Feature Tests

We sometimes run tests within our app to validate certain features before we make them widely available to all users. Not all tests get implemented so if you vote for them it doesn’t guarantee we’ll build it. Votes and clicks matter though so if you like the feature, be sure to let us know.

How much does Penzu Pro cost?

Penzu Pro costs $19 US per year. There is no tax or extra charges. You can pay with VISA, MASTERCARD, and Paypal here. There is a 30-day money-back guarantee with all purchases. Read more about our refund policy here.

Can my entries be read by others?

No! Unless you specifically share your entry, it is completely private and accessible only by you. As long as you keep your password safe, your entries will never be read by anyone else. You can even lock your entries with a second password for increased security!

Is Penzu different from blogging?

Yes, Penzu is very different from writing in a blog. While a blog is more commonly read by others, Penzu is read  by you. Entries are private by default and if you want, can be shared. With blogs, entries are public by default and privacy is a second (often buried) setting.

So feel free to write and do anything – no one is watching!

Why is Penzu Mobile for Blackberry different?

Because we wanted to make an app that could support the multitude of Blackberry devices and operating systems, we created a version of our mobile application that allowed for us to do just that. Some of the downfalls are that it is limited in functionality—such as not having offline access, app locking, the lined pad background, etc—but the overall gain is that people can now journal on almost any mobile device in the world.

If you would like a feature to be included in Penzu Mobile for Blackberry, email us and we’ll see what we can do. There is definitely more on the way so sit tight!

You can learn more here.

How do I remove a tag from an entry with Penzu Mobile?

Tagging is only available to Pro users on our Mobile Web App. To access this app, visit http://penzu.com from your phone’s browser and follow these steps:

1. Open the entry you wish to remove the tag from.

2. Click the Tag button on the pad toolbar.

3. Click the red “Remove” button from the tag you wish to remove. Tags must be removed individually.

Can I view Penzu in Full Screen?

To use Penzu in full screen mode, you can download Firefox, and then select Full Screen from the View menu. Alternatively, you can use the shortcut Command key + Shift key + F for Mac and F11 for PCs.

You can also do this in Google Chome by selecting “Enter Full Screen Mode” from the View menu on a Mac.

What is Penzu?

Penzu is an online diary and personal journaling service that focuses specifically on privacy. That means that your entries are private by default and aren’t visible by anyone else unless you decide to share them. You can sign-up for free or sign-up for a Pro account and experience more features and security. Learn more about our products here.

How do I start?

Simply start by signing up. If you have already signed up, then you can login or make your way to the pad where you can start writing instantly. All you have to do is type, Penzu saves your work automatically. To see some tips on getting started, click here.

What is the Pad?

Click the above thumb to enlarge.

The Pad is the ruled lined paper-like writing area that is the cornerstone of the Penzu user experience. Here you can write entries, upload photos, share entries with friends and family, print, lock and unlock entries for extra security, view comments on shared entries and much more.

If you are a Pro user, you get more Pad features like: tagging, rich text formatting, customizations and themes, a custom avatar, and the list goes on.

Signup for free now and start writing in your journal!

What is an entry?

An entry is anything you want it to be! Simply, it is words on a page. But depending on what type of journal you are creating, it could be a day in your life, or a moment you want to capture and save, or an expression of any kind. Write anything you want in your Penzu account!

What is the Entries page?

Click above thumbnail to enlarge.

The Entries page is where all of your entries from a particular journal can be found. Here you can search, delete, rename, and more.

With a Penzu Pro account, you can also import, export, and view tags.

Signup today and start filling up your journal with journal entries!

Is Penzu completely free?

Yep! You can signup and use Penzu (with unlimited storage) at absolutely no cost. But Penzu Pro, which provides users with many more features, including military-grade security, customizations, and exporting of data, is just $19 US per year. If you signup for more than a year, you benefit from an increasing discount the more years you subscribe!Sign-up now!

What is Penzu Pro?

Penzu Pro is an enhanced version of Penzu, with premium features such as tagging, multiple journals, entry encryption, rich text formatting, customizing, mobile access, journaling via email, versions, large images, importing, custom email reminders, and exporting to name a few.

You can learn more here!

What forms of payment to you accept?

Penzu accepts VISA, Mastercard, and Paypal at the moment.

Why is Penzu so great?

While most journaling and blogging services focus on the public journal or diary, Penzu is all about privacy and sharing your entries only if you want to. It is extremely intuitive and easy to use, and adds a layer of security not offered by most competing services. To learn more about why Penzu is the best way to keep a journal on the web, click here.

How do I add a custom background? (Pro)

To add your own photos to the background of your entries, follow these steps:

1. Click on the “Customize button” in the Pad toolbar.

2. Click “Upload” from the “Upload Image” thumbnail.

3. A popup will appear and allow you to add an image from your computer. Once complete, a thumbnail will appear like so:

4. Click “Done” and you’ll see the image as your background!

Note: Custom images are resized to 1280 pixels wide and tiled by default.

Are Entries secure?

Your Penzu account is password protected and safe from prying eyes.  Penzu Pro users are able to use military-grade security to encrypt their entries. Encrypted and non-encrypted entries are also backed up on a separate server for extra security.

Which browsers do you support?

Currently supported browsers are Firefox 3+, Google Chrome, and Safari 4+. Using Penzu on other browsers shouldn’t be too bad but there are definitely some known bugs. Please be patient while we fully support other browsers.

Do I need to login before I start writing?

Nope!

Penzu has a Quick Start feature that allows you to start writing without even having to log in. Just navigate to http://penzu.com/p and write away! When you are done, simply log in and your work will be saved. If you don’t have time to login, that writing will remain saved in Quick Start mode on that specific computer until it is either deleted to saved to an account. So make sure you don’t use Quick Start on a public or shared computer and forget to log in after writing!

How do I import entries from another service/blog? (Pro)

Penzu Pro users can import posts from other services by exporting their blogs to an xml file and importing following the below steps:

1. Access the import drop-down on the Entries page and clicking the import button on the toolbar.

2. Then simply click the “Go” button underneath the XML section to bring up the popup.

3. Choose the XML file from your local computer and all entries (if formatted correctly) will be added to your journal.

If you have been keeping a journal or blog with another online service and wish to import your posts to Penzu, all you need is an XML file.

Most services, like Wordpress or Blogger, allow their users to export posts in either an ATOM or RSS XML file. Penzu supports both file types.

Images are not imported at this time.

What is the Info Side Panel?

The Left Side Panel displays various information about you and your Penzu account.  Specifically, it tells you when you last logged in, what type of account you have, and has a quick and easy way to invite your friends and family. The Panel is accessed by clicking on the “i” tab on the left side of your screen.

What is the Recent Entry Side Panel?

The Right Side Panel is where you can find your Recent Entries.  The Panel is accessed by clicking on the number tab at on the right side of your screen, or it will pop out whenever you create a new entry.  The Right Side Panel displays your most recent entry at the top of the Panel, and subsequent entries will be listed below it.

At the bottom of the Panel, you can sort your Recent Entries by when you last edited them. You can also scroll up and down using the arrows on the left.

Does Penzu have a storage limit?

With both the free and Pro accounts, there is no storage limit. You can write as many entries and upload as many photos as you would like!

Is there anything I can’t write about?

Nope. Write away. Your thoughts are for you only. For more information, please read our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.