Last updated 07-22-2026
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Cleft (formerly Cleft Notes)
Cleft is a voice-first note-taking app for people who think faster than they type. You hit record, talk through an idea, and get back a structured note with a summary, action items, and transcript. It is built for capture, not organization, so finished notes can flow into Notion, Apple Notes, Obsidian, or wherever you already work.
What sets Cleft apart is on-device transcription with Whisper. Your recording becomes text locally on your iPhone, iPad, or Mac before anything syncs. The app turns rambles into readable notes in styles like Structured, Structured Prose, or Clean Transcript, and you pick the format from a dial before you record.
Cleft targets verbal thinkers and neurodivergent users whose best ideas arrive mid-walk or mid-conversation. Founders Justin Mitchell and Jonathan Cosgrove built it in Ireland because traditional note apps forced them to slow down and organize before they had even caught the thought.
Turns a spoken ramble into structured notes with summaries, action items, and a full transcript
Transcribes locally on your device with Whisper before signed-in notes sync securely
Pick Structured, Structured Prose, or Clean Transcript from a dial before you record
Exports Markdown-ready notes to Notion, Obsidian, Bear, Drafts, Zapier, and a dozen other apps
Works offline on iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch, and CarPlay with 99-language support
Start recording from Lock Screen widgets, Siri, the Action Button, or Shortcuts
Transcription runs locally on your device with Whisper, so recordings are not sent to the cloud for processing
Works fully offline, which helps when ideas strike without signal
Native apps across iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch, and CarPlay instead of a browser wrapper
Exports Markdown-ready notes to Notion, Obsidian, Bear, and more than a dozen other tools
Free Basic tier covers on-device transcription and structured notes without a subscription
Apple platforms only with no Android or Windows app available
Free tier limits recordings to five minutes per session
Notion and Zapier integrations require the paid Cleft Plus subscription
Sign-in is required to sync notes across your Apple devices
Is Cleft free to use?
Yes. Cleft Basic is free and includes on-device transcription, structured notes, three built-in output styles, tags, search, export, and five-minute recordings. Cleft Plus costs $6.99 per month or $39.99 per year through the App Store for longer recordings and advanced features.
What devices does Cleft support?
Cleft runs on iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch, and CarPlay through native Apple apps. There is no Android or Windows version. You can download it from the Mac App Store or iOS App Store.
Does Cleft work offline?
Yes. Cleft records and transcribes without Wi-Fi. Notes finish organizing when you are back online if needed. On-device transcription works even when you have no signal.
Where can I send Cleft notes?
Cleft exports notes via the share sheet, Local Sync folders, Notion, and Zapier on Plus. Supported destinations include Apple Notes, Obsidian, Bear, Craft, Drafts, Ulysses, Logseq, Things 3, and Todoist.
How long can Cleft recordings be?
Cleft Basic limits recordings to five minutes per session. Cleft Plus extends that to 30 minutes, which covers meetings, lectures, and long walks without cutting yourself short.
Does Cleft use my notes to train AI?
No. Cleft transcribes recordings on your device and states that your content is never used to train AI. Signed-in notes sync securely, and the Trust Center documents GDPR, CCPA, and EU AI Act compliance.