Structured text notes
Capture paragraphs, headings, checklists, bulleted lists, images, and code blocks in a single composer. Markdown-style slash commands and formatting controls support bold, italic, and strikethrough text.
Thoughts
Thoughts is a macOS menubar app for capturing text, voice notes, and images, with tools to organize, search, export, and refine notes using optional AI.
Overview
Thoughts is a macOS menubar note-taking app for capturing text, voice recordings, and images without opening a separate full-size workspace. Its popover is available from the menubar, and pinned mode keeps it floating above other windows for quick entry and drag-and-drop.
A note can remain in its original format or be refined with built-in actions. Text notes support editing and AI-assisted transformations, while image and voice notes can be converted into searchable, editable text when the relevant AI features are configured. Notes are organized in a daily feed, searchable, shareable through macOS targets, and exportable in several formats.
Features
Voice capture and transcription
Hold or press the microphone control to record a voice note with a live waveform and timer. With an OpenAI or Gemini API key, audio can be transcribed automatically when the note is saved.
Image notes and OCR
Drag an image into the composer or insert one as a block. Thoughts keeps the original image and, when AI is enabled, can extract its text, create an editable note, or summarize the extracted content.
AI note actions
Text notes can be shortened, lengthened, summarized, translated, spell-corrected, or converted between letter cases. Image and voice notes have actions for extracting text, transcribing, converting to notes, and summarizing.
Feed and search
Notes are grouped in a daily feed and can be found through instant search. Search covers note text, checklists, link previews, and filenames.
Menubar workflow and configuration
Pin the app so its popover stays above other windows, configure startup and theme settings, and assign a global keyboard shortcut for opening Thoughts.
Use cases
Quick idea capture
Open the menubar popover, type an idea, and save it with Command-Enter before switching back to another task. Daily grouping and search make later retrieval practical.
Voice-first notes
Record a thought when typing is inconvenient, then use transcription or Convert to Note to turn the recording into editable text for review.
Working from visual references
Drop a screenshot, scanned page, or other image into the pinned app and use Extract Text or Convert to Note to make its contents searchable and editable alongside the original.
Refining working text
Draft a message or rough piece of writing, then use spelling fixes, summaries, translations, or length adjustments to prepare the text for further use.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Offers text, voice, and image capture from a menubar popover.
- Supports practical note structures including checklists, lists, code blocks, and inline images.
- Provides search, sharing, and exports for saved notes.
- Lets users choose OpenAI, Gemini, or Claude for supported AI actions, with keys stored locally on the Mac.
Cons
- AI-powered transcription, OCR, translation, and rewriting require an API key from a supported provider and may not be available without one.
- Thoughts is documented for macOS, and the supplied material does not establish support for other platforms, team features, or integrations beyond macOS sharing.
- Pricing details could not be verified from the available product pages.
FAQ
How do I install and open Thoughts?
Download the Thoughts .dmg file, drag the app into Applications, and launch it. It appears in the macOS menubar as a smiley face icon; click the icon to open the popover.
How can I capture a note?
Click the text field and type, or press the microphone button to record. You can also drag an image into the composer or use the image button. Press Command-Enter or click Save to save a text note.
How do Thoughts' AI features work?
AI features require an API key from your own OpenAI, Gemini, or Claude account. Add the key in Settings under AI; the key is masked and stored locally on your Mac. Voice transcription is supported with OpenAI or Gemini, while Claude is available for text rewrites but not voice transcription.
Can I search my saved notes?
Saved notes can be searched from the magnifying-glass icon. Search matches note text, checklists, link previews, and filenames, and filters the feed as you type.
How can I export or share notes?
Individual notes can be exported as text, images, MP3, or PDF, depending on the note type. Text notes can also be shared to macOS share targets such as Notes, Messages, and Mail.
Quick Facts
- Category
- Productivity and note-taking
- Platform
- macOS
- Capture types
- Text, voice, and images
- AI providers
- OpenAI, Gemini, and Claude
- Storage of AI keys
- Stored locally on the Mac
- Access model
- Menubar popover with optional pinned mode
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