How to Export Your Day One Journal (and Where to Move Your Data)

Day One is a good journal app. But maybe the subscription price went up. Maybe you are uncomfortable with cloud sync after reading about how journal apps handle your data. Maybe you just want something simpler. Whatever the reason, you want your entries out.

Here is exactly how to do it, what you will keep, and what you will lose.

Step 1: Export from Day One

Day One offers three export formats. Here is how to access each one:

On Mac

1. Open Day One on your Mac.
2. Go to File > Export.
3. Choose the journal(s) you want to export.
4. Select your format (JSON, PDF, or Plain Text).
5. Choose a save location and click Export.

On iPhone/iPad

1. Open Day One.
2. Tap the three-dot menu (...) in the top right.
3. Tap Export Journal.
4. Select format and journal(s).
5. Choose where to save (Files, AirDrop, etc.).

Step 2: Choose Your Format

Each format preserves different things:

JSON Export (Recommended)

This is the most complete export. You get:

• Full text of every entry
• Dates and timestamps
• Tags
• Location data (GPS coordinates, place names)
• Weather data
• Photos (in a separate folder)
• Metadata (creation device, starred status, etc.)

The JSON format is structured data that other apps can parse and import. If you are moving to another app, this is the format to use.

PDF Export

You get a readable document with your entries, formatted with dates and photos inline. Good for archiving or printing. Bad for importing into another app — PDFs are not easily parsed by software.

Plain Text Export

You get a .txt file with your entry text and dates. No photos, no location data, no tags, no metadata. The simplest format, readable by anything, but you lose a lot.

What You Lose No Matter What

Even with the JSON export, some things do not transfer:

• Audio recordings: Day One's voice recordings are stored in a proprietary format. They export as audio files, but few journal apps can import them.
• Entry formatting: Rich text formatting (bold, italic, headers) may not survive the move depending on the target app.
• Activity data: Step counts, workout data, and other health integrations are specific to Day One's system.
• Streaks and stats: Your journaling streak, entry counts, and usage statistics stay in Day One.
• Templates: Custom entry templates do not export.

Where to Move Your Data

Here are your realistic options, depending on what matters to you:

If Privacy Is Your Priority: DailyVox

DailyVox can import Day One JSON backups. Your entries, dates, and text come through cleanly. Photos can be re-attached manually. Everything stays on your device — no cloud, no account, no subscription.

The main differences from Day One: DailyVox is voice-first (though you can type), runs all AI on-device, and has no subscription. You lose multi-platform sync (it is iPhone only), but you gain complete privacy. See our private journal app comparison for more detail.

If You Want Local Markdown Files: Obsidian

You can convert Day One's JSON export to individual Markdown files using community tools (search "Day One to Obsidian converter" on GitHub — several exist). Each entry becomes a .md file in a folder on your device. You get full control over your data, but you lose journal-specific features like mood tracking and voice input.

If You Want Another Traditional Journal App: Journey or Diarium

Journey can import Day One JSON exports directly. Diarium supports import from several formats. Both are subscription-based and use cloud sync, so if privacy was your reason for leaving Day One, these do not solve that problem.

If You Just Want an Archive: Keep the PDF

If you are done journaling digitally, or switching to paper, just export as PDF. Store it somewhere safe. You will always be able to read it.

Before You Export: A Checklist

1. Sync everything first. Make sure all devices are synced so you do not miss entries that only exist on one device.
2. Export each journal separately. If you have multiple journals, export them one at a time for cleaner imports.
3. Keep the JSON and the PDF. Export both. JSON for importing into a new app, PDF as a human-readable backup.
4. Check photo count. Verify the export includes all photos by comparing the photo folder count to your in-app photo count.
5. Test before deleting. Import into your new app first. Make sure everything looks right. Then cancel Day One.
6. Delete your Day One account. After you have confirmed your data is safe in the new app, delete your Day One account to remove your data from their servers.

The Bigger Picture

The fact that you can export from Day One is genuinely good — many apps make it much harder. But the reason you need to export at all is often because the app holds your data on their servers, behind their account system, tied to their subscription.

Apps that store data locally on your device do not have this problem. Your data is already yours, in files you control. There is nothing to export because there is nothing locked away. If you want to understand why voice journaling works well for daily entries after you migrate, it is worth trying — many people find they journal more consistently when they can speak instead of type.