Can I open-source Day One?
YES · mature open-source replacementYes. AppFlowy (75k stars), AFFiNE (71k stars), Joplin (56k stars) are mature open-source replacements for Day One — self-host with docker and stop paying $4.17/mo.
Day One: People pay for a writing surface they trust for years, plus migration tools, sync, and tiny interaction details that disappear into habit.
xconflict-safe multi-device sync
xmature importers and exporters
xcollaborative editing and sharing
xnative mobile clients
These projects already replace it, free.
MmoodiaryA real diary app with media, maps and sync, not a notes app wearing a calendar.open source↗AAppFlowyAI-powered workspace with docs, wikis, and kanban boards built in Rust/Flutteropen source↗AAFFiNEDocs, whiteboards, and databases fused into one local-first workspaceopen source↗What each one is, in full: AppFlowy · AFFiNE
all 8 open-source alternatives to Day One →· no votes, no pay-to-list · just what's real
Day One pricing
| plan | monthly | annual (per mo) | what you get |
|---|---|---|---|
| basic | $0/user | $0/user | Unlimited text entries and journals; 1 device; 1 photo/entry; web access, shared journals and exports |
| silver | — | $4.17/user | Unlimited devices; up to 30 photos/videos per entry; audio/transcription, PDF scans, integrations; 25% print discount |
| gold | — | $6.25/user | Silver plus reflective AI, daily chat, prompts/summaries/title suggestions/image generation; 35% print discount |
free tierUnlimited text entries and journals; 1 device; 1 photo per entry
billingannual only for Silver and Gold; 1-month in-app trial; no public monthly plan
hidden costsGold AI has daily fair-use limits, but Day One does not publish the numbers. Trial eligibility and billing changes are controlled by the original app-store platform.
verified 2026-08-13 · source ↗
Can I open-source Day One?
Yes. moodiary replaces Day One today — self-host it on your own server or machine with no subscription. The full list of open-source alternatives is on this page.
How much does Day One cost?
Day One costs about $4.17/month (Silver, checked 2026-07-31), which is $50.04 per year. That's what you save by replacing it with open source.
What do I lose by replacing Day One?
Honestly: conflict-safe multi-device sync; mature importers and exporters; collaborative editing and sharing; native mobile clients. If any of those are load-bearing for you, keep paying.
Is there an open-source alternative to Day One?
Yes: moodiary (A real diary app with media, maps and sync, not a notes app wearing a calendar.) AppFlowy (AI-powered workspace with docs, wikis, and kanban boards built in Rust/Flutter) AFFiNE (Docs, whiteboards, and databases fused into one local-first workspace) All 8 curated open-source alternatives are at caniopensourceit.online/day-one/alternatives.