An iPhone journal that works offline.
Open Conviction, turn radios off, talk or type. Journaling and on-device analysis do not need the internet. No account. Free / $3.99 one-time. iPhone 15 Pro or later.
Download FreeA journal without internet is a test, not a slogan.
If an app needs the network to transcribe, “think,” or let you save an entry, it is not an offline journal. Conviction’s core loop does not. That is the airplane-mode test: radios off, still journal.
How to run it: install from the App Store while you have a network. Open Conviction. Turn on airplane mode. Turn cellular, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth off if you want the strict version. Talk or type. Transcription and pattern spotting stay on the iPhone. Audio and entries are not uploaded for AI.
The long trust FAQ (packet sniffer, encryption, backups) is https://www.tryconviction.com/private-journal. This URL is the offline / airplane-mode how-to.
Do the test. Then decide.
Open. Radios off. Talk or type.
That sequence is the proof that nothing in the journal loop needs a server.
Optional iCloud backup and Apple Health need a network when you use them — and backup is encrypted on-device before it leaves. You can skip both. No account is required to journal offline. Device gate: iPhone 15 Pro or later (https://www.tryconviction.com/apple-intelligence). Product answer for “stays on iPhone”: https://www.tryconviction.com/journal-on-iphone
Airplane-mode how-to
Open Conviction
No account required. No email. No server handshake before you can start.
Turn radios off
Airplane mode. Cellular, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth off if you want the strict test.
Talk or type
Transcription and on-device analysis still run. If they needed the cloud, this would fail.
What still works with no internet
Voice and text, radios off.
Speech-to-text is on-device. Audio is not uploaded. Typed entries save locally.
- Just talk Airplane mode. Tap once and speak.
- Turned into text On the iPhone. No speech API over the network.
- Entry created Encrypted local store. Key you hold.
Tools do not call a model API.
The Mirror, Safe Harbor, Pattern Lab, The Council, 27-emotion tracking, Momentum — on-device. Cloud AI journals cannot make this claim. Architecture: https://www.tryconviction.com/on-device-vs-cloud-journal
- No cloud “think” step If analysis required OpenAI/Anthropic/Groq, airplane mode would break it.
- On-device path Entry → Apple Intelligence on the phone → tools.
- Verify Run the test. Trust FAQ: https://www.tryconviction.com/private-journal
What does need a network
App Store install, optional encrypted iCloud backup, optional Apple Health sync. None of those are required to journal. Skip Sign-In and you stay fully local.
- Stays on your phone Default path needs no internet after install.
- No account https://www.tryconviction.com/no-account-journal
- Safe backup If you opt in later, it is encrypted before iCloud. That step uses a network.
And so much more.
No account required
Offline and no-signup are the same architecture. https://www.tryconviction.com/no-account-journal
iPhone 15 Pro or later
Apple Intelligence is how on-device analysis runs. iPad is not a target.
Free / $3.99 one-time
Not a subscription. No monthly model bill, because there is no model API.
Not a replacement for therapy
Between sessions. Phillip Paul is the developer, not a clinician. https://www.tryconviction.com/about
Free / $3.99 one-time. Not a subscription.
Complementary choices for different needs
Best for acute needs, diagnosis, and deep clinical work
Great for accountability and structured goal-setting
Daily self-reflection practice that supports both
- 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
- 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
No account. Airplane mode works. iPhone 15 Pro or later.
Frequently asked questions
Does Conviction work as an offline journal app?
Yes. After install, open the app, radios off, talk or type. Journaling does not need the internet.
How do I verify it does not need a server?
Airplane mode. Cellular, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth off. Record an entry. If the app required a network to transcribe or save, that would fail.
Does Conviction send entries to the cloud?
Not for AI. Optional iCloud backup is encrypted first and is not required. https://www.tryconviction.com/private-journal
Do I need an account to journal offline?
No.
What if I do not have iPhone 15 Pro?
Conviction will not run. DailyVox (on-device voice, iOS 17+) or Apple Journal. https://www.tryconviction.com/compare/dailyvox
How much does Conviction cost?
Free to start. Pro is $3.99 one-time, not a subscription.
Is this a replacement for therapy?
No. Built by Phillip Paul, independent developer, not a clinician. https://www.tryconviction.com/about
Install once. Then try airplane mode.
App Store. Free / $3.99 one-time. No account.
Download FreeRadios off, still journal. iPhone 15 Pro or later. Not a replacement for therapy.