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SPECIFICTION
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Cleft

cleftnotes.com

From $3.33/mo Free plan macOSiOS
Visit cleftnotes.com
Spec score 8.3 #10 of 34 in Voice Note Apps

What it is

Cleft is an iOS and macOS app that turns spoken thoughts into notes with main points, actions, summaries, and transcripts. Its built-in output styles are Structured, Structured Prose, and Clean Transcript; Plus users can also save custom styles. Cleft says it works offline and supports 99 languages, including switching languages mid-sentence. Transcription runs locally using Whisper, and temporary audio is deleted afterward unless Keep Audio is enabled. Optional cloud formatting sends transcript text, not audio, to OpenAI, with Groq as a backup. Cleft lists support for iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch, and CarPlay. Its Basic plan includes recordings up to five minutes, on-device transcription, tags, search, and export. Plus raises the recording limit to 30 minutes and adds attachments, Notion and Zapier integrations, and Family Sharing for up to five. Plus costs $6.99 per month or $39.99 per year through the App Store, with automatic renewal unless canceled. Cleft says notes are encrypted at rest and in transit.

Spec sheet

What it does
Cleft captures spoken thoughts and turns them into structured notes with main points, actions, summaries, and transcripts.Read 29 Sep 2026 · cleftnotes.com
Intended users
The founders describe Cleft as built by neurodivergent founders for people whose thoughts move faster than they can type, with a focus on capture before organization.Read 29 Sep 2026 · cleftnotes.com
Integrations
Plus sends notes to Notion and Zapier, while export and Local Sync support workflows including Apple Notes, Obsidian, Bear, NotePlan, Drafts, Ulysses, and Logseq.Read 29 Sep 2026 · cleftnotes.com
Security
Cleft says notes are encrypted at rest with AES-256-GCM and in transit with TLS 1.2 or higher, and cloud data is hosted in Ireland under a zero-access architecture.Read 29 Sep 2026 · cleftnotes.com
Support
Plus includes priority support, and the About page says every email is read personally by co-founders Jonathan or Justin.Read 29 Sep 2026 · cleftnotes.com
Headquarters
Dublin, IrelandRead 23 Sep 2026 · cleftnotes.com
Apple device support
Cleft lists iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch, and CarPlay support; its download link goes to the Apple App Store.Read 29 Sep 2026 · cleftnotes.com
Cloud processing
Optional cloud formatting sends transcript text, not audio, to OpenAI with Groq as a backup; the page says provider agreements prohibit training on customer content.Read 29 Sep 2026 · cleftnotes.com
Notable limits
Basic recordings are limited to 5 minutes and Plus recordings to 30 minutes; Plus custom AI instructions are limited to 500 characters.Read 29 Sep 2026 · cleftnotes.com
Offline and languages
Cleft says it works offline and supports 99 languages, including switching languages mid-sentence.Read 29 Sep 2026 · cleftnotes.com
Output styles
Built-in styles are Structured, Structured Prose, and Clean Transcript; Plus can save custom output styles.Read 29 Sep 2026 · cleftnotes.com
Privacy and compliance
The Trust Center says users own their notes, transcripts, and audio, that content is not used for AI training or sold, and names GDPR, CCPA, and the EU AI Act in its compliance statement.Read 29 Sep 2026 · cleftnotes.com
Transcription and audio
Voice transcription runs locally using Whisper, and Cleft says audio is never sent to its servers or third parties; temporary audio is deleted after transcription unless Keep Audio is enabled.Read 29 Sep 2026 · cleftnotes.com

Plans and prices

Basic Free 5 minute recordings · 3 built-in output styles · on-device transcription · tags, search & export Read 29 Sep 2026 · cleftnotes.com
Cleft Plus (monthly) $6.99 a month Billed through the App Store; renews automatically unless canceled. 30 minute recordings · 500 characters custom instructions · attachments · Notion & Zapier integrations · Family Sharing (up to 5) Read 29 Sep 2026 · cleftnotes.com
Cleft Plus (annual) $39.99 a year Billed through the App Store; renews automatically unless canceled. 30 minute recordings · 500 characters custom instructions · attachments · Notion & Zapier integrations · Family Sharing (up to 5) Read 29 Sep 2026 · cleftnotes.com

Every Cleft plan and price →

Strong points and limits

Strong points

  • Works offline and supports 99 languages
  • Transcription runs locally using Whisper
  • Basic includes search, tags, and export
  • Plus includes Notion and Zapier integrations

Limits

  • Basic recordings are limited to five minutes
  • Plus recordings are limited to 30 minutes
  • Plus renews automatically unless canceled

Who it suits

Cleft suits people who want to capture spoken thoughts before organizing them, including those whose thoughts move faster than they can type. It may also fit users who need offline recording or support for many languages.

Verdict

Cleft pairs offline voice capture with structured note formats and local transcription. Basic has a five-minute recording cap; Plus costs $6.99 per month or $39.99 per year and raises it to 30 minutes.

Where Specifiction places it

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