Reflect vs TheBrain
Reflect
reflect.appTheBrain
thebrain.comSide by side
| Figure | Reflect | TheBrain |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | $8.25/mo | $15/mo |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Free trial | — | — |
| Open source | — | — |
| Web | Yes | Yes |
| Windows | — | Yes |
| macOS | Yes | Yes |
| Linux | — | Yes |
| iOS | Yes | Yes |
| Android | — | Yes |
| API | — | Yes |
| Plans published | 4 | 16 |
| Spec score · Personal Knowledge Management Software | 8.5 (#11) | 8.1 (#21) |
| AI | Optional AI chat works with the user’s own API key, and private notes are blocked from external AI calls. | Cerebro AI can create content, search and summarize a brain, suggest links, and converse using its knowledge. |
| Headquarters | Austin, Texas, United States | Los Angeles, California, USA |
| Platforms | The maker provides downloads for macOS Apple Silicon and Intel, an iPhone and iPad app, and a Chrome extension. | TheBrain is available for Windows, Mac, Linux, iOS, Android, and through a browser client. |
| Privacy | The App Store listing says Reflect has no account, no telemetry, and no Reflect-hosted cloud service. | TheBrain says it does not sell personal information or use private synced content for advertising; Cerebro inputs may be processed by contracted AI providers to provide the feature. |
| Support | Reflect provides product documentation and a contact page through Reflect Academy. | Pro Service includes one-on-one support, while TeamBrain and Max Service include priority support. |
Plans
Reflect
- Reflect$10 a month
- Reflect OpenFree
- Reflect Pro Monthly$9.99 a month
- Reflect Pro Yearly$99 a year
TheBrain
- FreeFree
- Pro Service$15 a month
- Pro Service$180 a year
- TeamBrain$25 a month
- TeamBrain$299 a year
- Max Service$40 a month
- Max Service$479 a year
- EnterprisePriced on request
- Free AppFree
- Pro Service$15 a month
In their own words
Reflect
Reflect is a note-taking app for daily notes, linked thinking, and private AI using files you control. Reflect Open stores notes as plain Markdown in a folder you choose and maintains a rebuildable local SQLite index. Daily notes, wiki links, backlinks, and full-text search organize the collection, while optional semantic search runs on-device. Optional AI chat uses your own API key, and private notes are blocked from external AI calls. Audio memos can be transcribed through a provider key. Sync works through iCloud Drive or Git with files you own, and a Chrome extension clips web content into notes. Reflect says the app is open source; its App Store listing says there is no account, telemetry, or Reflect-hosted cloud service. It is available on web, macOS, iOS, and as a Chrome extension, with note sharing and integrations including Zapier, Readwise, Google Calendar, Outlook, Kindle, Chrome, and Safari. The annual Reflect plan starts at $10/user/mo; Reflect Open is a free download with in-app purchases available.
TheBrain
TheBrain organizes notes, files, links, projects, and AI in a visual network of connected thoughts. Its views include Card View, Mind Map, and Tree View, with graph navigation and backlinks for following relationships. Cerebro AI can create content, search and summarize a brain, suggest links, and converse using its knowledge. Windows, Mac, and Linux users can keep brains on their devices without cloud sync; the software is also available for iOS, Android, and the web. The Free App costs nothing and allows unlimited thoughts, links, and brains, but cloud sync is limited to 1,000 thoughts and 100 MB of synced attachment storage, with limited daily AI. Pro Service costs $15 a month, billed $180 / year, and adds unlimited private sync, 30 GB online storage, Cerebro AI, and one-on-one support. TeamBrain costs $25 a month, billed $299 per person / year; Max Service costs $40 a month, billed $479 / year. A local API supports scripts and external tools.