so the free app has no lock, and a writer who wants both must pay at least $2.99 for a month of access.
- No AI features. The page names no AI feature, so the app gives no summaries, chat or search by meaning, and writers who want any of those will need a different app from this list.
- Thin legal detail. The policy names no hosting provider or address, and no country for the company is stated, so a buyer cannot place the vendor beyond a United States processing statement.
Works with
Alternatives to Grid Diary
Grid Diary: common questions
How much is Grid Diary membership?
Membership is $2.99 monthly with a 3-day free trial or $22.99 annually with a 14-day trial, per the homepage. It unlocks sync, passcode lock and more color themes, while many features stay free, so you can use the app for a while before deciding to pay.
Does Grid Diary have AI?
No AI feature is named on the page we read. The app's draw is a grid of reflective questions answered each day, with Markdown editing and export. For AI features such as a coach or a chat about old entries, look at Rosebud or Reflection.
Where does Grid Diary process data?
The privacy policy says the vendor transfers data to the United States and processes it there. It names no hosting provider and no company address, and says nothing on journal retention, so those details would have to come from the vendor if you need them.
What can I export from Grid Diary?
The homepage lists export to PDF, MD, JPG and more, and the free app includes export. It does not list the full set of formats or describe whether attachments come with the export, so test one entry with an attachment before moving a whole journal.
Is Grid Diary free?
Yes, many features are free, including multiple journals, Markdown editing, tags, stickers, attachments, a dark theme, reminders and export. Sync, passcode lock and extra color themes require membership, which costs $2.99 monthly or $22.99 annually according to the homepage, each with a free trial.