Day One is the easiest and best-looking way to use a journal / diary / text-logging application for the Mac. Day One is well designed and extremely focused to encourage you to write more through quick Menu Bar entry, a Reminder system, and inspirational messages. Support for Dropbox syncing allows easy backup and syncing with the Day One iPhone application.

Features:

• Customizable reminder system
• Quick-entry via the menu bar
• Inspirational messages to encourage writing
• iPhone application sync (via Dropbox)
• Starred entries list

Note: Day One is not encrypted or password protected on this version. If this is an issue for you, please do not purchase this app yet.

Version 1.9.6:

• Fixed an issue that caused Day One to crash upon launch for some users.

Does it collect personal data? YES
Does it allow upload to cloud services? YES
Does it allow encryption? NO

Go figure.