Reflect

Reflect is a note-taking tool built around linked notes and daily notes. It keeps notes as local Markdown files in a folder the user chooses, supports sync through iCloud Drive or Git, and offers a Chrome extension on Mac for capturing links, text, and screenshots. Reflect Open is open source and free on Mac, while the iPhone and iPad apps are paid subscriptions. An optional AI assistant can answer questions with links to notes, summarize text, and improve writing, but requires the user's own API key and AI usage is billed separately by the provider. Notes marked private are excluded from AI note access.

Key features

• Open-source Mac app (Reflect Open) that is free
• Daily notes
• Backlinks and a graph of networked notes
• Local Markdown files stored in a user-chosen folder
• Sync via iCloud Drive or Git
• iPhone and iPad apps for capturing ideas online or offline
• Web clips and audio memos
• Search and indexing of past notes
• Chrome extension on Mac for capturing links, text, and screenshots
• Optional AI assistant that answers with links to notes, summarizes text, and improves writing, using your own API key
• Private notes excluded from AI note access
• Save custom AI prompts
• Free Reflect Classic import without changing originals

Best suited for

• Personal note-taking and journaling
• Connecting ideas through backlinked notes
• Researchers and readers saving web clips and sources
• Users who want notes stored as local Markdown files
• Writers doing long-form writing and reflection
• Knowledge workers logging meeting and reading takeaways

Pricing

Reflect Open on Mac is free with no subscription required. iPhone and iPad apps require a paid subscription; local pricing is shown on the App Store. Optional AI requires your own API key, with provider charges separate.