Writing & notes
reflect-open
Notes that stay as plain Markdown files, for Mac and iPhone
★ 1.4k
August 2026
MIT
Writing & notes
What we checked ourselves
Not copied from the project's own blurb. These are things we opened and verified, with the date.
- 23 Aug 2026We checked that the link to the project still resolves.
- 14 Aug 2026We read the licence text itself (LICENSE). No unusual restrictions were stated.
- 31 Jul 2026We read the project's own documentation and found no sign that development has stopped.
Where this sits among the 51 tools we list in Writing & notes
- Works without using a terminal37 of 51
- Runs on a phone alone8 of 51
- Commercial use confirmed as allowed39 of 51
- Requires an API key26 that do not →
- Sends your input to the provider11 that do not →
Only 4 of the 51 meet all of the conditions above.
Counted from our own checks: every tool we list is examined against the same criteria.
What it does
A note app built around a folder of Markdown files rather than a proprietary database: it opens on today's note, `[[wiki links]]` connect people and projects, and search and backlinks stay fast. No account is required and the files remain readable if you stop using the app. Mac and iPhone only; syncing is left to you (an iCloud folder, for instance), and the optional AI features send note content to whichever service you configure.
Summary based on the project's own description. The Japanese page has a fuller beginner guide: setup difficulty, what to prepare, and a step-by-step start.
Screenshots & visuals
Before you start
- Setup difficultySome setup needed
- Command lineNot required
- API keyRequired
- Sends data onlineYes
Judged automatically from the project's own metadata. Always confirm on the official page.
reflect-open FAQ
- Is reflect-open free?
- reflect-open itself is free, but it needs an API key for an external AI service. That service charges separately, though some have a free tier.
- Do I need to install anything or write code to use reflect-open?
- You install it like a normal desktop app. No command line involved.
- Does reflect-open work on a phone?
- Yes, it works on a phone.
- Can I use reflect-open commercially?
- The licence is MIT, which permits commercial use. Conditions such as keeping the copyright notice still apply, so read the licence text before shipping it inside something.
How it compares
The conditions that decide whether you can actually use it, side by side.
| Tool | Command line | API key | Sends data out | Phone | Commercial use |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| reflect-open (this page) | Not needed | Required | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| AFFiNE | Not needed | Not needed | Yes | No | Yes |
| joplin | Not needed | Not needed | Yes | No | Not verified |
| Trilium | Not needed | Not needed | No | No | Yes |
"Sends data out" means your input is uploaded to someone's server. Pick "No" when the material cannot leave your organisation.