Comparison

Cleft vs BoardGameRef

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Cleft

This app is designed for verbal thinkers to capture their thoughts out loud, without typing. It offers real-time transcription, offline functionality, and smart organization. Ideal for those who prefer speaking their ideas, it provides a frictionless way to record and manage notes.

Highlights
  • Live transcription
  • Offline-first functionality
  • One-tap voice capture
  • Smart organization
  • Markdown export
  • Apple Watch support
  • On-device transcription
Features
Read full description

You're a verbal thinker. Cleft captures thoughts before they vanish. The way you think. Out loud. On device, even offline. Featured in Fast Company's "25 Best New Apps." Capture on iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch, or CarPlay. Wherever a thought lands. "You've built one of the BEST apps for ADHD people." - Jenner, Entrepreneur KEY FEATURES • Spotlight Search - Find any note instantly from anywhere • Fast Transcription - Keeps up with how fast you talk • One-Tap Capture - Voice to text in seconds • Pick Up Anytime - Add to yesterday's thought. Or any note, whenever the next one lands • Siri & Shortcuts - Search notes, get summaries, export by voice • Apple Watch - Record notes from your wrist • CarPlay - Capture hands-free while driving • Recording at a Glance - Dynamic Island, Lock Screen • Keyboard Shortcuts - Fast navigation without leaving the keyboard • Widgets - Pin a thought, resume your last, or capture fresh from your home screen • Offline-First - Works without internet, syncs when connected • Smart Organization - Capture first. Organize never. • Markdown Export - Edit and format your notes • Privacy by Design - On-device transcription, encrypted storage "When I looked at what was written, it was like 'My God, somebody got me here.'" - 73-year-old farrier, first time user BUILT FOR HOW YOU THINK Accessibility isn't a feature here. It's the foundation. Cleft was made by people with ADHD, Autism, and Dysgraphia, for people who think the same way. Capture ideas without losing your flow. No system to manage. Rambles welcome. "Fits my brain like a glove." - Rafa, Founder CAPTURE ANYTHING Meeting notes • Creative ideas • Article drafts • To-do lists • Project docs • Daily journals • Quick thoughts CLEFT PLUS ($6.99/mo or $39.99/yr — annual works out to $3.33/mo) • 30-minute recordings • Customize Cleft - tell it how you want notes shaped • Notion auto-send + Obsidian & Apple Notes integrations • Zapier & Shortcuts automation • Family Sharing on annual - share Plus with up to 6 people "$39 a year for this is ridiculously low." - Legal tech advisor Subscriptions auto-renew until canceled. Manage in App Store settings. AS FEATURED IN Fast Company • The Verge • Lifehacker • GeekWire • TechCrunch • Snazzy Labs Try Cleft Free. Change Log: https://cleftnotes.com/changelog/ Terms: https://cleftnotes.com/terms Privacy: https://cleftnotes.com/privacy

About

BoardGameRef

Read full description

BoardGameRef gives you fast, reliable rule clarifications for your favorite board games. Ask about setup, turns, actions, timing windows, edge cases, and scoring, and get clear answers designed for real gameplay. Whether you’re teaching a new game, resolving a mid-game dispute, or double-checking a tricky interaction, BoardGameRef helps your table move forward quickly and confidently. Key features: 1. Instant rule Q&A in a clean chat interface 2. Clear explanations for edge cases and ambiguous situations 3. Conversation history to revisit prior rulings 4. Built-in feedback tools to improve answer quality over time Stop flipping through rulebooks and keep game night flowing.

Screenshots

Cleft4 screens
BoardGameRef3 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: BoardGameRef at none against Cleft's 2. BoardGameRef also leads on update cadence (every 3 days vs monthly). Cleft's advantage is device support (4 vs 1). On price, ads and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Cleft sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $6.99 per month. BoardGameRef asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Cleft ships an update monthly, BoardGameRef every 3 days. The most recent releases landed on October 20, 2026 and October 14, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
Cleft versus BoardGameRef: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterCleftBoardGameRef
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.7 (70 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews80.4% of reviews—
Number of ratings70 — better—
Update frequencyMonthlyEvery 3 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFreemium—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch — betteriPhone
Requires iOS17.0 — better18.0
Further details — not scored
Size270 MB5 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperCleft AIHaocheng Bai

Bugs and requests

Cleft

Reported bugs

4 issues
  • Recording stops working after initial use
  • Inability to append to existing notes
  • Manual sync never works as expected
  • Lack of support for non-English languages

Requested features

6 requests
  • Increase maximum recording time
  • Improve editing and toggling between modes
  • Add ability to retry processing failed summaries
  • Allow custom storage locations for notes and audio
  • Enhance integration with Obsidian and other tools
Show 1 more
  • Expand Shortcuts and automation capabilities

BoardGameRef

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

2 purchases

Cleft

Subscriptions2
  • Monthly Plus Plan$6.991 Month
  • Annual Plus Plan$39.991 Year
None

BoardGameRef

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Cleft free?
Cleft is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is BoardGameRef free?
BoardGameRef is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do Cleft or BoardGameRef have ads?
Neither Cleft nor BoardGameRef shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Cleft or BoardGameRef?
Cleft ships an update monthly, and BoardGameRef every 3 days. Most recently, Cleft was updated on October 20, 2026 and BoardGameRef on October 14, 2026.

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