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Tools to capture thoughts before they vanish
Ideas, to-dos and "don't forget" moments disappear fast. The best capture tool is the one you can reach in under five seconds.
Tools, easiest first
Todoist (Ramble / Task Assist)
Fast natural-language capture and voice 'Ramble'; free tier is usable.
Beginner: free (5 projects, limited Ramble voice sessions). Pro $7/mo or $60/yr; 7-day trial.
Voicenotes
Hit record, talk, get a transcript and summary.
Basic $0 (unlimited recordings, 30-day history). Pro $9/user/mo.
Apple Reminders + Shortcuts
Already installed; location/time reminders are easy, Shortcuts automations take tinkering.
Free, built into iPhone, iPad and Mac.
ChatGPT (scheduled tasks + voice)
Already on most phones; voice dump works, but you must set up tasks yourself.
Check site for current price
Google Gemini
Built into Android/Google apps; settings for activity are confusing.
Free with a Google account. Google AI Plus $4.99/mo; AI Pro $19.99/mo; Ultra from $99.99/mo (US).
Granola
Meeting notes without a bot joining the call.
Basic $0 (limited history); Business $14/user/mo; Enterprise $35/user/mo.
Mem
Push-to-talk capture with an agent that organizes notes.
Free (25 messages); Plus $9/mo; Pro $29/mo; larger tiers $49–$199/mo.
Otter.ai
Auto-records/transcribes meetings so you don't have to remember them.
Basic: free. Pro $16.99/user/mo monthly or $8.33/user/mo billed annually. Business $30/user/mo (promo prices sometimes shown).
Saner.ai
Brain-dump notes + AI that surfaces tasks; marketed to ADHD users.
Free $0 (30 AI messages/mo, 100 notes). Starter $8/mo; Standard $16/mo (about 20% off yearly).
IFTTT
Simpler than Zapier for phone/location triggers; still requires building.
Free $0 (2 applets). Pro $2.99/mo; Pro+ $8.99/mo (billed annually).
Akiflow
Inbox-consolidation power tool; pricey and setup-heavy.
No free plan; 7-day trial. Pro $34/mo monthly or $19/mo billed yearly.
Notion (Notion AI)
Infinite flexibility = setup paralysis for many ADHD users.
Free $0; Plus $10/seat/mo; Business $20/seat/mo (yearly pricing; monthly costs more).
One automation to try: One-tap voice capture
- Install a capture app (Todoist, Voicenotes, or your phone's notes app).
- Add its widget or shortcut to your home screen — or the Action Button on newer iPhones.
- Speak the thought; sort it later at a set time each day.
Tool: Todoist (Ramble / Task Assist). Menus change; if a step doesn't match, check the app's help pages.