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Dev.to
7/12/2026
Why I Switched from Cloud Journaling Apps to Local-First Plain Text

Why I Switched from Cloud Journaling Apps to Local-First Plain Text

Original: How I Finally Stopped Switching Between Ten Different Apps

Short summary

The author describes a 15-year journaling journey, moving from feature-rich cloud apps to a local-first plain-text approach using Cozy. The shift improved honesty and reflection quality by removing privacy concerns. The core principle: own your writing and write for yourself first.

  • •Author switched from cloud journaling apps to local-first plain text files
  • •Privacy concerns in cloud apps caused self-censoring; local files removed that friction
  • •Core takeaway: own your writing; the tool matters less than the principle

Generated with AI, which can make mistakes.

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