Vinaka
Vinaka is an iPhone app to record what you are grateful for today. Open the app, choose from a list of smiley icons to record your overall mood, and write one thing you're grateful for.
Why it exists
I started Gratitude journalling earlier in 2026. I bought a crummy little notebook, and each day without fail I sat down to write what I was grateful for that day: my family, positive things at work, my health/fitness, or the freedom to make specific decisions.
This worked really well for me until I filled that little notebook, six months in - right when I was travelling. I didn't want to carry a few books with me, so decided it was time to digitise things.
Vinaka means thank you in Fijian. It was named while I was in Fiji on a family holiday, feeling very grateful for much that is right in the world, and it felt appropriate to use when I returned home and finished the app.
What it does
- Pick your mood and write one thing you're grateful for. That's the bare minimum.
- Daily reminders at a pre-chosen time, if you haven't already written your gratitude.
- Streaks tracked gently, and the freedom to backdate entries to maintain your streak.
- Custom check-ins each day, if you want. How stressed were you? Where were you? How did you sleep? Add these to your journal each day to give context to your gratitude.
- iCloud sync - but only if you want to - with a small subscription ($0.99USD monthly / $9.99USD yearly) between your devices: iPhone, iPad, and Mac. This is completely optional and is a great way to support my work.
Scroll sideways to see more.
Frequently asked questions
Is it available on Android? No. Vinaka is built just for Apple OS's including iPhone, iPad, and Mac. I don't have plans to bring it to Android or Windows.
What do you do with my data? Nothing - I don't have access to it. It stays on your device, unless you turn on iCloud sync - which uses Apple's iCloud storage (within your own Apple ID) to copy to your own devices. I can't access it even if I try.
What are check-ins? Simple metadata on each check-in. They're optional. I use them to track a few subjective items each day including work stress, how well I think I slept, and whether I'm travelling. They aren't currently reflected in any reports.
Questions
Vinaka is available soon on the App Store. If you have a question that isn't answered above, please get in touch.
Changelog
Version 1.0 (Sept 2026)
- Initial public release.