Innerholm vs Penzu: a modern private journal without the lock-in
Penzu has been an online diary since 2008, dependable and simple. The trade is an experience that shows its age and a set of privacy features that mostly live behind a Pro plan. Innerholm is a newer private journal that makes the commitment first, for everyone. Here is an honest comparison.
Penzu is one of the original online diaries: free to start, with a Pro subscription for encryption and customization. Innerholm is a modern private journal that commits explicitly to no content scanning and no AI training for every account, keeps AI off by default, offers purpose-built editions, and lets you leave with your data. Choose Penzu for a long-established diary with a free tier and reminders; choose Innerholm for a modern editor, privacy that is a commitment rather than an upgrade, and a journal that does not hold your writing hostage.
Head-to-head comparison
| Feature | Innerholm | Penzu |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free early access (Innerholm+ planned) | Free tier; Pro about $19.99/yr |
| Open in a browser | Yes | Yes |
| Platforms | Web (all devices) | Web, iOS, Android |
| Modern editor | Rich text and Markdown | Long-running, dated experience |
| No content scanning commitment | Explicit, every account | Not explicitly stated |
| No AI training on your data | Explicit commitment | Not explicitly stated |
| AI off by default (opt-in) | Yes, per journal | No AI |
| Encryption | No-scan for all; optional per-journal E2EE | Encryption lock is a Pro feature |
| Purpose-built editions (Sobriety, Stoic, etc.) | Yes | General diary |
| Multiple journals | Yes | Yes |
| Tags | Yes (inline #hashtag) | Limited |
| Full-text search | Yes | Yes (richer on Pro) |
| Reminders | Roadmap | Yes |
| Data ownership and export | Full export planned for Innerholm+ | Limited export, known lock-in pain |
| Import from Penzu | Roadmap | n/a |
| Maturity | Newer, early access | Established since 2008 |
Penzu pricing verified June 2026. "Partial" (amber) marks a feature that exists with limits or caveats. Review each app's current privacy policy before sharing sensitive content.
Who each app is better for
Choose Innerholm if you...
- Want privacy as a commitment for everyone, not a Pro toggle
- Want a modern editor instead of a dated one
- Prefer purpose-built editions (Sobriety, Stoic, Pregnancy) over one diary
- Want to leave with your writing in a portable format
- Like that AI is optional, off by default, and silent until you ask
- Want the option to seal a journal so even Innerholm cannot read it
Choose Penzu if you...
- Want a long-established diary with a track record since 2008
- Are happy with a free tier you can use indefinitely
- Rely on built-in journaling reminders
- Prefer a simple, familiar online diary
- Already have years of entries in Penzu and want to stay
- Do not need a modern editor or editions
The lock-in question
The most common reason people leave Penzu is not a missing feature. It is the feeling of being stuck: years of entries in a place that makes leaving with a clean, portable archive harder than it should be.
Innerholm treats that as a first principle. Ownership is the privacy story: if you can walk out with everything in a format other apps can read, the rest of the privacy promise earns its trust. Full export is planned for Innerholm+, and deleting your account removes your entries, with server backups rotated out within 30 days. A Penzu import path is on the roadmap so you can bring your history with you when it lands.
Privacy: commitment, not upgrade
Penzu markets strong encryption, but its encryption lock is part of the Pro plan rather than something every account gets by default. Review Penzu's current plans and privacy policy for the specifics of what is covered and when.
Innerholm makes the core commitment for everyone, on every plan: no content scanning for any purpose, no AI training on your journal text, no behavioural profiling, and no advertising. AI is off by default. And for a journal you want sealed even from us, you can turn on optional end-to-end encryption, where the key is derived from your passphrase and never leaves your device, so the server stores only ciphertext.
Frequently asked questions
Is Innerholm a good Penzu alternative?
Yes, if you want a modern editor, privacy stated as a commitment rather than a Pro upgrade, and data you can leave with. Penzu is a dependable, long-running diary, but its experience shows its age and its richest privacy features sit behind Pro. Innerholm commits to no scanning and no AI training for everyone, keeps AI off by default, and offers editions. Penzu is the better fit for a long-established diary with a free tier and reminders.
How much does Penzu cost?
Penzu has a free tier, with Penzu Pro at about $4.99 per month or $19.99 per year and a higher Pro+ tier. Some privacy and customization features, including the encryption lock, are Pro-only. Innerholm is free during early access, with a paid Innerholm+ tier planned but not yet priced, and its core privacy commitments are not gated behind a paid plan.
Is Penzu private and encrypted?
Penzu markets strong encryption, but the encryption lock is a Pro feature rather than something every account gets, so review Penzu's current plans and privacy policy. Innerholm commits explicitly to no content scanning and no AI training on every account, keeps AI off by default, and additionally offers optional per-journal end-to-end encryption where the key never leaves your device.
Can I import my Penzu journal into Innerholm?
A Penzu import path is on the Innerholm roadmap. In the meantime, export your entries from Penzu and contact Innerholm support for help bringing them across. Getting a full, portable archive out of Penzu is a known friction point, which is part of why people look to switch.
Can I get my writing out of Innerholm?
Yes. Data ownership is a core commitment: if you can leave with everything in a portable format, the rest of the privacy promise earns its trust. Full export is planned for Innerholm+. Deleting your account removes your entries, with server backups rotated out within 30 days.
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