Encrypted journal app

Encrypted journaling for desktop.
Offline by default.

If you are looking for an encrypted journal app, the core requirement is simple: your writing should stay on your device, protected before it ever touches disk. Mini Diarium is built around that model.

Download Mini Diarium Read the security model Read the blog

What matters

What an encrypted journal app should actually guarantee

An encrypted journal app should do more than add a password screen. It should keep entries local, encrypt them before they are written to disk, avoid unnecessary network dependencies, and let you export your writing when you want out.

That is the difference between a private diary app and a cloud notes app that happens to mention privacy in its marketing. Architecture decides who really controls the writing.

How Mini Diarium fits

Built for local ownership, not service dependence

Mini Diarium stores journal entries in a local encrypted SQLite database and encrypts each entry with AES-256-GCM before it touches disk. There is no cloud backend, no sync requirement, and no telemetry.

You can import existing writing from Mini Diary, Day One, or jrnl, and export to JSON or Markdown at any time. The goal is straightforward: private writing that remains usable, portable, and under your control.

Why people search for this

The practical requirements are not complicated

The right encrypted journal app should be legible. You should be able to explain how it works in a few plain sentences.

Encrypt before disk

Entries are encrypted with AES-256-GCM before they are stored in the local database. Plaintext does not become the storage format.

Stay offline

Mini Diarium has no HTTP client, no analytics package, and no cloud service dependency. Your journal works without a network.

Leave with your data

Exports are available in JSON and Markdown, so private writing is not trapped inside an account or service contract.

Write on desktop

Windows, macOS, and Linux builds are available, with rich-text editing, calendar navigation, and auto-save for daily use.

Bring your existing journal

Imports are supported for Mini Diary JSON, Day One JSON and TXT, and jrnl JSON, so migration does not require starting from zero.

Keep backups local too

Mini Diarium creates automatic backups of the encrypted database, keeping recovery close to the same local-first ownership model.

Direct answers

Encrypted journal app FAQ

These are the questions most worth answering before you trust any diary app with years of private writing.

Category

Private offline journal app for desktop.

Encryption

AES-256-GCM for entries at rest.

Storage

Local encrypted SQLite database.

Platforms

Windows, macOS, and Linux.

Imports

Mini Diary, Day One, and jrnl formats.

Exports

JSON and Markdown whenever you need them.

Common questions

FAQ

What should an encrypted journal app do?

An encrypted journal app should store entries locally, encrypt them before they are written to disk, avoid unnecessary network dependencies, and let you export your writing when you want out.

Does Mini Diarium store journal entries in the cloud?

No. Mini Diarium is offline-first and does not send entries to cloud services.

How does Mini Diarium encrypt journal entries?

Mini Diarium encrypts each entry with AES-256-GCM before it is written to the local SQLite database. You can read the security model for the implementation details.

Can I migrate to Mini Diarium from another journal app?

Yes. Mini Diarium supports imports from Mini Diary JSON, Day One JSON and TXT, and jrnl JSON, and exports entries as JSON or Markdown.

Keep reading

Articles for people comparing encrypted and offline journaling tools

Use these articles to go deeper on local-first ownership, private diary app requirements, and what changes when a journal stays off the cloud.

March 12, 2026

Offline Journal That You Own

Why offline journaling is about more than privacy alone: it also changes portability, continuity, and long-term ownership.

  • offline journal
  • local-first writing
  • data ownership
Read article

Ready to try it?

Download a private journal app that does the obvious things right

Mini Diarium is free, open source, and built for people who want offline writing without handing their journal to a service dependency.

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