Penjo: Pencil Journal, Planner

I have been looking for a note taking app that has the same fountain pen as the one in Apple’s notes. I have gone through sooo many and paid for more just to get the “pro” versions and they all were disappointing. But lo and behold, Reddit to the rescue! I couldn’t believe this little app had my beloved fountain pen! I gave them my money immediately! I have been using them since, faithfully. My writing is flawless and doesn’t distort like Apple notes app after hours of case study reviews. I have just two suggestions. Allow for the ability to lock our screen. I am sure zooming the page in and out is useful for some tasks, but for just writing or journaling, it does move more than I like when my arm hits the screen or my hand makes contact during writing. I have seen others with that function and it is wonderful keeping the page at the size you want and stable. Second, I may be missing this, I honestly may be missing the first suggestion, as in the ability exists and I am overlooking it but, I would love to have all of the Apple Pencil options, esp. the highlighter. If I am overlooking these things, I would love to be directed to them. Other than that, chef’s kiss! 10/10 no notes!!

i wanted to update my review now that apple journal is on ipad, there are people who may need convincing that this app is the best. if you want FULL control of your layout- photos, lined paper, all system fonts, this is the app you want. the newer list mode is a small but effective change. ive started other subjects and a bullet journal with 4-month spreads. and yes, as some other users have mentioned i also have a folder of png "stickers" to decorate, and it makes it feel like a physical journal. ive even designed washi tape for my bullet journal. this app makes it so enjoyable, its life changing! for now, the only thing apple journal has over penjo is voice memos, if thats important to you. "effects" photos crashes the app, i recommend using a shortcut or removing backgrounds yourself. ONLY negative i have. so , START JOURNALING in 2026!!! thank you penjo for being such a responsive & innovative team. original review: this is everything i could want in a digital journal. i started using this app at the beginning of the year. i've been journaling almost every day. when night mode came out, it was like christmas for me. the experience typing with a bluetooth keyboard is still not perfect, it brings the text all the way to the bottom of the screen when i'm typing somewhere else. not a big deal but a bit inconvenient. (edit:fixed!) something i would love to see is the option to simply have numbered pages in a journal instead of it being organized by date. i find it difficult to use this app for subjects other than daily journaling. (fixed again!) still 5 stars though by far. great app.

Seriously, just get it and pay for it to help support future development. It’s only in its infancy and yet it is exactly what I have been looking for. All the google calendar entries on each daily page which you can note, text, annotate and add images via paste or drag/drop slideover from files to your heart’s delight. Event details on tap. New calendar entries. Dynamically updating for new events. Weekly and monthly views. I have been seeking a google calendar/planner/journal iPad integration that will allow me to doodle and draw attention visually to important entries in my Google calendar — and Penjo, while still rudimentary — checks all the boxes (especially as regards drag/drop images from files as I have built an extensive clip art library). There is another app that came close, but it’s functionality for the use of outside images was cumbersome and pedantic. Another popular planner app promises “Google Calendar sync,” but delivers only a manual linking to each event. Nooooo time for that! Drag/drop was the game-changer here for me, as was the blank canvas. I know the developers have many updates in store and I am looking forward to seeing what they come up with. However as a visual artist, I have to point out that their app icon could use some polishing. It looks like it was created as an after-thought — and potential purchasers may believe the same of the app without trying it. Just my own two cents.