Cleft Notes

Speak your mind, get a structured note without typing a word.

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Screenshot of Cleft Notes, Speak your mind, get a structured note without typing a word

What is Cleft Notes?

Cleft Notes is an AI transcriber tool that speaks your mind, get a structured note without typing a word. Cleft Notes turns spoken rambles into organized notes with a summary, action items, and transcript. Transcription runs on-device, works offline, and the app spans iPhone, iPad, Mac, Watch, and CarPlay.

Cleft Notes is a voice-first note-taking app for Apple devices. The premise is simple: pressing record is faster than typing when a thought arrives, so Cleft lets you talk it out and handles the cleanup. Transcription happens on the device itself, which means your speech becomes text locally and works without a network connection. The finished note bundles three things together: a short summary, a list of action items pulled from what you said, and the transcript underneath for reference. The workflow is deliberately short. Tap record, ramble for as long as you need, and pick the output style from a dial that resembles a camera control. Structured produces sections and bullet points, Structured Prose renders the same material as flowing paragraphs, and Clean Transcript stays close to your original wording. A paid tier adds custom styles that can be saved for recurring formats such as meeting recaps or interview notes. Once a note is done, it can be sent onward to a note app you already use rather than living only inside Cleft. The audience is people whose thinking outruns their typing: founders logging ideas in the car, writers capturing drafts on a walk, and especially users with ADHD, a group the company openly designs for. Capture anywhere covers iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch, and CarPlay, so a recording can start from a dashboard and be waiting on a Mac later. Where Cleft fits is the gap between a raw voice memo and a full note system. It is not trying to replace Notion, Obsidian, or Bear; it feeds them. Compared with transcription suites built around meetings and shared workspaces, Cleft is personal, Apple-only, and oriented toward the single thought you do not want to lose. A sign-in is required, and the App Store is the only distribution channel listed, so Android and Windows users are out of scope.

How do you use Cleft Notes?

  1. 1Install Cleft on your Apple device
    Download the app from the App Store through the download page, then sign in when prompted. The same build covers iPhone and iPad, with Mac and Watch support.
    Cleft Notes — Install Cleft on your Apple device
  2. 2Record your first thought
    Open the recording screen, tap record, and talk naturally. There is no need to structure anything while speaking; the app handles that afterwards.
  3. 3Review the generated note
    Cleft returns a summary, extracted actions, and the transcript. Read through to confirm the main points and action items match what you intended.
  4. 4Pick an output style
    Use the style dial to switch between Structured, Structured Prose, and Clean Transcript. Compare the results and settle on the shape that suits your usual notes.
    Cleft Notes — Pick an output style
  5. 5Send the note to your note app
    In settings, connect a destination such as Notion, Obsidian, Apple Notes, Things, or Todoist, and optionally enable auto-send so finished notes route themselves.
  6. 6Try capture from CarPlay
    If your car supports CarPlay, start a recording from the dashboard and confirm the structured note appears on your iPhone, iPad, or Mac afterwards.
    Cleft Notes — Try capture from CarPlay

Pros and cons

Pros

  • On-device transcription keeps recordings local and works without Wi-FiAI
  • Three output styles (Structured, Structured Prose, Clean Transcript) cover different needsAI
  • Unusually broad export list, from Notion and Obsidian to Things, Todoist, and BearAI
  • CarPlay and Apple Watch capture make it practical for ideas that arrive away from a deskAI
  • Explicitly designed for ADHD and fast-thinking users, with a manifesto to matchAI

Cons

  • Apple-only: no Android, Windows, or web app is listedAI
  • Sign-in is required, so it is not a purely local tool despite on-device transcriptionAI
  • Full feature set, including custom styles and Zapier, appears tied to a paid tierAI
  • Note quality depends on clear speech; noisy rooms and heavy accents are untested territoryAI
  • A single-purpose capture app, with no editing, collaboration, or meeting featuresAI

How much does Cleft Notes cost?

Support

A Trust Center covers privacy and data handling, the Cookbook walks through note styles, and a public manifesto explains the product philosophy. No dedicated help desk or contact channel is described on the homepage.

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Integrations

Sends finished notes to Notion, Apple Notes, Apple Reminders, Apple Journal, Reflect, Obsidian, Bear, Craft, Capacities, NotePlan, Drafts, Ulysses, Logseq, iA Writer, Things 3, Todoist, and Zapier. Auto-send is available from the integrations panel.

Features

On-device transcription with offline recording, automatic summary and action extraction, three note styles (Structured, Structured Prose, Clean Transcript), custom saved styles on the Plus tier, sync across iPhone, iPad, Mac, Watch, and CarPlay, plus auto-send and archive options for connected destinations.

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Frequently asked questions about Cleft Notes

  • How do you use Cleft Notes?
    The walkthrough on this page covers 6 steps: 1. Install Cleft on your Apple device 2. Record your first thought 3. Review the generated note 4. Pick an output style 5. Send the note to your note app 6. Try capture from CarPlay.
  • What platforms does Cleft Notes support?
    Cleft Notes is available on iOS and MacOS.
  • What does Cleft Notes integrate with?
    Sends finished notes to Notion, Apple Notes, Apple Reminders, Apple Journal, Reflect, Obsidian, Bear, Craft, Capacities, NotePlan, Drafts, Ulysses, Logseq, iA Writer, Things 3, Todoist, and Zapier. Auto-send is available from the integrations panel.
  • What are the limitations of Cleft Notes?
    Apple-only: no Android, Windows, or web app is listed. Sign-in is required, so it is not a purely local tool despite on-device transcription. Full feature set, including custom styles and Zapier, appears tied to a paid tier.

Status

StatusActive
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Outbound clicks0
Added10/21/2026

Platforms

iOSMacOS

Pricing

FreemiumSubscription