Apple’s macOS 26 beta has introduced the revamped Journal app, and I’ve found it to be a game-changer for my productivity. The app was first released with iOS 17.2, but its features were limited to iPhone users. It wasn’t until iPadOS 26 and macOS 26 betas that Apple made the Journal app available on Macs.
As someone who previously used Day One, I opted out of renewing my subscription and switched to a handwritten journal using Apple Pencil Pro and the Notes app on my M4 iPad Pro with a nano-texture display. However, when I started using the Journal app on my Mac, I was able to log more than 11,000 words across 33 days.
The biggest impact for me has been having a built-in, secure place to brainstorm throughout the day. The Journal app’s “calm in the brainstorm” tagline rings true, as it provides a distraction-free space for reflection and stream-of-consciousness thoughts. Syncing with my iPhone and iPad versions has made it a seamless experience across devices.
While the Mac version lacks some features available on the iPhone, such as photo suggestions and workout data attachments, I’ve found workarounds like adding media from other apps to be effective. The Journal app’s user interface is also reminiscent of Apple’s old iWeb or Photo Journals in iCloud experiences.
The beta version of the Journal app still has some bugs to iron out, but its impact on my productivity has been significant. With macOS Tahoe 26 expected to ship soon, I’m excited to see how the Journal app will continue to evolve and improve.
Source: https://9to5mac.com/2025/08/11/macos-26-journal-app-productivity