Cleft Notes appeals to Mac users who want a simple, native meeting transcription app. It’s lightweight, runs locally, and captures system audio without joining meetings as a bot. But its simplicity becomes a limitation for professionals who need more than basic transcription. No mobile app means no access to notes on the go. No cloud sync means files stay on one Mac. No AI analysis means you’re reading raw transcripts instead of getting actionable summaries. This is why professionals are searching for a cleft notes alternative. This guide compares Cleft Notes to ScreenApp’s Mac app, showing why an integrated platform delivers more value.
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Download ScreenApp for Mac. Unlike Cleft Notes, ScreenApp syncs to iPhone, adds AI summaries, and turns your meetings into searchable, actionable content.
Download on Mac App StoreCleft Notes vs ScreenApp Comparison 2026
| Criteria | Cleft Notes | ScreenApp |
|---|---|---|
| Core Function | Mac meeting transcription | All-in-one content platform |
| Mobile App | No | Yes - iPhone app included |
| Cloud Sync | No - local only | Yes - Mac, iPhone, web |
| AI Summaries | No | Yes - automatic extraction |
| Bot-Free Recording | Yes | Yes |
| Team Features | No | Yes - shared workspaces |
What is Cleft Notes?
Cleft Notes is a native Mac application designed for meeting transcription. It captures system audio from Zoom, Teams, Google Meet, and other platforms without joining as a visible bot. The app focuses on doing one thing well: turning meeting audio into text on your Mac.
Cleft Notes strengths:
- Native Mac app with clean interface
- Bot-free meeting capture
- One-time purchase option
- Simple, focused design
Cleft Notes limitations:
- Mac only - no iPhone or iPad app
- No cloud sync between devices
- No AI analysis or summaries
- No team collaboration features
- Limited export options
Why Users Search for Cleft Notes Alternatives
1. No Mobile Access
After a meeting on your Mac, you might want to review notes on your iPhone during lunch or on the commute home. Cleft Notes keeps everything on your Mac with no way to access transcripts from mobile devices.
2. Missing AI Intelligence
Cleft Notes produces raw transcripts. You read through everything to find key points. ScreenApp adds AI summaries, action item extraction, and the ability to ask questions like “What was the decision on pricing?” across your entire meeting library.
3. Single Device Limitation
Work happens across devices. Record on your desktop Mac, but what about when you’re at a coffee shop with your laptop? Or reviewing from your iPad? ScreenApp syncs everything automatically.
4. No Team Sharing
Sharing Cleft Notes transcripts means exporting files and sending manually. ScreenApp lets you share meeting notes with team members who can access them from their own accounts with proper permissions.
Top Cleft Notes Alternatives for Mac
1. ScreenApp (Best All-in-One)
ScreenApp offers what Cleft Notes users want: native Mac recording with bot-free capture, plus iPhone access, cloud sync, AI summaries, and team features. One platform handles the complete meeting workflow.
Best for: Professionals who need cross-device access and AI intelligence
2. Granola AI
Granola focuses on AI-enhanced meeting notes with a polished Mac app. No recording or audio storage - only generates notes. More AI polish than Cleft Notes but different approach.
Best for: Users who want AI notes without keeping recordings
3. Otter.ai
Otter provides real-time transcription with cloud sync and mobile apps. Less native Mac feel but strong collaboration features for teams.
Best for: Teams needing real-time shared transcription
4. Fireflies.ai
Fireflies joins meetings as a bot but offers robust integrations with CRMs and project tools. Different philosophy than Cleft Notes but more automation.
Best for: Sales teams wanting CRM integration
5. MacWhisper
MacWhisper runs Whisper locally for transcription but requires separate recording. Similar local-first philosophy to Cleft Notes with different workflow.
Best for: Users who already have a recording workflow
ScreenApp vs Cleft Notes: Feature Deep Dive
Cross-Device Experience
Cleft Notes: Mac only. Transcripts live on your Mac.
ScreenApp: Record on Mac, review on iPhone, search from web. Everything syncs automatically between devices.
AI Intelligence
Cleft Notes: Raw transcript text.
ScreenApp: Automatic summaries, action items, key decisions. Ask questions across all your meetings: “When did we discuss the Q2 budget?”
Team Collaboration
Cleft Notes: Export and email files manually.
ScreenApp: Share meeting links with teammates. They access from their own accounts with permissions you control.
Recording Quality
Cleft Notes: System audio capture, bot-free.
ScreenApp: Same bot-free approach plus audio optimization and speaker identification with trainable voice profiles.
FAQ
Is Cleft Notes free?
Cleft Notes offers a free tier with limitations and paid plans for full features. ScreenApp also has a free tier with generous limits.
Why choose ScreenApp over Cleft Notes?
ScreenApp adds what Cleft Notes lacks: iPhone app, cloud sync, AI summaries, and team sharing. Both capture meetings bot-free on Mac, but ScreenApp extends the value across your full workflow.
Does ScreenApp work without bots?
Yes. Like Cleft Notes, ScreenApp captures system audio directly without joining meetings as a participant. No one sees a recording bot.
Can I import Cleft Notes transcripts?
Yes. Export transcripts from Cleft Notes and upload to ScreenApp for AI analysis, searchability, and mobile access to your historical notes.
Which has better transcription accuracy?
Both achieve similar accuracy (90-95%) for clear audio. ScreenApp adds speaker identification and AI processing that makes transcripts more useful.
Is ScreenApp Mac-native?
Yes. ScreenApp runs as a native Mac app in your menu bar, plus offers iPhone and web access. The Mac experience is fully native, not a web wrapper.
