A rare app that knows what it is
I loved Cleft as a beta tester, but I never built a daily habit. Now I have. The combination of thoughtful design, local ownership of my notes, Markdown export, and customizable summaries makes it an outstanding capture tool. It’s become the front end for preserving everything from business ideas to family stories. Beautifully designed, opinionated in all the right ways, and refreshingly free of lock-in.
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Love
It's hard to connect the word "love" with a piece of digital technology, but Cleft somehow gets me excited to wake up first thing in the morning and to record my first journal. From the animation that reacts to the sound of my voice to the different writing styles that I can summarize to the local storage, it's a beautiful app that keeps things simple, doesn't charge too much for the service that it offers, and keeps me engaged with developing a journal that I'm going to come back to years later.
If you're thinking about downloading a voice recording app, don't look any further than Cleft. I'm excited about all the additional features that they work on because the app is a little bit bare, and it could use some more development. That's my only complaint, and it's a small one.
If you're thinking about downloading a voice recording app, don't look any further than Cleft. I'm excited about all the additional features that they work on because the app is a little bit bare, and it could use some more development. That's my only complaint, and it's a small one.
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So cool
This app is so cool it really is for verbal thinkers.
Best around
I’ve been using this app since it first began, and before was even released on the App Store. It’s amazing with constant updates and a developer who truly believes in it. I have Parkinson’s and this app has changed my life and how I use my phone.
Frustrated with Bugs
I’m a paying Cleft subscriber and the recent updates have introduced numerous bugs to iOS 18. It will attempt to start a recording automatically and then tell me it needs to be at least three word. When I attempt to view it and back out, the whole interface turns white and I have to force quit the app. I also can’t reliably get my audio to sync. And every time the app opens it shows me the most recent update patch notes.
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Life Saver
Cleft is my favorite tool. I’m at the hospital with my mom, and I’m about to record a message to recap everything the doctors have said this morning. So helpful to me and to the family members who will get the link. Grateful to have the specific support of Cleft.
Doesn’t work on macOS 26
I will remove this review once the issue has been resolved since this app is great on both iOS and macOS, but only when I updated to macOS 26 did the app crash anytime I try to start a voice note or have it break down a text note.
So useful for my ADHD brain
As someone with ADHD, I love this app for processing and streamlining ideas, capturing insights, and working through complex problems. I recommend it to all my coaching clients, too, who find it incredibly useful. Thank you!
Wow great!
I love the longer talking time. I can ramble and take tangents while thinking out loud and Cleft puts them all structured and formatted clearly. Very impressive!
Cleft is my fave
(I used Cleft to create this note)
# Thoughts on Cleft AI Voice Memos
I really love using Cleft. It makes everything so much easier because I can just use my voice without worrying about structuring my dictation, punctuation, or even organizing my thoughts. I can simply think out loud, and it gives me back a usable note. Speak your mind, Cleft Collects your thoughts indeed!
## Preparing for a Review
- I'm getting ready to include this in a review of Cleft AI Voice Memos on the Mac App Store.
- It's super cool to be able to just talk and receive something useful in return.
# Thoughts on Cleft AI Voice Memos
I really love using Cleft. It makes everything so much easier because I can just use my voice without worrying about structuring my dictation, punctuation, or even organizing my thoughts. I can simply think out loud, and it gives me back a usable note. Speak your mind, Cleft Collects your thoughts indeed!
## Preparing for a Review
- I'm getting ready to include this in a review of Cleft AI Voice Memos on the Mac App Store.
- It's super cool to be able to just talk and receive something useful in return.
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Works great & integrates Markdown well
Cleft is a great summary tool for recording meetings and verbal thoughts. It integrates well with other tools and has the best condensed summaries from an AI tool that I have used.
No Way To Cancel Subscription
After paying for upgrade, even after three days, I am still on the Free plan.
Truly helpful for getting thoughts and ideas out
Been using the app for a while and being able to just talk through an idea or a problem and get a summary is hugely helpful. I use it for quick notes to myself, I use it to work out difficult work problems, and I use it as a journal when I can’t be bothered to write or type. The Custom Vocab feature is super helpful.
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Super slow transcription
Just use the Voicenotes app, it's honestly way more polished
Was excellent at first
Transcriptions are getting worse and its contents less valuable. There definitely seems to be a regression in quality. The app also crashes constantly without providing any indication of that, so you think your recording, but the app closed along time ago
The perfect, lightweight note-taking companion
Cleft is a little gem of an app. Great for on-the-fly notes, tracking work, etc. UX is clean, uncluttered, and easy to navigate.
Cleft is my fave
(I used Cleft to create this note)
# Thoughts on Cleft AI Voice Memos
I really love using Cleft. It makes everything so much easier because I can just use my voice without worrying about structuring my dictation, punctuation, or even organizing my thoughts. I can simply think out loud, and it gives me back a usable note. Speak your mind, Cleft Collects your thoughts indeed!
## Preparing for a Review
- I'm getting ready to include this in a review of Cleft AI Voice Memos on the Mac App Store.
- It's super cool to be able to just talk and receive something useful in return.
# Thoughts on Cleft AI Voice Memos
I really love using Cleft. It makes everything so much easier because I can just use my voice without worrying about structuring my dictation, punctuation, or even organizing my thoughts. I can simply think out loud, and it gives me back a usable note. Speak your mind, Cleft Collects your thoughts indeed!
## Preparing for a Review
- I'm getting ready to include this in a review of Cleft AI Voice Memos on the Mac App Store.
- It's super cool to be able to just talk and receive something useful in return.
Show more
Shockingly bad. It used to be good!
What the hell happened to this app?? It can’t complete the most basic commands without laughable mistakes. I ask it to schedule a task for tomorrow, and it gives me an arbitrary date in the **2023** 😭
Manual sync required
Update: Since my initial review, I’ve been in touch with tech support who had been great! They corrected my issues & have no issues. Good app!
Earlier Review:Keeps telling me I need to manually sync. I end up loosing what I’ve recorded & having to re-record my memos hoping that I don’t get this message. Incredibly frustrating! Msged tech support but didn’t get much help there. I would like a prorated refund.
Earlier Review:Keeps telling me I need to manually sync. I end up loosing what I’ve recorded & having to re-record my memos hoping that I don’t get this message. Incredibly frustrating! Msged tech support but didn’t get much help there. I would like a prorated refund.
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Like a phoenix from the ashes
Just wanted to give a big shoutout to the team behind this app—they actually listen to feedback and put in the work to improve things. It’s rare, and it deserves credit.
Since the 1.9 update, transcription and input have been rock solid. This app has become my go-to for capturing those random thoughts that pop up when you least expect them—the kind you always think you’ll remember later… but don’t.
The new Apple Watch app is honestly beautiful. I can finally jot stuff down without pulling out my phone or even having it with me. That’s a huge win.
They’re already working on Shortcuts support too, which is just another sign that these devs aren’t phoning it in—they care, and it shows.
If I could give it 6 stars, I would.
Since the 1.9 update, transcription and input have been rock solid. This app has become my go-to for capturing those random thoughts that pop up when you least expect them—the kind you always think you’ll remember later… but don’t.
The new Apple Watch app is honestly beautiful. I can finally jot stuff down without pulling out my phone or even having it with me. That’s a huge win.
They’re already working on Shortcuts support too, which is just another sign that these devs aren’t phoning it in—they care, and it shows.
If I could give it 6 stars, I would.
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