The Cleft Insider’s Guide
Everything we know about Cleft in one document: what it costs, its grades, getting a refund, getting help and what else to look at. Read it here, or keep a copy.
Cleft
The Insider’s Guide
Voice notes turned into structured notes on Apple devices
Every plan, grade, refund rule and rival among note-taking apps, read from Cleft’s own pages.
Made by Cleft AI Limited · checked Oct 9, 2026 · toolgpa.com
Contents
- 01WelcomeWhat it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
- 02What it costsEvery plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
- 03What it doesIts main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
- 04Where it standsIts grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
- 05The alternativesThe tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
- 06Quick answersThe questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
- 07About ToolGPAWho made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
ToolGPA put this guide together from Cleft’s own pages, its app-store listings and our grades. Every fact in it is on Cleft’s page too, where it is kept up to date. Checked Oct 9, 2026.
Part 01 · Overview
Welcome
What it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
2.2
GPA, above 12 of the 147 other note-taking apps we grade
Cleft is a voice-first notes app for iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch and CarPlay. You record yourself talking, the recording is transcribed on the device, and an AI step turns the transcript into a titled note with the main points and actions pulled out. Finished notes can stay in Cleft or be sent on to apps such as Notion, Apple Notes and Obsidian.
To get you started, here are 9 things to know about Cleft, taken from its own pages and our grades.
No store rating on record, so we go by the listing: press record and talk, from the Lock Screen or the Action Button if you like.
- 1
Best for talking a thought into a tidy note on Apple gear
Sign-in is required, and there's no Android, Windows or web version.
- 2
Paid plans start at $3.33 a month when paid by the year
As its pricing page puts it: $39.99 per year (or $6.99 billed monthly).
- 3
There is a free plan
Basic plan: recordings up to 5 minutes with on-device transcription, structured notes, 3 built-in output styles, tags, search, export, Local Sync, widgets and Siri Shortcuts.
- 4
It runs on 2 platforms
iOS and macOS.
- 5
On-device transcription
Recordings are turned into text locally on iPhone, iPad or Mac using Whisper, in 99 languages, including when the speaker switches language mid-sentence.
- 6
Structured notes from rambles
An AI step pulls out the main points and actions and titles the note. Three built-in styles are Structured, Structured Prose and Clean Transcript; Plus adds custom styles.
- 7
Capture from Watch, CarPlay and Siri
Recording can start from an Apple Watch, the CarPlay screen, the Lock Screen, Dynamic Island, Control Center, the iPhone Action Button or a Siri request.
- 8
A 2.2 GPA, above 12 of 147
That is against the other note-taking apps we grade, on value, the free plan, features, ease of use and platforms.
- 9
Keep it
The plain part of Cleft you could make: notes and Markdown. What surrounds it you could not. The 5 things listed below take a company, not a weekend.
Cleft at a glance
- Pricing
- Free plan, from $39.99 per year (or $6.99 billed monthly)
- Free plan
- Yes
- Free trial
- None stated
- Runs on
- macOS, iOS
- Made by
- Cleft AI Limited
- Category
- Note-Taking Apps
- Our grade
- 2.2 GPA, fair
The report card
Best for talking a thought into a tidy note on Apple gear
Cleft is an Apple-only voice notes app: you talk into an iPhone, Watch or CarPlay, it transcribes on the device, and an AI step returns a titled note with the points and actions pulled out. Free recordings stop at 5 minutes, and 30 minutes, Notion and Zapier, attachments and appending need Plus at $39.99 a year. Sign-in is required, and there's no Android, Windows or web version.
| Subject | Grade | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | C | Cleft Plus is $39.99 a year, about $3.33 a month, which is just past this category's cheapest quarter and under its $6 middle. Family Sharing covers five people. Pay monthly and it's $6.99, which the pricing page itself frames as the worse deal. |
| Free plan and trial | C | Basic is free and has the main event in it: on-device transcription, structured notes, 3 built-in styles, tags, search, export and Local Sync. Then it stops at 5 minutes a recording, which is one idea, not a conversation. |
| Features | C | It does the talk-to-tidy-note job fully: on-device transcription in 99 languages, AI that pulls out the points and actions, recording from the Watch, CarPlay or Siri, a Markdown editor with tags and search. That's a narrower job than note-taking, and appending, attachments and custom styles are Plus only. |
| Ease of use | B | No store rating on record, so we go by the listing: press record and talk, from the Lock Screen or the Action Button if you like. You do have to sign in, and a note is only finished once the device is back online. |
| Platforms and integrations | C | One family of devices: iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch and CarPlay, with no Android, Windows or web version listed. The notes do travel, to Notion and Zapier on Plus, or to Obsidian and Apple Notes through the share sheet and Local Sync. |
An A is worth 4 points, a B 3, a C 2, a D 1 and an F nothing. The GPA is the average of the five.
Who Cleft is for
- Fits if you think out loud and want the ramble turned into a titled note
- Works for passing voice notes on to Notion, Obsidian or Apple Notes from Apple devices
Who it is not for
- Skip it if you use Android or Windows, as it's Apple devices only
- Tight if you're staying free and record long talks, because Basic stops at 5 minutes
- Pricey if you pay monthly, at $6.99 against $39.99 for the whole year
- Watch out: Notion and Zapier, attachments, custom styles, appending and password-protected links are Plus only
- Watch out: you must sign in, and a note recorded offline isn't finished until the device is back online
Good to know
Good for
- People who think out loud and want the ramble turned into a tidy note
- Apple users capturing ideas from a Watch, a car or the Lock Screen
- Passing voice notes on to Notion, Obsidian or Apple Notes
Worth knowing
- Apple only: the apps are for iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch and CarPlay, with no Android, Windows or web version listed.
- Basic recordings stop at 5 minutes; 30-minute recordings need Cleft Plus.
- Notion and Zapier integrations, attachments, custom styles, appending and password-protected links are Plus only.
- Sign-in is required. Recording and transcription work offline, but the note is finished once the device is back online.
Part 02 · Pricing
What it costs
Every plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
$3.33
A month to start, paid by the year. There is a free plan too
Cleft has a free plan. Paid plans start at $39.99 per year (or $6.99 billed monthly).
Basic
$0
5-minute recordings, on-device transcription, structured notes, 3 built-in output styles, tags, search and export.
Cleft Plus
$39.99
per year, or $6.99 per month billed monthly
30-minute recordings, append to existing notes, custom output styles, attachments, Notion and Zapier integrations, and Family Sharing for up to 5.
The free plan
Basic plan: recordings up to 5 minutes with on-device transcription, structured notes, 3 built-in output styles, tags, search, export, Local Sync, widgets and Siri Shortcuts.
Read from cleftnotes.com on Oct 9, 2026.
Ways to pay less
Annual discount
Save 52% with annual billing
Cleft Plus costs $6.99 a month or $39.99 a year. The pricing page labels the annual plan a 52% saving, under $3.50 a month.
Stated on cleftnotes.com
What the app costs elsewhere
Each country’s App Store price for “Monthly Plus Plan”, against $6.99 in the United States, in dollars at the day’s rate. The four cheapest and the four dearest of 11.
| Country | Price there | In dollars | Against the US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Turkey | ₺299,99 | $6.10 | 13% less |
| Philippines | ₱ 399.00 | $6.35 | 9% less |
| Indonesia | Rp 119ribu | $6.66 | about the same |
| Australia | $9.99 | $6.97 | about the same |
| Mexico | $149.00 | $8.19 | 17% more |
| Germany | 7,99 € | $8.95 | 28% more |
| South Africa | R149.99 | $9.07 | 30% more |
| United Kingdom | £6.99 | $9.24 | 32% more |
Part 03 · Features
What it does
Its main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
2
Places it runs: macOS and iOS
Voice notes turned into structured notes on Apple devices. Here is what it does, as its own site describes it, and what it covers: works offline, AI features, transcription, notes, Markdown.
That's a narrower job than note-taking, and appending, attachments and custom styles are Plus only.
- On-device transcription
- Recordings are turned into text locally on iPhone, iPad or Mac using Whisper, in 99 languages, including when the speaker switches language mid-sentence.
- Structured notes from rambles
- An AI step pulls out the main points and actions and titles the note. Three built-in styles are Structured, Structured Prose and Clean Transcript; Plus adds custom styles.
- Capture from Watch, CarPlay and Siri
- Recording can start from an Apple Watch, the CarPlay screen, the Lock Screen, Dynamic Island, Control Center, the iPhone Action Button or a Siri request.
- Send notes to other apps
- Notes go to any app through the share sheet. Local Sync writes Markdown and optional audio to a folder, and Plus adds direct Notion and Zapier integrations.
- Markdown editor, tags and search
- Notes can be edited with headings, bold, lists and code blocks, tagged by project or topic, and searched across the whole collection.
- Append and continue
- With Plus, a new recording can be added to an existing note so one topic stays in one place, and recordings can run to 30 minutes.
Where it runs
- macOS
- iOS
What it works with
- Notion
- Zapier
- Apple Notes
- Apple Reminders
- Obsidian
- Bear
- Things 3
- Todoist
Cleft is made by Cleft AI Limited.
Part 04 · Standing
Where it stands
Its grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
12/147
Other note-taking apps it is graded above
Cleft's GPA of 2.2 is higher than 12 of the 147 other note-taking apps we grade, and level with 9.
It stands best on ease of use (B, above 47 of 147) and worst on features (C, above 2).
Its paid plans start at $3.33 a month when paid by the year, against a middle price of $5.83 for the category: 19 of the 66 others that charge start lower.
On features, ease of use and platforms it scores 2.3 out of 4. 18 tools score higher and cost less.
Each grade against the category
Every bar is all 148 note-taking apps we grade, cut by the letter each got. Cleft’s own letter is outlined.
- CValue for moneyAbove 16 of 147
- CFree plan and trialAbove 7 of 147
- CFeaturesAbove 2 of 147
- BEase of useAbove 47 of 147
- CPlatforms and integrationsAbove 31 of 147
Price against what you get
Each dot is one of 103 note-taking apps. Further left costs less; higher up scores better on features, ease of use and platforms. Cleft is the marked dot.
What paid plans start at, a month (each step along is roughly double) →
Keep it, or make your own?
Whether this is something you could build for yourself with an AI app builder, and what you would give up.
Keep it
The plain part of Cleft you could make: notes and Markdown. What surrounds it you could not. The 5 things listed below take a company, not a weekend.
That makes this kind of software worth paying for, not this one in particular: 126 of the 147 other note-taking apps grade higher. It costs $39.99 a year.
What you could make
- Notes and Markdown: an app builder makes these well.
What you could not
- Speech turned into text you can trust.
- Apps for macOS and iOS that stay in step with each other.
- It plugs into other products, Notion, Zapier and Apple Notes among them.
- AI features, unless you pay a model provider for each request yourself.
- Hooks into the device itself: an Apple Watch app, Siri, the lock screen and CarPlay.
What this rests on. Cleft’s listing: what it does, where it runs, what it plugs into and what it costs. It is a judgement about the kind of software this is. We have not built a replacement for it, and making your own means looking after it too. How we decide, and every tool’s verdict.
Part 05 · Alternatives
The alternatives
The tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
AudioPen, Whisper Memos, Talknotes, Voicenotes and Letterly
The 5 tools Cleft is most often weighed against, with where each one differs from it.
- 2.6GPA
AudioPen
Free plan · from $33/mo
Voice notes rewritten into clear text in a chosen style.
- Only AudioPen lists a web app.
- Only AudioPen lists Windows and Android apps.
- Only AudioPen lists a browser extension.
- 1.8GPA
Whisper Memos
Free trial · from $5.83/mo
Voice memos transcribed and emailed from iPhone or Apple Watch.
- Cleft has a free plan. Whisper Memos does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only Cleft lists a macOS app.
- Cleft also covers Markdown.
- 1.8GPA
Talknotes
Free trial · from $197/yr
AI voice notes that turn recordings into formatted text.
- Cleft has a free plan. Talknotes does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only Cleft lists a macOS app.
- Only Talknotes lists a web app.
- 3.0GPA
Voicenotes
Free plan · from $9/mo
Bot-free AI notetaker for meetings, memos and dictation.
- Only Voicenotes lists a web app.
- Only Voicenotes lists Windows and Android apps.
- Only Voicenotes lists a browser extension.
- 3.0GPA
Letterly
Free trial · from $19.99/mo
Voice notes and dictation that rewrite speech into finished text.
- Cleft has a free plan. Letterly does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only Letterly lists a web app.
- Only Letterly lists Windows and Android apps.
Part 06 · Questions
Quick answers
The questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
14
Questions, each answered in a line or two
The short version of everything above, for when you only need the answer. Each one is told in full in its part of the guide.
Is Cleft free?
Cleft has a free plan. Basic plan: recordings up to 5 minutes with on-device transcription, structured notes, 3 built-in output styles, tags, search, export, Local Sync, widgets and Siri Shortcuts.
How much does Cleft cost?
Cleft lists 2 plans. Basic: $0.
What platforms does Cleft work on?
Cleft is available on iOS and macOS.
Does Cleft offer any discounts?
Cleft publicly lists the following: Save 52% with annual billing.
Does Cleft have an Android app?
No Android app was listed when its pages were read on Oct 9, 2026. Cleft is listed for iOS and macOS.
Does Cleft have a Windows app?
No Windows app was listed when its pages were read on Oct 9, 2026. Cleft is listed for iOS and macOS.
Is Cleft open source?
Cleft is not described as open source on its own site, as read on Oct 9, 2026.
Does Cleft work offline?
Yes, according to its own site. What works without a connection differs by plan and platform, so check the vendor's page for the detail.
What does Cleft integrate with?
Cleft's listing names Notion, Zapier, Apple Notes, Apple Reminders, Obsidian, Bear, Things 3 and Todoist.
Who makes Cleft?
Cleft is made by Cleft AI Limited.
What are the alternatives to Cleft?
The closest alternatives to Cleft in our directory are AudioPen, Whisper Memos, Talknotes, Voicenotes and Letterly.
How does Cleft compare with other note-taking apps?
Cleft's GPA of 2.2 is higher than 12 of the 147 other note-taking apps we grade, and level with 9.
Is Cleft good value for money?
ToolGPA grades Cleft C for value for money. Its paid plans start at $3.33 a month when paid by the year, against a middle price of $5.83 for the category: 19 of the 66 others that charge start lower.
Could I make my own version of Cleft?
The plain part of Cleft you could make: notes and Markdown. What surrounds it you could not.
Where this guide comes from
The prices, plans, platforms and features were read from Cleft’s own pages on Oct 9, 2026, and the grades were given on Oct 10, 2026. Graded from this listing, whose facts were read from Cleft's own pages on 9 October 2026. Also tested with a demo account on 2026-03-26.
Every tool we list gets five grades, A to F, each with its reason, and a GPA that averages them. How each is decided is at toolgpa.com/grades. This guide is ToolGPA’s own work; it is not made, paid for or approved by Cleft AI Limited. Prices change, so check cleftnotes.com before you buy.
Part 07 · About
About ToolGPA
Who made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
3,189
Tools graded, in 94 categories
ToolGPA grades software the way a school report grades a pupil: five subjects, a letter for each with the reason written beside it, and a GPA that averages them. Prices, plans and platforms are read from each maker’s own pages and dated, so you always know how fresh a figure is.
Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. Every tool on the site has a guide like this one, free to download and pass on. It all lives at toolgpa.com.
3,189
tools graded
94
categories
426
price changes on record
579
apps priced in 12 countries
What else is on toolgpa.com
- Cleft, kept up to dateEverything in this guide, with prices and grades as they are todaytoolgpa.com/tools/cleft
- How grades are givenThe rules behind every letter and every GPAtoolgpa.com/grades
- Value chartsWhat each tool costs against what it scores, for every categorytoolgpa.com/charts
- CompareAny two tools side by side, plan by plantoolgpa.com/compare
- Price changesEvery price rise and cut on record, each with its sourcetoolgpa.com/price-changes
- Prices by countryWhat apps cost on the App Store in 12 countriestoolgpa.com/prices-by-country
- Pay lessEvery public discount: yearly billing, students, nonprofitstoolgpa.com/save
- Keep or makeWhich tools are worth paying for, and which you could build yourselftoolgpa.com/keep-or-make
Scan for the live page
Prices and grades as they are today
Quoting this guide?
Please name ToolGPA and link to the live page, so readers can check the figures for themselves:
ToolGPA, "Cleft: The Insider's Guide", checked Oct 9, 2026. https://toolgpa.com/tools/cleft
Know someone choosing between note-taking apps?
Send them this guide: toolgpa.com/tools/cleft/guide
ToolGPA elsewhere: youtube.com/@toolgpa
See our other guides
The best-graded note-taking apps after Cleft, each with an Insider's Guide of its own.
- Note-Taking Apps Insider's GuideEvery one of the 148 note-taking apps we grade, compared
- Microsoft OneNote Insider's GuideMicrosoft's free digital notebook for typed, inked and audio notes3.8 GPA
- Goodnotes Insider's GuideHandwritten notes, PDF markup and whiteboards with an AI assistant3.6 GPA
- Joplin Insider's GuideOpen source Markdown notes with sync through a service you choose3.6 GPA
Choosing software? Every tool graded, every price dated.
Compare tools at toolgpa.com ›Everything in this guide is ToolGPA’s own summary of what Cleft’s pages, its app-store listings and public reviews said on the dates shown. Grades are our judgement under the rules at toolgpa.com/grades. Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. Cleft is a trademark of its owner, and this guide is not made, paid for or approved by Cleft AI Limited. Prices and plans change: check cleftnotes.com before you buy.