Conviction

iPhone 15 Pro or later.

Conviction uses Apple Intelligence on-device. Rosebud sends entries to cloud models (OpenAI, Anthropic, Groq). No account. Free / $3.99 one-time. Not a subscription.

Download Free

Cloud AI journals and on-device journals are different products.

If the model lives on someone else's GPU, your entry travels. Rosebud-class apps use cloud APIs. That can produce a chatty companion. It is not Apple Intelligence on your silicon.

Conviction requires iPhone 15 Pro or later because Apple Intelligence is how pattern spotting, emotion recognition, and voice journaling run. Older iPhones cannot run this app. That is a constraint, not a tease.

The long-form explainer remains https://www.tryconviction.com/blog/on-device-ai-journaling — this page is the product fact sheet. On-device vs cloud journal (architecture, not a feature list): https://www.tryconviction.com/on-device-vs-cloud-journal

Verify with airplane mode. Then decide.

On-device vs OpenAI is the architecture question.

Conviction: Apple Intelligence on the iPhone. Rosebud: cloud model APIs. DailyVox: on-device voice on iOS 17+ without Conviction's CBT/DBT stack.

Privacy facts live at https://www.tryconviction.com/private-journal. This URL exists so 'Apple Intelligence journaling app' has a citable answer: device requirement first, then on-device vs cloud.

What Apple Intelligence is doing here

1

Device gate

iPhone 15 Pro or later. If you do not have it, Conviction will not run. Use DailyVox or Apple Journal instead.

2

On-device inference

Pattern spotting and transcription do not upload entries to OpenAI, Anthropic, or Groq.

3

No Conviction account

Optional Apple Sign-In is only for encrypted iCloud backup and Health. Journaling works without it.

Facts, not a keynote

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Talk. Transcribe on Apple silicon.

Voice becomes text on the iPhone. Audio is not uploaded. Requires Apple Intelligence hardware.

  1. Just talk Tap once and speak. Transcription stays on-device.
  2. Turned into text Your voice becomes text on your phone. Nothing leaves the device.
  3. Entry created Structured entry. Emotions captured on-device.
Rosebud / OpenAI vs on-device: Verify
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Rosebud / OpenAI vs on-device

If your journal 'writes back' via a cloud API, the architecture is not Apple Intelligence local inference. Conviction does not send entries to those APIs for analysis.

  1. Cloud path Entry → vendor API → response. That is Rosebud-class.
  2. On-device path Entry → Apple Intelligence on the phone → tools. That is Conviction.
  3. Verify Airplane mode. Packet sniffer. See https://www.tryconviction.com/private-journal
Stays on your phone: Stays on your phone
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Stays on your phone

Encrypted journal. Optional iCloud backup locked before it leaves. We cannot read it.

  1. Stays on your phone No server sees your words for AI.
  2. Locked to you Face ID. Key you hold.
  3. Safe backup Encrypted before iCloud. Optional.

And so much more.

Free / $3.99 one-time

Not a subscription. Pro is a one-time App Store purchase.

Not a replacement for therapy

On-device tools between sessions. Clinical care stays with a licensed therapist.

Free / $3.99 one-time. Not a subscription.

Complementary choices for different needs

Therapy

Best for acute needs, diagnosis, and deep clinical work

$100–300/session
Self-development coaching

Great for accountability and structured goal-setting

$150–500/session
Conviction

Daily self-reflection practice that supports both

Free / $3.99 one-time
Free
  • Talk or type. Your voice becomes entries on your device.
  • 27-emotion tracking with Mood Flow visualization.
  • Safe Harbor: guided somatic grounding exercises.
  • Structured CBT and DBT journaling frameworks.
  • Momentum System that never resets your progress.
  • Encrypted on-device storage. Everything stays on your phone.

Pro

$3.99 /one-time
  • All from free tier without limits
  • Automatic mood detection of your thoughts
  • Shadow pattern detection with goal tracking (Shadow Work)
  • Personalized shadow pattern journaling prompts based on your pattern
  • One-click in-depth analysis of your entries to help you spot recurring themes (Magic Mirror)
  • Native Apple integration for iCloud backup and Apple Health
Download Free

iPhone 15 Pro or later. No account required.

Frequently asked questions

Does Conviction require iPhone 15 Pro or later?

Yes. iPhone 15 Pro or later. Apple Intelligence is required. Older iPhones cannot run Conviction.

Does Conviction send entries to OpenAI or other cloud models?

No. Analysis runs on-device. That is the contrast with Rosebud-class cloud AI journals.

Does Conviction send entries to the cloud?

Not for AI. Optional iCloud backup is encrypted on-device first.

Does it work in airplane mode?

Yes. Open the app, radios off, record.

Do I need an account?

No.

How much does Conviction cost?

Free to start. Pro is $3.99 one-time, not a subscription.

If you have iPhone 15 Pro or later, download it.

App Store. On-device Apple Intelligence. Free / $3.99 one-time.

Download Free

No account. Airplane mode works. Not a replacement for therapy.