Reflect Problems & Issues
Real user-reported problems, complaints, and limitations for Reflect. Based on analysis of 13 signals.
Overall score: 60/100
Issues by Category
Reflect Markdown export missing images and breaking links
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 missing publishing and integrations
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.
Reflect Kindle sync only works with Amazon US
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.
Reflect Classic vs Reflect Open: which one should I use?
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.
Reflect Open sync problems with iCloud and GitHub
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.
Does Reflect have an Android app?
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.
Reflect iPhone app missing desktop features
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.
Why is Reflect so expensive for a notes app?
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.
Reflect AI limits and bring-your-own-key costs
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.
Reflect has no tables and limited formatting
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.
Reflect can't rename tags
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.
Lose your Reflect password and you lose your notes
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.
Is Reflect Open end-to-end encrypted?
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.
Regret Patterns
Common reasons users regret choosing Reflect.
Bought in, then the product split
Paying Classic subscribers found new development moving to a separate beta app that lacks publishing, a web app and some integrations.
Switched phones to Android
Users lose a proper mobile app when moving to Android and are left with the browser.
Export didn't bring the images
People leaving Classic found the Markdown export left images as remote links and broke internal links.
Paying premium for a single-purpose app
Users compare $120/year with free tools like Obsidian and Logseq and decide the polish isn't worth it.
Outgrew the flat structure
No tables, folders or collapsible headings made long structured documents awkward.
Locked out after losing the password
Because the password is the encryption key, losing it without a recovery kit can mean losing the notes.
When Reflect Breaks Down
Specific scenarios where Reflect fails or underperforms.
Android phone users
No native app; only the browser for Classic and nothing for Reflect Open.
Large image-heavy Classic graphs moving to Open
Imports can fail when more than 1000 images share the same file name, such as image.png.
iCloud-synced graph on Mac
Early Reflect Open builds drove fileproviderd to about 200% CPU while the app was open; fixed in September 2026.
Syncing via GitHub on iPhone
Sync can hang for about 30 seconds and shows a vague 'Needs attention' warning.
Corporate networks with HTTPS inspection
Reflect Open's semantic search model download fails with a certificate error behind proxies like Zscaler.
Readers outside the US
Kindle highlight sync supports only US Amazon stores.
Leaving Reflect with attachments
Markdown export from Classic keeps images as remote links rather than bundling the files.