Dev logbuild-in-public
How Cleft's transcription got fast, private, and accurate
Cleft has transcribed your voice on-device since the first builds; the cloud only handled the summary step. Why we chose that early, and how we made it fast.
Cleft / Journal
Journal
Product notes, release stories, and build logs from the team shaping Cleft.
Listen to the Speak Easy podcastDev logbuild-in-public
Bringing Cleft to the car
CarPlay is the most constrained surface we've shipped: no screen, templated controls, and signal you can lose at speed. How those limits shaped the feature.
Release notesvoice-notes-that-work-product-updates
Cleft 1.13 | Think While You Drive
Record a voice note while you drive. With CarPlay you can capture a thought, save it in a tap, and start the next one, all without reaching for your phone.
Dev logbuild-in-public
Quieter under the hood: a quarter spent on reliability
1.12 through 1.12.3 added almost no new buttons on purpose. We spent the quarter making the app you already use harder to break.
Release notesvoice-notes-that-work-product-updates
Cleft 1.12.3 | Quieter Under the Hood
Your notes just got tougher. Edits save themselves, failed notes tell you why, and Apple Watch recordings find their way to your phone even out of range.
Release notesvoice-notes-that-work-product-updates
Cleft 1.12.2 | Never Miss a Word
Switch your AirPods, plug in a USB mic, connect a Bluetooth headset. Your recording keeps going. Your full recording, every time.
Release notesvoice-notes-that-work-product-updates
Cleft 1.12.1 | Built to Last
No new buttons to find, just a tougher, more accurate version of what you already rely on. Better transcription, quiet recordings, and cleaner code blocks.
Release notesvoice-notes-that-work-product-updates
Cleft 1.12 | Polish Edition
Nothing new to learn, just a better version of what you use: pick your date format, search faster on Mac, plus stability fixes across iOS, Mac, and Watch.
Dev logbuild-in-public
Recording that survives the real world
The hard part of a voice app is clean audio on real devices that connect late, switch mid-sentence, and drop calls. Here's how we made recording survive that.
Release notesvoice-notes-that-work-product-updates
Cleft 1.11 | Liquid Fast Edition
Speed is the feature. We rebuilt how sync works, how the notebook engine performs, and how fast your note is ready after recording. Still entirely on-device.
Release notesvoice-notes-that-work-product-updates
Cleft 1.10.3 | Rock-Solid Reliability
We caught a few issues from the last release. This one makes things right. Your recordings are safe and the app stays rock-solid.
Release notesvoice-notes-that-work-product-updates
Cleft 1.10.2 | Better Audio, Smoother Sync
Quiet recordings come through clearer, you can see a recording without unlocking, and you feel when things happen. Plenty of goodies to start the new year.
Dev logbuild-in-public
Rebuilding sync so your notes just show up
People wanted a black hole to dump a thought into and trust it synced everywhere. Sync had drifted from that, so for 1.10.1 we rebuilt the sync layer.
Release notesvoice-notes-that-work-product-updates
Cleft 1.10.1 | A Notes App That Really Works
We're back to shipping fast. A rebuilt sync layer fixes race conditions and edge cases: your audio stays local, and notes sync across Mac and phone instantly.
Dev logbuild-in-public
Liquid Speech: opening up native Apple transcription for Flutter
Justin published Liquid Speech: an MIT-licensed Flutter package for Apple's native SpeechAnalyzer API that still compiles cleanly on older iOS and macOS.
Dev logbuild-in-public
Getting react-native-skia to build for Mac Catalyst
react-native-skia wouldn't compile for Mac Catalyst during an early Cleft build. I revived a stalled community fix and got it merged upstream in v2.3.0.
Release notesvoice-notes-that-work-product-updates
Cleft 1.10 is Landing - Spotlighting Your Thought Process
Cleft 1.10 is live on Mac, iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch. Capture from your wrist, jump in through Spotlight Search, and feel the improved speed throughout.
Release notesvoice-notes-that-work-product-updates
Cleft 1.9: Enhanced Audio Handling and Push Notifications
Cleft 1.9 makes recording smoother whatever you're plugged into: switch mics mid-thought, see which one is live, and get a heads up when you're interrupted.
Articlesproductivity
Beyond the Whiteboard: How Voice Memos Upgrade the Modern Consultant's Experience
Brilliant insights strike anytime. Do not let them slip away. Capture, organize, and act with Cleft, the ultimate tool for seamless consulting workflows.
Release notesvoice-notes-that-work-product-updates
Cleft 1.8: Notion Integration, Enhanced Recording Experience, and UI Improvements
Cleft 1.8 is here! 🚀 Notion integration, smarter recordings, sleek UI, & offline upgrades make voice-first note-taking better than ever. Update now! 🎉
Articlesproductivity
Voice-Powered Creative Direction: Streamlining Agency Ideation
Lost in feedback docs? Capture ideas instantly and keep the spark alive with voice-powered creative direction, transforming your workflow with Cleft!
Articlesproductivity
The Executive's Guide to Context Switching: Using Voice Notes for Dual-Role Success
Conquer context-switching! Capture insights on the go with Cleft. Save hours, boost clarity, and thrive across roles. Start your transformation today!
Articlesproductivity
From Chaos to Clarity: How Top Operators Use Voice Notes to Build Better Systems
Voice-first documentation that scales: capture processes, share insights, and build smarter operating systems in real time, without the time-wasting busywork.
Articlesvoice-notes-that-work-how-to-use-cleft
Elevating Your ADHD Coaching Experience with Cleft
ADHD coaches love Cleft for capturing post-session insights and planning strategies. Built for neurodivergent minds, trusted by coaching professionals.
Articlesvoice-notes-that-work-how-to-use-cleft
Your First Day with Cleft: Speak Your Mind, Capture Anywhere
Your best ideas don't wait for a keyboard. Cleft turns voice into organized notes, so you can capture thoughts on walks, commutes, or wherever they strike.
Articlesvoice-notes-that-work-product-updates
Cleft Wrapped 2024 | Looking Back on our First Year Thinking Out Loud
A look back at Cleft's first year, from our March beta launch to December's Notion integration, and how we grew to serve a community of voice-first thinkers.
Fast Company
The 25 Best New Apps of 2024
Featured in annual best apps roundup
The Generalist
The Generalist Gift Guide
Featured as top productivity tool recommendation
Release notesvoice-notes-that-work-product-updates
Cleft 1.6 is Live: More Power, More Value
What's new: Family Sharing is here, the annual price drops to $39/year (was $89, a 56% cut), plus Plus Plan updates and bug fixes. Try Cleft today.
Release notesvoice-notes-that-work-product-updates
Cleft 1.7: Family Sharing, Custom Instructions, and Friendlier Pricing
Cleft 1.7 brings Apple Family Sharing, Custom Instructions for Plus, and a big price drop. Share one subscription, and shape every note your way.
Articlesvoice-notes-that-work-product-updates
🎉 Cyber Monday Exclusive: Our Black Friday Deal is Extended!
🎉 Missed Black Friday? Our Cyber Monday deal is here! Get Cleft Plus for $29/year (save $60). Offer ends tonight at midnight EST! Claim now!
Articlesvoice-notes-that-work-product-updates
November at Cleft
Black Friday deals, Apple Intelligence integration, and new Speak Easy episodes. Secret project for writers coming soon. Vote for us in Upgradies!
Articlesvoice-notes-that-work-product-updates
🚀 Cleft’s Black Friday Exclusive: Save $60. Act Fast!
🎉 Save $60 on Cleft Plus! Get it for $29.99/year during our first-ever Black Friday sale. Offer ends Nov 29 at midnight EST. Claim now!
Release notesvoice-notes-that-work-product-updates
Cleft + Apple Intelligence is Live
Cleft now works with Apple Intelligence. Transform notes with smart summaries, idea expansion, and contextual suggestions: your thinking partner is here.
Anna Burgess Yang
How to Use Voice Apps to Capture Ideas
Comprehensive guide featuring Cleft's approach to voice capture
New Solo
Legal Tech Secrets: Voice Notes for Lawyers
How voice notes are transforming legal documentation (32:15)
Release notesvoice-notes-that-work-product-updates
Cleft for macOS has moved to the App Store (1.4 Release)
Cleft 1.4 is available. Cleft for macOS has moved to the Mac App Store. New features, fixes, and monthly updates.
The 80/20 Lawyer
If You Have an iPhone, Check This
How lawyers are using Cleft for legal documentation
Release notesvoice-notes-that-work-product-updates
Cleft 1.1: Share Your Ideas Instantly with Auto-Copy to Clipboard! 📋✨
Cleft 1.1 adds auto-copy to share a note in one tap, plus password-protected shared links (Plus), account detail updates on iOS and macOS, and more.
Designer Daily Report
Voice-first design patterns for productivity apps
Cleft featured in Designer Daily Report.
Release notesvoice-notes-that-work-product-updates
Cleft is now Live on the App Store
Cleft is now officially on the App Store. Download the voice-first notebook that turns your spoken thoughts into clean, structured notes.
Release notesvoice-notes-that-work-product-updates
Cleft Beta Release 18 - Your Thoughts, Amplified!
Add recordings to an existing note in a tap, update account details on Mac, get tidier line breaks, plus fixes for iOS 18 recording and the Obsidian plugin.
Anna Burgess Yang
AI Tools for Solopreneurs (That Are Actually Useful)
Featured in productivity tools roundup
Release notesvoice-notes-that-work-product-updates
What we shipped in June and July
It has been 140 days since we shipped the first public build of Cleft - check out what we shipped in the Cleft beta over the summer!
DailyTekk
The BEST NEW APPS for iPad, Mac, iPhone
Featured review of Cleft's voice-first approach
8-bit Growth
Milking your content
How Cleft transforms voice into structured content
Release notesvoice-notes-that-work-product-updates
Cleft Beta Release 17 | Audio Notifications have Arrived
Now live in Cleft: Audio notifications are live and we've made a LOT of quality of life improvements. Mac build 29, iPhone and iPad build 68.
The Data Café
Voice-First Note Taking
Exploring how Cleft is changing the way we capture ideas (15:20)
Lifehacker
Cleft Is an AI-Powered Voice Notes App for Your iPhone and Mac
Comprehensive review
Release notesvoice-notes-that-work-product-updates
Cleft Beta Release 16 | Edit Notes Offline and Auto-Detect Language are Live
Now live in Cleft: Edit notes offline and auto-detect language is now live. Mac build 28, iPhone and iPad build 67.
Articlesvoice-notes-that-work-product-updates
Blog Post: Cleft Launch
Cleft launches: an audio-first notebook built for the neurodiverse, with privacy at its core and a voice-first design that helps everyone capture ideas.
Articlesvoice-notes-that-work-how-to-use-cleft
How to get started with Cleft
A getting-started guide to Cleft: sign up, download the app, record your first voice note, and turn spoken thoughts into clean, structured text in seconds.
Liquidmatrix Security Digest
Voice Note Security & Privacy
Deep dive into Cleft's approach to secure voice notes (28:45)
Release notesvoice-notes-that-work-product-updates
Cleft Beta Release 15 | Regenerate notes and Silent Mode are Live!
Now live in Cleft: Regenerate notes, silent-mode has arrived and a brand new audio player on iPhone. Mac build 27, iPhone and iPad build 61.
Release notesvoice-notes-that-work-product-updates
Cleft Beta Release 14 | iPad Interface update and Monthly Plans are now live
Now live in Cleft: Monthly plans, iPad interface update and upgraded recording times for basic plans (from 3 to 5 minutes). Mac build 26, iOS build 56.
Release notesvoice-notes-that-work-product-updates
Cleft Release 13: Duplicate and Merge Notes
Now live in Cleft: Duplicate and merge notes, updated recording times, multi-select mode, journal prompts library. iOS Build 52, Mac OS Build 25.
Release notesvoice-notes-that-work-product-updates
Beta Release #12 | Tags Upgrades & Search/Filter by Tags
Now live in Cleft: Tags Upgrades plus a faster Search and Filter by Tags, so any note is a tap away. iOS Build 50, macOS Build 24.
Release notesvoice-notes-that-work-product-updates
What We Shipped in Cleft in May
Seventy-one days after Cleft's first public build, here is what we shipped since: new features, fixes, and improvements across iPhone, iPad, and Mac.
CustomerSuccess.cx
How AI will change CX
Featured as innovative AI transcription tool
Release notesvoice-notes-that-work-product-updates
Beta Release #11 | Archive and Tag Notes
Now live in Cleft: Manual tagging, note archiving, a revamped search filter interface and comments are live on published notes. iOS Build 47, Mac OS Build 23.
Original Mac Guy
Apps for Dictation — Comparing Whisper Memos with Cleft Notes
In-depth comparison
The Vergecast
Building the Future of Note Taking
How Cleft is reimagining productivity through voice (25:30)
Release notesvoice-notes-that-work-product-updates
Beta Release #10 | Brand New Interface and More File Formats Supported
Now live in Cleft: Brand new UI, plans are live and we upgraded our documentation. iOS Build 45, Mac OS Build 22.
Release notesvoice-notes-that-work-product-updates
GPT 4o is now live in Cleft
Now live in Cleft: OpenAI's latest model, GPT-4o, is now live and integrated with Cleft and is available to all users.
Release notesvoice-notes-that-work-product-updates
Beta Release #9 | Obsidian, 30 minute notes, add images and documents are now live
Now live in Cleft: Obsidian, 30 minute notes, add images and documents - there's a lot in this week's release. iOS Build 41, Mac OS Build 21.
TechCrunch
Buy Me a Coffee's founder has built an AI-powered voice note app
Exclusive feature on Cleft's launch
Release notesvoice-notes-that-work-how-to-use-cleft
Beta Release #8 | The Cards Interface Update
Build 39 (iOS) and 20 (Mac) is now ready to download. Now live in Cleft: actual toggle button, updated offline notes and bugs squished.
Release notesvoice-notes-that-work-product-updates
Beta Release #7 | Lots of Little Updates
Build 36 (iOS) and 19 (Mac) is now ready to download. Now live in Cleft: UI updated, offline notes update, AirPods update and lots of bugs squashed.
Release notesvoice-notes-that-work-product-updates
What We Shipped at Cleft in April
Forty days after Cleft's first public build, here is what we shipped since: the features, fixes, and improvements now live across iPhone, iPad, and Mac.
Ops+Bots
Cleft Notes is the AI app that turns your voice into action
Deep dive into voice-first productivity
Release notesvoice-notes-that-work-product-updates
Cleft Beta #6 | Offline Mode Has Arrived
Builds 31 (iOS) and 18 (Mac) are ready. New in Cleft: offline mode, pause recording, lock screen widgets, original audio download, find, and a help section.
The Sweet Setup
Cleft Notes is the Thinking Companion I Didn't Know I Needed
In-depth review
Release notesvoice-notes-that-work-product-updates
Cleft Beta #5 | Play Back Your Notes and Set the Tone
Build 25 (iOS) and 17 (Mac) is now ready to download. Now live in Cleft: Audio playback button comes to Mac and iOSCustom vocabulary and tone updates
Release notesvoice-notes-that-work-product-updates
Cleft Beta #4 | Custom AI Instructions Lands on iOS
Build 15 is now ready to download. Now live in Cleft: Custom AI instructions, auto-copy to clipboard for published notes.
Release notesvoice-notes-that-work-product-updates
Cleft Beta #3 | Plain Text and Apple Shortcuts Have Arrived
Build 13 is ready to download. Now live in Cleft: copy as plain text, a brand-new interface, and Apple Shortcuts for hands-free capture.
Department of Product
How Cleft is changing product development workflows
Cleft featured in Department of Product.
Release notesvoice-notes-that-work-product-updates
Cleft Beta #2 | Sharing and Published Notes Upgrade
Build 12 is now ready to download. Now live in Cleft: App-Switching, Published notes Audio Upgrade, Native Share Sheet, Keyboard Shortcuts.
HT Tech
Tired of taking manual notes? This AI app called 'Cleft Notes' will make your work easy
Product review
Absolute Geeks
Transform Your Voice Memos Into Polished, Shareable Notes
Comprehensive review
Dataconomy
Our 5 favorite AI voice notes apps for different purposes
Featured review
The Verge
An AI voice notes app that really works
Launch coverage
Release notesvoice-notes-that-work-product-updates
Cleft Beta #1 | Beginning to Thinking out Loud
The first public build (11) is now ready to download. Use your voice to create and share summarised notes using Cleft on your Mac or iPhone.