Daylio is one of the most popular mood trackers around, and for good reason: it’s fast, it’s been around for years, and it has a lot of features. Dawnli is newer and smaller. This isn’t a “ten reasons we’re better” post. It’s the comparison I’d want if I were choosing between them: what they have in common, where they differ, and who each one suits.
The short version
| Feature | Daylio | Dawnli |
|---|---|---|
| Where entries are stored | On your device | On your device |
| Account needed | No | No (just a first name) |
| Backup | Your Google Drive / iCloud | CSV export today; your iCloud / Google Drive coming soon |
| Analytics or tracking in the app | Check the app’s store privacy label | None |
| Mood scale | 5 levels, custom icons | 5 named states (Radiant to Rough) |
| Habits and goals | Yes, built in | Activity tags only |
| Year in Pixels | Yes | Yes |
| Charts and insights | Extensive | 7D free; 30D / 90D / Year and insights on Premium |
| Free history | Long | Last 7 days |
| Premium | Subscription (see store for current price) | $0.99/mo, $9.99/yr or $49.99 once |
| Platforms | iOS, Android | iOS, Android |
Daylio details from daylio.net as of October 2026. Check their site and store listing for the current version.
What they have in common
Both apps keep your entries on your phone. Daylio says so plainly on its site: it doesn’t send your data to its servers. Neither app asks you to create an account. Both have a Year in Pixels view, activity tagging, notes, reminders, and a free tier that’s usable every day. If you only read one sentence of this post: both are reasonable choices for someone who cares about privacy.
Where they differ
Breadth versus simplicity
Daylio does more. It has goals, habit streaks, custom mood icons, widgets, deeper statistics and years of polish. Dawnli does less on purpose: pick a mood, add a few tags, maybe a note, done. If you want a habit tracker and a mood tracker in one app, Daylio is the stronger pick. If you’ve tried bigger apps and stopped using them because logging became a chore, Dawnli’s five-second entry is the point.
What runs inside the app
Dawnli has no analytics SDK, no crash reporter, no ad network, nothing that phones home. The only network calls are to Apple or Google when you buy Premium or restore a purchase. We can’t speak for Daylio’s internals; the honest way to compare is to open each app’s privacy label on the App Store or Play Store and see what’s listed under “data collected”.
Backup
Daylio backs up to your own Google Drive or iCloud today. Dawnli’s cloud backup isn’t shipped yet; right now Premium users export a CSV. If automatic backup is a must-have for you this month, that’s a real point in Daylio’s favour.
Price
Dawnli Premium is $9.99 a year or $49.99 once. Daylio Premium is a subscription; the price varies by region and changes over time, so check the store. In most regions Dawnli is cheaper, and the lifetime option means you can stop thinking about it.
The free tier
Daylio’s free tier shows your full history. Dawnli’s shows the last 7 days (charts and calendar included) and keeps everything else behind Premium. Logging itself is unlimited and free forever in both. If you want long free history, Daylio wins here.
Who should pick which
Pick Daylio if you want habits, goals and widgets in the same app, need cloud backup today, or want a long free history.
Pick Dawnli if you want the simplest possible daily check-in, zero analytics in the app, warm non-clinical mood names, and a cheap or one-time price.
Either way, keep your data yours. If you later switch apps, Dawnli’s CSV export means you leave with everything. See what to check before switching.
Dawnli is a free, private mood tracker with no account and no cloud. Download on the App Store or get it on Google Play.