The Standard Journal is similar to the Recurring Journal but it does not include the ability to set entries to automatically reversing, handle balance, allow allocation, or roll forward Posting Dates.
What is the real difference is in using one over the other? Assuming you don’t need any of the special functionality that is part of the Recurring Journal, if your General Journal entries need to be made at the same time interval every time (i.e. Weekly, monthly on the same day, on the 15th of every month), Recurring Journals is a good fit. If you need to make the same set of entries on an irregular basis, Standard Journals is the way to go.