App comparison · Dream journaling
Two apps. One genuinely private, one with a steep paywall. Here is what you actually get at every price point — and which one to trust with your dreams.
In this article
Before diving into the details, here is a side-by-side snapshot of what each app offers and where it stands out.
Competitor
Oniri
This app
Nyxly
This is usually where the conversation ends for most people. Oniri's subscription-only model adds up quickly. Nyxly is priced considerably lower across the board, and uniquely offers a lifetime purchase — meaning you pay once and own the app forever.
| Plan | Oniri | Nyxly |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly | $11.99 | $3.99 |
| Annual | $70.99 | $39.99 |
| Lifetime | Not available | $98.99 ($70.99 for first 48 h after install) |
| Free trial | 1 week | Free tier, no time limit |
Oniri's annual plan costs nearly twice as much as Nyxly's, and there is no way to ever stop paying — the lifetime option simply does not exist.
The introductory offer on Nyxly's lifetime plan ($70.99 for the first 48 hours after install) makes it especially attractive if you decide early on that you want to commit to dream journalling long-term. After that window it rises to $98.99 — still competitive against recurring subscriptions that compound over the years.
Dream journals are among the most intimate things a person can write. Where your data lives matters. Nyxly takes a clear stance: everything stays on your device, full stop.
Zero-knowledge, on-device encryption
Every entry in Nyxly is encrypted locally with a password you set. The app cannot be opened without your password or biometrics (Face ID on iOS). Encrypted backups can be exported — but they never pass through any server. Oniri's privacy posture is less transparent; there is no prominent mention of on-device encryption or a zero-knowledge model.
For anyone who has ever felt uneasy about a cloud service holding the contents of their subconscious, this is a meaningful difference. With Nyxly, even if the company disappeared tomorrow, your dreams would still be yours — encrypted on your device, exportable as PDF or Markdown whenever you want them.
The free tier is where many apps quietly short-change you. Oniri's free version locks away its statistics panel entirely — you cannot see trends or recurring elements without subscribing. Nyxly's free tier is limited in entry volume (4 dreams per day) and some advanced features, but the core experience, including statistics, streaks and encrypted storage, remains fully accessible.
| Feature | Oniri free | Nyxly free |
|---|---|---|
| Journal entries | Limited | Up to 4 per day |
| Statistics | Paywalled | Included (limited) |
| Encryption | Not disclosed | Always on |
| Streak tracking | Not disclosed | Included |
| Export | PDF — premium only | PDF and Markdown — pro only |
| AI features | Paywalled | Not a focus |
Nyxly's philosophy is to let you try the full experience before committing. The 4-dream-per-day limit on the free tier is generous enough for most beginners — the average person recalls one to three dreams on a good morning. You will hit the ceiling only on exceptionally vivid nights.
The visual environment of a dream journal actually matters. You are opening it first thing in the morning, often in a dark room, trying to capture something fragile before it fades. Harsh white screens are the enemy of that process.
Nyxly offers a range of frosted glass themes with optional background images — including the ability to use your own photos. The AMOLED extra-dark mode is purpose-built for writing at night or immediately after waking, keeping your eyes adjusted to the dark so your dream memories stay intact for longer.
Oniri has a functional interface but it is not particularly customisable in terms of visual themes. There is no equivalent of an AMOLED mode designed specifically for low-light morning journalling. If the atmosphere of your journal matters to you — and for many people it genuinely does — Nyxly puts considerably more thought into it.
Keeping a dream journal is a practice, not just a collection. Good statistics turn a diary into a feedback loop — you can see your recall improving, notice recurring symbols or themes, and stay motivated by your own progress.
Oniri locks its entire statistics panel behind a paywall. On Nyxly, you can track your journey from day one without paying a cent.
Nyxly's statistics span multiple years of data, breaking down progress week by week. You can see the most-used words across all your dreams, track your lucidity levels over time, and use an optional daily recall score to measure how detailed each morning's memories were. The streak system adds a gentle layer of motivation — similar in spirit to language learning apps — without becoming intrusive. Both the streak and the daily scoring can be turned off entirely if you prefer a simpler experience.
Oniri has a documented history of Android issues. Multiple user reviews mention buttons being cut off by the status bar, and a particularly frustrating bug where editing an existing dream forces you to rewrite the entire entry from scratch rather than placing the cursor where you tapped. There have also been reports of billing problems — charges during what should have been a free trial period — and error messages that temporarily prevent adding or viewing entries.
Nyxly is built for both platforms from the ground up and is actively maintained. The single-tap entry flow is designed to be frictionless on mobile: when you wake from a dream, the last thing you want is to fight the interface. The experience on Android mirrors iOS as closely as possible.
Oniri is a capable app for people who specifically want lucid dreaming tools, AI interpretation and voice recording — and who are willing to pay a premium subscription to access them. If those features are central to your practice, it may be worth the cost. For everyone else — anyone who wants a private, well-designed, affordable dream journal that respects their data and gives them meaningful statistics without a paywall — Nyxly is the clearer choice. It costs less, works on both platforms reliably, keeps your data genuinely private and lets you experience the full core product before spending anything.
Try Nyxly freeBeyond Oniri and Nyxly, a handful of other apps are worth a mention if your needs are different.
Elsewhere
A beautifully designed journal with AI interpretations and auto-generated artwork. Leans literary and creative. Good free tier statistics. Premium from $4.99/month.
Lucidity
Focused on teaching lucid dreaming with an interactive tutorial and reality check reminders. Most of the journal is free forever; Pro unlocks unlimited AI analysis and the full course.
DreamCatcher
A solid Android-first journal with lucid dreaming guides and trackers. Simpler feature set, good for beginners who want an easy start without a steep learning curve.