Conviction

On-device vs cloud journal: where your entries go.

On-device (Conviction, DailyVox, Apple Journal): processing stays on the phone. Cloud AI journals (Rosebud-class) send text to OpenAI, Anthropic, or Groq. Both can be true. This page is the architecture answer — not a feature dump.

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Does my journal leave my phone?

Local vs cloud diary is an architecture question. If inference runs on Apple silicon in your pocket, the entry does not need to travel for AI. If the model lives on a vendor GPU, the entry travels so the companion can write back.

On-device class: Conviction, DailyVox, Apple Journal. Cloud AI class: Rosebud-class journals that call OpenAI, Anthropic, or Groq. A cloud companion can be useful. It is not the same as on-device. Product compares: https://www.tryconviction.com/compare/rosebud and https://www.tryconviction.com/compare/dailyvox

Conviction facts: no account, no AI upload, optional iCloud backup encrypted before it leaves, iPhone 15 Pro or later, Free / $3.99 one-time. Trust FAQ: https://www.tryconviction.com/private-journal. Device gate: https://www.tryconviction.com/apple-intelligence

Two columns. Then how to verify.

Both classes can be true. They are not the same product.

On-device: the phone does the work. Cloud: a model API does the work. Pick the job, then the architecture.

Conviction is on-device Apple Intelligence with CBT/DBT/shadow tools. DailyVox is on-device voice on more devices. Apple Journal is built-in memory logging. Rosebud-class is cloud chat on your diary. Not a replacement for therapy. Phillip Paul builds Conviction; he is not a clinician. https://www.tryconviction.com/about

Two architectures

1

On-device

Entry stays on the phone for analysis. Conviction, DailyVox, Apple Journal. Verify with airplane mode.

2

Cloud AI

Entry → OpenAI / Anthropic / Groq (or similar) → response. Rosebud-class. Useful companion. Different privacy surface.

3

How to tell

Radios off: does journaling still work? Packet sniffer: does journal content leave? Conviction’s test: https://www.tryconviction.com/private-journal

Facts, not a dunk

Phone frame

On-device path

Conviction: talk or type; transcription and pattern spotting on Apple Intelligence; audio/entries not uploaded for AI; encrypted local store; key you hold.

  1. Just talk On-device transcription. Audio is not uploaded.
  2. Turned into text The phone does the work. No model API for analysis.
  3. Entry created Encrypted on the iPhone. Optional backup locked first.
Cloud path: Device gate
Phone frame

Cloud path

Rosebud-class: the diary is the prompt. Text goes to a hosted model. You get a chatty reflection. That is a real product. It is not local inference. Compare: https://www.tryconviction.com/compare/rosebud

  1. Entry travels Vendor API sees the words during inference.
  2. On-device contrast Conviction’s tools run on the phone. Different job than cloud chat.
  3. Device gate Conviction needs iPhone 15 Pro+. Cloud apps often run on more devices.
Same on-device class, different jobs: Stays on your phone
Phone frame

Same on-device class, different jobs

DailyVox: free, no account, on-device voice, iOS 17+, iPhone and iPad. Apple Journal: built-in memory logging. Conviction: on-device voice + CBT/DBT/shadow; iPhone 15 Pro+; Pro $3.99 one-time. https://www.tryconviction.com/compare/dailyvox

  1. Stays on your phone Shared claim for this class: no cloud AI on the diary.
  2. Locked to you Conviction: key you hold. Verify; do not take marketing adjectives.
  3. Safe backup Conviction’s iCloud backup is encrypted before it leaves. Optional.

And so much more.

On-device journals

Conviction, DailyVox, Apple Journal. Processing on the phone. Airplane mode is a meaningful test.

Cloud AI journals

Rosebud-class → OpenAI / Anthropic / Groq. Companion chat. Entry leaves for inference. Not a moral failure — a different architecture.

Conviction constraints

No account. iPhone 15 Pro or later. iPad is not a target. Free / $3.99 one-time. Not a subscription.

If you lack 15 Pro

DailyVox or Apple Journal. Conviction will not run without Apple Intelligence hardware.

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
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On-device. No account. iPhone 15 Pro or later.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between an on-device journal and a cloud journal?

On-device: analysis runs on the phone (Conviction, DailyVox, Apple Journal). Cloud AI: entries go to a model API such as OpenAI, Anthropic, or Groq (Rosebud-class). Both can be true. They are different architectures.

Does my Conviction journal leave my phone?

Not for AI. Optional iCloud backup is encrypted on-device before it leaves. We cannot read it.

Is Rosebud worse?

No. It is a cloud companion. If you want that job, that architecture matches. If you want local vs cloud diary with no model API, pick on-device. Compare: https://www.tryconviction.com/compare/rosebud

Is DailyVox on-device too?

Yes. Same privacy class for voice: no account, no cloud transcription, wider device range. Conviction adds CBT/DBT/shadow tools and needs iPhone 15 Pro+. https://www.tryconviction.com/compare/dailyvox

How do I verify Conviction?

Airplane mode. Packet sniffer. https://www.tryconviction.com/private-journal and https://www.tryconviction.com/offline-journal

Do I need an account?

No. https://www.tryconviction.com/no-account-journal

How much does Conviction cost?

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

Is this a replacement for therapy?

No. Phillip Paul is the independent developer, not a clinician. https://www.tryconviction.com/about

If you want on-device, download Conviction.

App Store. Free / $3.99 one-time. iPhone 15 Pro or later.

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