--- title: How to use the Journal plugin description: Allow users to record entries, track habits or moods, and set reminders — ideal for wellness, productivity, or reflection-based apps. --- [Skip to content](https://help.buildfire.com/how-to-use-the-journal-plugin#main-content) [![buildfire](https://help.buildfire.com/hs-fs/hubfs/bf-wordmark-black.png?width=150&height=35&name=bf-wordmark-black.png)](https://help.buildfire.com?hsLang=en-us) Open main navigation Close main navigation - [Log In](https://app.buildfire.com/login) [Log In](https://app.buildfire.com/login) How can we help you? - There are no suggestions because the search field is empty. 1. [Buildfire Help Docs](https://help.buildfire.com/?hsLang=en-us) 2. [Add Functionality To Your App](https://help.buildfire.com/add-functionality-to-your-app?hsLang=en-us) 3. [Plugins to drive engagement & community](https://help.buildfire.com/add-functionality-to-your-app?hsLang=en-us#plugins-to-drive-engagement-community) # How to use the Journal plugin ## Allow users to record entries, track habits or moods, and set reminders — ideal for wellness, productivity, or reflection-based apps. The journal plugin lets users log their personal reflections, habits, or progress over time. App owners can enable reminders for inactivity, set custom messages, and track additional data such as mood, blood pressure, or heart rate. Admins can also assign special access to review journal entries using tags. This feature is highly flexible and can even integrate with other plugins like chat for more interactive journaling experiences. --- #### **Requirements** - This is a Boost plugin, available on specific plans only --- #### **How to use the Journal plugin** 1. Log in, go to **Builder** in the left navigation 2. Click the **+** button to open the **Plugin Marketplace** - Search for **Journal**, then click **Add Plugin** - Name your plugin (e.g., “My Daily Journal”) and click **Add** 3. Click the **Content** tab: - Enable **Reminders** to prompt users who haven’t written entries recently - Set the **reminder cadence** (e.g., daily, weekly, or custom intervals) - Write a **custom reminder message** that users will see 4. Click the **Settings** tab: - Add an **Admin Tag** to grant selected users access to other users’ responses - (Optional) Enable settings to let users: 1. Change **dates** or **times** of their entries 2. Add **titles** to each journal entry 3. Enable tracking for **health metrics** like blood pressure or heart rate 4. Choose where **data is stored** — connect your own database if you require HIPAA compliance (contact Buildfire Support for setup requirements) 5. Connect a companion feature, such as **Chat**, to pair conversations with journal entries 5. Click the **Slider** section: - Customize the **mood scale** slider by editing text labels and icons - Replace the default faces with custom icons or emotions suited to your app’s theme 6. Click the **Activities** section: - Add checklist-style **activity items** with icons, titles, and descriptions - Replace the default items to better match your app’s use case (e.g., “Drink water,” “Meditate,” “Exercise”) 7. Click the **Options** section: - Add additional **questions or optional selections** that users can check when logging entries - Customize these to suit your journal type (e.g., gratitude, goals, or symptom tracking) 8. Click the **Security** tab: - Turn on **Require Login** to restrict access to logged-in users - (Optional) Add **tag-based restrictions** to limit access to specific groups 9. Click the **Tagging** tab: - Add **behavioral tags** that are automatically applied when users open or interact with the journal 10. Click the **Purchase** tab: - Check **Require Purchase** to enable a paywall - Choose your **product type** (e.g., Single Purchase or Subscription) - Upload an **image**, fill out **purchase text**, and add **success/failure messages** 11. Click the **Analytics** tab to view feature performance: - Track user engagement, number of entries created, and activity trends over time --- #### **Pro tips** - Use reminders to re-engage users who stop journaling regularly - Assign Admin Tags if you need to review or moderate entries in a controlled way - Combine with the Chat plugin for guided journaling or therapist feedback loops - When enabling health metrics, clearly communicate data privacy practices to users - Always test database connections if you’re using custom or HIPAA-compliant storage - [Buildfire Control Panel](https://help.buildfire.com/buildfire-control-panel?hsLang=en-us#main-content) - [Navigating the Control Panel](https://help.buildfire.com/buildfire-control-panel?hsLang=en-us#navigating-the-control-panel) - [Global Tools](https://help.buildfire.com/buildfire-control-panel?hsLang=en-us#global-tools) - [Terms & Policies](https://help.buildfire.com/buildfire-control-panel?hsLang=en-us#terms-policies) - [Build Your App](https://help.buildfire.com/build-your-app?hsLang=en-us#main-content) - [Global Settings](https://help.buildfire.com/build-your-app?hsLang=en-us#global-settings) - [Building Your App's Navigation](https://help.buildfire.com/build-your-app?hsLang=en-us#building-your-apps-navigation) - [Building Your Login Flow](https://help.buildfire.com/build-your-app?hsLang=en-us#building-your-login-flow) - [Building a PWA](https://help.buildfire.com/build-your-app?hsLang=en-us#building-a-pwa) - [Add Functionality To Your App](https://help.buildfire.com/add-functionality-to-your-app?hsLang=en-us#main-content) - [Plugins to drive engagement & community](https://help.buildfire.com/add-functionality-to-your-app?hsLang=en-us#plugins-to-drive-engagement-community) - [Plugins to drive monetization](https://help.buildfire.com/add-functionality-to-your-app?hsLang=en-us#plugins-to-drive-monetization) - [Plugins to run operations & workflows](https://help.buildfire.com/add-functionality-to-your-app?hsLang=en-us#plugins-to-run-operations-workflows) - [Plugins to show content & media](https://help.buildfire.com/add-functionality-to-your-app?hsLang=en-us#plugins-to-show-content-media) - [Make Money With Your App](https://help.buildfire.com/make-money-with-your-app?hsLang=en-us#main-content) - [Overview](https://help.buildfire.com/make-money-with-your-app?hsLang=en-us#overview) - [Apple/iOS](https://help.buildfire.com/make-money-with-your-app?hsLang=en-us#apple-ios) - [Google/Android](https://help.buildfire.com/make-money-with-your-app?hsLang=en-us#google-android) - [Publish Your App](https://help.buildfire.com/publish-your-app?hsLang=en-us#main-content) - [Overview](https://help.buildfire.com/publish-your-app?hsLang=en-us#overview) - [Apple/iOS](https://help.buildfire.com/publish-your-app?hsLang=en-us#apple-ios) - [Google/Android](https://help.buildfire.com/publish-your-app?hsLang=en-us#google-android) - [Manage Your App](https://help.buildfire.com/manage-your-app?hsLang=en-us#main-content) - [Managing Your App’s Users](https://help.buildfire.com/manage-your-app?hsLang=en-us#managing-your-apps-users) - [Push Notifications](https://help.buildfire.com/manage-your-app?hsLang=en-us#push-notifications) - [Analytics](https://help.buildfire.com/manage-your-app?hsLang=en-us#analytics) - [Connect External Partners](https://help.buildfire.com/connect-external-partners?hsLang=en-us#main-content) - [Google/Android](https://help.buildfire.com/connect-external-partners?hsLang=en-us#google-android) - [Apple/iOS](https://help.buildfire.com/connect-external-partners?hsLang=en-us#apple-ios) - [Zapier](https://help.buildfire.com/connect-external-partners?hsLang=en-us#zapier) - [Meta](https://help.buildfire.com/connect-external-partners?hsLang=en-us#meta) - [Segment](https://help.buildfire.com/connect-external-partners?hsLang=en-us#segment) [![Group 4578 (1)](https://help.buildfire.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Group%204578%20(1).png?width=140&height=33&name=Group%204578%20(1).png "Group 4578 (1)")](https://buildfire.com/) Copyright © 2026, Buildfire