Reflect Problems & Issues
AppNetworked note-taking app with daily notes, backlinks and AI
Should you use Reflect?
Try with cautionReflect works for some teams, but users report recurring problems (score 60/100). Most reported issues: Reflect Classic vs Reflect Open: which one should I use?; Does Reflect have an Android app?; Why is Reflect so expensive for a notes app?. Not a good fit for: Android users; Teams needing collaboration; Users who need tables and rich documents. Users most often switch to Obsidian, Logseq, Capacities.
Top problems
- Reflect Classic vs Reflect Open: which one should I use?
- Does Reflect have an Android app?
- Why is Reflect so expensive for a notes app?
Good for
- Daily journalers on Mac and iPhone
- Meeting-heavy professionals
- Markdown and local-first fans
Avoid if you are
- Android users
- Teams needing collaboration
- Users who need tables and rich documents
Common alternatives: Obsidian, Logseq, Capacities
Score breakdown
A fast, pleasant daily-notes app with good backlinks, voice transcription and AI, but the 2026 split into a maintenance-only Classic app and a beta Reflect Open app, iOS-only mobile, weak export and premium pricing make it a cautious pick.
Overview
Reflect (Reflect Notes) is a note-taking app built around daily notes, backlinks, calendar-linked meeting notes and AI help. In July 2026 the team launched Reflect Open, a free, open-source, local-first Mac app that stores notes as Markdown files synced via iCloud Drive or Git, while the original subscription app (now called Reflect Classic) stays in maintenance mode. It suits Apple users who journal daily and link ideas; Android users and teams are poorly served.
Reflect Not Working? Common Errors & Fixes
Step-by-step fixes for the errors users hit most.
Reflect Forgot Password: Can't Decrypt Notes
In Reflect Classic your password is the encryption key, so it can't simply be reset by email. If any device is still logged in, change the password there or generate a recovery kit on iOS. Otherwise look for the password in Chrome or macOS Keychain, or find the reflect-recovery-kit file from sign-up.
Reflect Open Import Failed
Importing a Reflect Classic export into Reflect Open can fail when the export has more than 1000 images with the same file name (like image.png). The importer runs out of numbered names. Export with the 'Reflect Open' format, import into a fresh graph, and ask on Discord if a large graph still fails.
Reflect Open Not Syncing With Reflect Classic
This is by design: Reflect Open and Reflect Classic are separate apps, and importing creates a one-time copy. Edits made after the import don't sync between them. Re-export and re-import to bring later Classic changes over, then work in one app only.
Reflect Open High CPU With iCloud (fileproviderd)
Early Reflect Open builds (around 0.10.0) made macOS fileproviderd use about 200% CPU while an iCloud-backed graph was open. The bug was fixed in September 2026, so updating Reflect Open is the fix. Restarting fileproviderd helps only temporarily.
Reflect Open GitHub Sync Slow on iPhone ('Needs Attention')
Reflect Open's iOS GitHub sync is a known weak spot. The 'Syncing' badge can hang for about 30 seconds, and a 'Needs attention' warning appears without details. The team is still working on it, so iCloud Drive is the more reliable option on iPhone.
Reflect Semantic Search 'Couldn't Load the Model' Error
When you enable semantic search in Reflect Open, it downloads a model file (model.onnx). The error 'invalid peer certificate: unknown issuer' usually means a corporate proxy or security tool such as Zscaler is intercepting HTTPS. Try a home network or ask IT to allow the download.
Reflect Calendar Events Not Showing
If events don't appear next to your daily note, the account usually wasn't fully authorised (Google's permission checkboxes are easy to miss), the calendar isn't selected in preferences, or iCloud was added without an app-specific password. Reconnect the account under Preferences > Connections.
Reflect Kindle Highlights Not Syncing
Reflect's Kindle sync runs through its Chrome extension every five hours and works only with US Amazon stores. If highlights don't arrive, make sure the extension is installed and you're logged in to Amazon in Chrome. Users report that reinstalling the extension fixed it.
Reflect Audio Memo Transcription Not Working
Reflect transcribes audio memos with Whisper in the background, and the text appears in your daily note after a few minutes. If it doesn't, update the desktop app to version 2.0.5 or later and restart your computer, which Reflect says clears a permission issue. On Mac, raw recordings are cached so you can recover them.
Reflect Markdown Export Missing Images
Reflect Classic's Markdown export keeps images as remote links instead of bundling the files, and hashed file names can break internal links. To get a clean copy with attachments, export in the 'Reflect Open' format, import it into Reflect Open, and use the resulting folder of Markdown files.
Reflect AI Not Working
In Reflect Classic, AI stops when you hit the daily cap (10k tokens on free accounts, 100k on paid ones). Adding your own OpenAI or Anthropic API key removes the cap, but it needs separate API billing. In Reflect Open, AI only works with your own key, entered on every device.
Reflect Open Blank Window on Mac
Reflect Open shows a blank window on macOS 12 because older WebKit (before Safari 16.4) can't render the app. The App Store lists macOS 13 or later as a requirement. Update macOS, or keep using Reflect Classic on older Macs.
Signals & Issues
Patterns extracted from real user feedback — not raw reviews.
In July 2026 Reflect launched Reflect Open, a separate local-first, open-source app, and moved new development there. Classic only gets maintenance and bug fixes. Moving makes a one-way copy, and later edits don't sync between the two apps. Integrations, AI conversations, note history and published URLs don't carry over.
Open's GitHub issue tracker shows real sync pain. An iCloud graph pinned macOS fileproviderd at about 200% CPU (fixed September 2026). iOS GitHub sync hangs for up to 30 seconds and shows a vague 'Needs attention' warning. An external-change conflict could silently discard unsaved edits.
No. Reflect has never shipped a native Android app. Classic users on Android can only use the web app in a browser. Reflect Open lists Android as out of scope, with no release date. Reviewers flag the missing Android app more consistently than any other con.
On iOS, Classic lacked in-note search, suggested backlinks and calendar events. AI chat on mobile and desktop-style search on mobile are still 'in progress' on the public roadmap. Reflect Open's iPhone app is a TestFlight beta, and the team says it may lack desktop features.
Reviewers say Reflect Classic costs about $10/month billed annually ($120/year), with no permanent free plan, and call that steep next to the free Obsidian and Logseq. Reflect Open is free on Mac, but the iPhone/iPad app lists Reflect Pro at $9.99/month or $99/year. AI in Open also requires your own paid API key.
Classic's built-in AI is capped at 10k tokens/day on free accounts and 100k tokens/day on paid accounts. Going past that needs your own OpenAI or Anthropic API key with separate billing. In Reflect Open, AI only works with your own key (OpenAI, Anthropic, Google or OpenRouter), which you must enter on each device.
One detailed review calls Classic's Markdown export barely usable. Images aren't bundled; the notes keep only Firebase links. The export also drops front matter, and hashed file names break internal links. A Reddit user kept Apple Notes for attachments because Reflect handles them poorly.
Reflect Open launched without publishing, a web app, an iPad app or some Classic integrations. Published URLs and integration settings don't transfer when you move. The team says it will close most of the gap but has given no dates.
Kindle highlight sync runs through the Reflect Chrome extension every five hours and supports only US Amazon stores, because Amazon has no API. Apple Books isn't supported. Users outside the US or without Chrome get nothing.
Users note there are no tables. Headings can't be collapsed outside indented lists, and there are no folders, cards or grid views. The flat, backlink-only structure confuses people who organise long documents hierarchically.
Renaming tags is the most-voted request on Reflect's public roadmap (about 410 votes), still listed as planned. Customisable templates for #person, #meeting and daily notes (about 367 votes) and smart queries (about 286 votes) are also still missing.
In Classic, the sign-up password is the encryption key. Reflect's docs warn that losing it means permanently losing access unless you have a logged-in device, a saved copy in Chrome or macOS Keychain, or the recovery kit. The recovery kit downloads only to the first device you signed up on.
No. Classic encrypts notes on the device (XChaCha20-Poly1305, audited by Doyensec). Reflect Open stores plain Markdown files and adds no encryption layer of its own. Privacy depends on your Mac, iCloud Advanced Data Protection or your Git host. The 'Private' note flag only blocks AI, not iCloud or GitHub sync.
What Users Love
Fast, frictionless daily notes and backlinks
Reviewers and Reddit users describe Reflect as seamless and frictionless. Its strengths are daily notes, intuitive linking, suggested backlinks and unlinked mentions.
Calendar-linked meeting notes
Connect Google, Office 365 or iCloud calendars and the day's events appear next to your daily note, ready to turn into meeting notes. Google contacts show up in the backlink menu.
Strong voice memos and transcription
Audio memos are transcribed with Whisper into your daily note. iPhone users can start a recording from a lock screen widget, and app reviews praise the transcription quality.
Audited end-to-end encryption in Classic
Classic encrypts notes and files on the device before upload, and Doyensec's audit of the design found no vulnerabilities.
Reflect Open is free, open source and plain Markdown
The new Mac app is MIT-licensed and free. Your notes are Markdown files in a folder you choose, synced through iCloud Drive or Git, so you're never locked in.
No-questions-asked refunds and an indie team
Reflect's stated policy is a full refund with no questions asked. Users trust its staying power because it has no VC pressure.
Pricing Plans
Users: 1
- ✓Daily notes and backlinks
- ✓Local Markdown files
- ✓iCloud Drive or Git sync
- ✓Local search
- ✓Optional AI with your own API key
- ✓Open source (MIT)
Limitations: Beta. No web app, no Android; Windows and Linux builds are experimental and unsigned. Publishing and some integrations are missing.
Users: 1
- ✓Reflect Open on iPhone and iPad
- ✓Same Markdown graph via iCloud or Git
Limitations: The iPhone app is newer than the Mac app and may lack desktop features.
Users: 1
- ✓Reflect Open on iPhone and iPad
- ✓Same Markdown graph via iCloud or Git
Limitations: No Android version.
Users: 1
- ✓Mac, web and iOS apps
- ✓End-to-end encryption
- ✓Built-in AI (100k tokens/day)
- ✓Calendar and contacts
- ✓Publishing
- ✓Kindle and Readwise integrations
Limitations: Maintenance mode since July 2026: bug fixes only, new features go to Reflect Open. No Android app.
Features
Notes
- Daily notes
Linking
- Backlinks and unlinked mentions
Integrations
- Calendar integration
Google, Office 365, iCloud (Classic)
- Kindle highlight sync
US Amazon only, via Chrome extension
Capture
- Audio memo transcription
Whisper
AI
- AI assistant and chat
Classic: built-in with daily caps; Open: bring your own key
Security
- End-to-end encryption
Classic only
Editing
- Tables
Platforms
- Android app
Sharing
- Publish notes to web
Classic only so far
Collaboration
- Real-time collaboration
Who Should Use This?
Good Fit
Daily journalers on Mac and iPhone
Daily notes, quick capture, voice memos and backlinks are Reflect's core strengths, and Reflect Open is free on Mac.
Meeting-heavy professionals
Calendar events appear beside the daily note, and transcription and AI turn meetings into notes and action items.
Markdown and local-first fans
Reflect Open stores plain Markdown in a folder you control, synced via iCloud or Git.
Neutral
Windows users
Classic works through the web app. Reflect Open's Windows builds are experimental and unsigned.
Privacy-first users
Classic has audited E2EE but is in maintenance mode. Open is local-first but not encrypted by Reflect itself.
Avoid
Android users
There is no Android app. Classic offers only the browser, and Open has no Android version planned.
Teams needing collaboration
Reflect is a personal notes app with no shared workspaces or real-time collaboration.
Users who need tables and rich documents
No tables, limited formatting and a flat structure make it a poor fit for structured documents.
Regret Patterns
Common buyer's remorse scenarios reported by users.
Paying Classic subscribers found new development moving to a separate beta app that lacks publishing, a web app and some integrations.
Users lose a proper mobile app when moving to Android and are left with the browser.
People leaving Classic found the Markdown export left images as remote links and broke internal links.
Users compare $120/year with free tools like Obsidian and Logseq and decide the polish isn't worth it.
No tables, folders or collapsible headings made long structured documents awkward.
Because the password is the encryption key, losing it without a recovery kit can mean losing the notes.
When It Breaks Down
Scenarios where this product tends to fail users.
No native app; only the browser for Classic and nothing for Reflect Open.
Imports can fail when more than 1000 images share the same file name, such as image.png.
Early Reflect Open builds drove fileproviderd to about 200% CPU while the app was open; fixed in September 2026.
Sync can hang for about 30 seconds and shows a vague 'Needs attention' warning.
Reflect Open's semantic search model download fails with a certificate error behind proxies like Zscaler.
Kindle highlight sync supports only US Amazon stores.
Markdown export from Classic keeps images as remote links rather than bundling the files.
Alternatives Users Switch To
Obsidian
9x mentionedFree local Markdown notes with backlinks, a native Android app and a huge plugin ecosystem. You trade Reflect's polish and built-in calendar for more setup.
Logseq
7x mentionedFree, open-source outliner with daily journals and backlinks on every platform, including Android. It gets slower on big graphs and is less polished.
Capacities
6x mentionedObject-based notes that handle mixed media and attachments better. Some Reflect users moved to it for the interface but missed Reflect's speed.
Mem
5x mentionedAI-first notes with automatic resurfacing and voice and web capture, for people who want AI organisation over manual linking.
Roam Research
4x mentionedThe original daily-notes and backlinks tool, with stronger queries, but even pricier and with weak mobile apps.
Bear
4x mentionedA polished Apple-only Markdown notes app with tables and a cheaper subscription. Linking and backlinks are lighter.
Frequently Asked Questions
See how Reflect compares in our Best Note Taking Software rankings, or calculate costs with our Budget Calculator.
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